PTO Today

If you spend anytime on our website, you know that we are all about  parent groups building community. That’s why we love this idea that a New Jersey PTA came up with; use their school’s PTA website to help neighbors in a down economy.  To accomplish this, they have set up an “items for exchange” section on their website — see the “can anyone use a…” tab. Very cool.

”With the current economy the way it is, it would be kind of nice for neighbors to help neighbors,” said Rodger Lippman, the PTA’s president and webmaster. “Items that may be obsolete for one person can go a long way toward helping someone else.”

Now, that’s the kind of parent group that will attract attention and make people want to join. Thought maybe your parent group would like to take this idea and run with it.

What does your PTO or PTA do to build community or reach out to neighbors? Jump in here and tell us about it.

Yes, we’ve all known that, right?  But the Wall Street Journal has highlighted some new research which defines those differences.  Very interesting stuff.

I summarized my thoughts on it (and linked over to the article) on our sister site, SchoolFamily.com.   (http://www.schoolfamily.com/blog/2009/08/24/new-research-on-middle-school-parent-involvement)

Are there ways you can use this insightful research to change your approach to middle school PTOing and PTAing?  Hope so.

Tough op/ed in yesterday’s Boston Herald on still-controversial PTA-dedicated seat on state board of education. As far as I know, Massachusetts (my home state) is the only state in country with such an arrangement for PTA, which is curious considering that Massachusetts schools are very nearly the least PTA-centric schools in the country (far, far more PTOs  than PTAs in the Bay State).

The article get a few items wrong, in my opinion, especially where it equates PTOs with bake sales and implies that local PTAs don’t do that kind of work.  Fact on that count is that local unit PTAs and local PTOs are virtually the same on the types of activities they run.  Both great and generous and enthusiastic supporters of their schools and kids.  This political bent is typically reserved for the state and national levels of PTA.

Will continue to follow this story.  Is surprising that the PTA appointee is implying that parents’ own voices should be over-ridden by those who supposedly know better.  That’s the kind of approach schools have taken for far too long and that parent involvement experts (the PTA among them) have been trying to change.  Hopefully, it was a mis-characterization of Ms. Kaplan’s point of view.

“Clique” is the most difficult word in the PTO dictionary. It’s thrown around like a weapon by school parents, and it truly hurts (and often angers) when a parent group leader hears it about her own group. There’s a real divide between parents who think the PTO isn’t open to outsiders and leaders who are dying for more help.

I was reminded of this while reading the passionate comments on this article about Iowa PTA membership being down. So many of the commenters express frustration that they didn’t feel welcome in the PTO or PTA at their child’s school. It’s eye-opening.

As much as I know that the commenters are wrong, the solution has to come from us PTO leaders. If we want more involvement and more engaged parents, we have to proactively combat that clique image. You may not think you’re a clique, but the folks you’re trying to recruit do. And that’s what matters.

As I said in a column I wrote about PTO cliques, “If even one parent thinks of your group as a clique, then you are a clique.” Perception matters.

There are several tips in the column, but the best one is to address the clique issue head-on. It’s OK (even refreshing, frankly) for you to stand up later this month at back-to-school night and say “We know that lots of folks think of the PTO as a clique, but it’s not that way at all. We know it’s hard to feel comfortable with a new group, but we’d love to help you get involved.” That kind of welcome and acknowledgment can make a big difference.

Of course, you then actually have to be welcoming to new volunteers. We have some great content to help make your group more welcoming and increase parent involvement. Good luck bringing ‘em in!

Came across this article about how 6th graders are “kids are caught in the inbe-tween” when it comes to school. It asks the question: where do these tweens fit in a school system– elementary school or middle school?  Always an interesting and heated debate.

What caught my eye in the article though, is how the writer suggests that the answer to this question affects parent involvement at the school.

…national research suggests that increasing the number of years a student attends middle school — from two years to three or four — can strengthen student connection as well as parent involvement. Those factors have been linked positively to student achievement.

We all can agree that a parent’s involvement at school has a positive impact. What’s less than clear, relative to parent involvement during the middle school years is: What’s the right type and amount? In other words, tweens aren’t the only ones who feel like they are “caught in the inbetween!”

Volunteering at our kid’s elementary school is a given for many of us. In high school, parents jump back in to extracurricular activities, like booster clubs and graduation projects.  But when our kids hit middle school and are trying to separate — what form does parent involvement take? How much is the right amount to make you feel connected to your kids and their school without crossing the proverbial line?

We have several good articles about parent involvement in middle school. Check them out, then tell us how you think parents should be involved in their middle schooler’s school? What do you think in the *right* amount?

Interested in hearing your thoughts.

Living here in the Northeast, our schools go back fairly late, usually right around Labor Day.  So I consider August 15th the kick-off to back-to-school for our family.  (Already told the kids that this was the last weekend before “operation re-adjust bedtimes” gradually begins.  That went over very well.)

For me, back-to-school time also brings thoughts of how we’re going to introduce the PTO to parents this year.  That first Open House or back-to-school night can be so important for setting the stage correctly.  This article from Denver  gives parents advice for making the most of back-to-school night, but what about advice for us PTO and PTA leaders.

My 3 best tips:

1. Think welcoming and serving. Do not – I repeat do not – make it all about fundraising.  Parents will support you with their pocketbooks and wallets *after* they connect with your group and your good work.  Have a column on this concept of The Welcoming PTO here.

2. Address parent fears.  Nearly every parent in the room is thinking either: 1) “they’re a clique”; or 2) if I volunteer once (like a Black Hole) I’ll never get out.  You can’t ignore those thoughts.  Address them head-on. My column on PTOs and Cliques is here. And the best solution to the Black Hole problem, is our 2 Hour Power program.

3. Be fairly quick and light-hearted. You’re trying to draw people in.  Don’t use guilt.  And don’t drone.  You won’t completely convince all your future volunteers with one speech, but you could completely lose a whole bunch of them with one overly-long, too-heavy or guilt-giving speech.

Our editors and writers have covered best back-to-school advice for PTO and PTA leaders in loads of ways.  Take some time to review, and I know you’ll do great.

Summer is a great time for thinking about what you want to accomplish this year. It’s important not to get stuck in the brainstorming process, though. If you want your vision to become reality, it’s important to plan. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

Plan out your entire year. Write down all the activities, programs, fundraisers, etc. that you hope to run. Include when they’ll start and when they’ll end. Think about how much each one will cost (or raise), and think about how many volunteers you’ll need for each. You want to make sure that you have a balanced year, that you aren’t caught off guard, and that you have the resources you need at the time you need them. And by the way, it’s OK to change your plan along the way. Starting with a road map makes picking a new route a lot easier.

Plan to build involvement. How will you attract the volunteers you need and the participation you’re hoping for? Getting people connected to the school and to your group through family events and low-key activities is an important first step. Make sure a big part of your plan for the year focuses on building involvement. The better you do that, the easier everything else will become.

Use our tools. We have lots of free planning tools on ptotoday.com. Finances are not a sexy topic, but we have two terrific articles
that walk you through the basics of creating a budget for the year and figuring a budget for a specific event, even if it’s one you’ve
never run before. Our 2 Hour Power volunteer pledge program has proved to be a successful way to build involvement all year long. And ”9-Stress Busting Organization Tips” offers a nice list of objectives to make your year a success.

Your First Impression

What will be the first communication parents receive from your PTO this fall? What impression will it give? What spirit will it convey?

That’s my question for you this week, as I think it’s one of those things that can make or break a whole year of PTOing. Will parents get the sense that your group has its act together and is serious about doing really good work (in a fun, organized manner)? Will they get the sense that you’re all about serving the school and serving parents and creating community? Will the tone be upbeat and optimistic and appreciative?

Or will the first impression be you asking for money? Or you asking for anything? Will you come across as somewhat disorganized or even pessimistic?

If it’s the latter, trust me, you won’t be the only group — and yes, I know how busy you are and how little help you may have. But that’s a recipe for a whole year of struggle. Folks won’t say it right to you, but people are attracted to fun and put-together and welcoming groups. And they generally stay away from those people or groups that make them feel put-upon or that come across as scolding or needy. Is it right? No — parents should get more involved because it’s the right thing to do. But the reality is that more parents get involved when you as a parent group make that involvement more attractive.

Your first impression can go a long way to making it so. We have a ton of good content on communications and first impressions. And check out this list of 38 ways to start the year right.

Let’s face it, PTO school events can make or break your parent involvement equation. A well-planned, well-attended event not only builds community — it brings in more volunteers! Our new Event Planning Kit takes all the guess work out of creating PTO events that rock. Download your free kit today and learn:

• The Power of the Big Idea
• How to Make Your Family Night a Winner
• 36 Ideas for Arts & Science Enrichment
• The Scoop on Field Trips: Getting Organized
• Tips for Better Flyers
• How to Implement an Event Evaluation & Planning Form

And you’re one step closer to achieving unforgettable events in the 2009/10 school year.

Came across this article about a Rapid City Elementary School “joining the green scene.” Kudos go to their PTA group for taking a lead on this initiative in their school.

Working in conjunction with the non-profit organization, Michigan Green Schools, Rapid City Elementary is pledging to be more environmentally friendly and to educate students on the importance of good ecological and environmental practices.

This article is a must read for any school who is looking for ideas of ways to make their school more eco-friendly. Also, lots of great ideas about how to teach kids about conservation and the environment.