I am continually saddened by these schools that do not want the parents participation. Even though our school district is very inclusive with the parents we are going through our school board for them to adopt a Parent Involvement Policy.
Fortunately the State of Ohio Board of Education came up with the Ohio Parent Involvement Law. (section 3313.472) They have required that each School District come up with a policy.
Two major parts of these policies shall include: building consistent and effective communication and provide the opportunity for parents to be actively involved in their children's education.
This will not directly gaurentee our involvement in the classrooms etc... but they will hopefully regard us parents as the important link to our students success.
Go to the School Board if you can and address the issue and ask to see their parent involvement strategy. If they do not have one, they certainly should. Best Wishes
the other parent you mentioned, can she help you at least? My greatest help has been from a former Prez that now lives 200 miles away!
The last thing I want to do is to be the Prez of the PTO and eat my cake too. I have learned in the most unusal way there is always someone that wants to help. Something to think about the parents that won't come back, did anyone ever thank them. No really a hand written thank you. In the past two years I have gone through 200 thank you notes to parents EACH HAND WRITTEN! I have thanked a parent for reading to the kindergarden and another for their amazing donation of $100. I also have many parents that come to me pissed about the teacher they helped and no they never helped that teacher again but I can call on them to help with the lunch we serve to the other teachers during conferences. No I don't give up very easy and I do this as a mother of four and with a husband that is in the retail world (long hours)
Have any of you ever had a night for parents to come and met each other? Not a meeting, just a night for the Jones to met the harrisons? This has been amazing and fun at our school.
[This message has been edited by mykidsmom (edited 10-04-2001).]
I have the same problem but it is more of getting the parents to come back to help are teacher don't want the parents to be part of there education so the parents feel like why should they be part of PTO or we have a title one thing called PAC I'm out of ideas I have wrote my daughter's teacher several times to come in a volunteer and no reply yet thanks for listening any ideas would be appreciated tracey
I would think that your job is more to organize and delegate. You don't have to do this all yourself. If people won't help, the extra activities don't happen. Period.
I have been asked to be the president of a middle school, grades 7 & 8, PTO. We are not an incorporated PTO, my name and the principle's name are on the bank account. Another parent volunteered to be the president, but the principle did not want her, but she has an enormous amount of experience with elementary PTO/PTA. No parent I have asked is interested in being on the board of this PTO. I am overwhelmed and very inexperienced. Help!
