Our PTO supports three schools. We have three elementary schools: Primary (K-1), Elementary (2-3), & Intermediate (4-5). It would be very difficult to have an individual PTO at each of these two-grade schools because there would be such frequent turnover. We haven't had any problems with the arrangement. We make a point to work towards our goals as a team, and do not encourage competition between the schools. Our bylaws do not require any specific percentage of the fundraising profits to be spent on any school. As a board, we research each request for funds from each school. Many years, one school will receive more funds than another, but overall it balances out. The tricky part is coordinating schedules with three different principals!

We are a "3 schools in 1" entity --- this year it is PreK-10, next year we'll add grade 11 and grade 12 the year after that. We are still a "new" school which has grown as each new stage of the building was done, and we began 4 years ago. that first year when it was very small, a group of dedicated parents started the PTO --- clarifying a vision and mission to tie in with the school's plan of being one community. We also had a small but very vocal group who wanted to split the PTO into 3 different groups. Many of us hated to see that becuz it puts staff against each other if they must compete with the other 2 schools for fundraising dollars. That is why I am now the President - no one else wanted to do it. ha! I grabbed some friends, we stood up to the opposition and "saved it". We have done a LOT of work this year - expanding the communication and trying to fill in holes. With such large grown in a short time, the PTO had not grown much yet was still doing as much as they did the first year. The first couple of years it was up to the PTO to build the community events ---- and now that the school has it's own - it is almost too much. We are doing surveys and input forums now to find out WHAT the parents and teachers want from the PTO. We can then serve them a product they want.

I encourage you - it CAN be done. it is a lot of work though. Something I found helpful with the older schools --- if you have an elementary parent not wanting to support spending on a middle school item --- chances are their child will still be at that school (unless they move) and will still benefit from items purchased in the middle school. Those that start in the elementary grades can potentially be there for 12 years. Families with multiple children - even longer. Our middle school has not just our elem feed into it, but also 2 other elementaries --- so we find some middle school parents fighting against the elem. spending ---- but this year ----it has been very balanced and no hard feelings. We are thinking of adding in certain minimums to be spent at each level in the Standing Rules.

Wow, that is awesome that all can work together for one main purpose, all he kids! A certain group in our PTO would rather help kids at one school more than the other school which is very frustrating. At this time unfortunately no one is willing to stand up to that group, it is easier to just quit.

Our school is K-12 and with the district we are listed as 3 schools ( Elem, Middle, High) and our PTO would service the whole school.

We were lucky enough to have parents that often had mulitple children in the school (My family has 1 HS, 1 MS, 3 Elem students) and we found it easy to work that way.

The biggest job we had was to find balance in our help with funds but we were able to est. that in the fall K-5 would benefit from new balls etc for the playground with our Campbell Soup labels; Middle School has three big field trips they offer SO the PTO hosted skate parties with a local rink (social night out and a fundraiser!) and for the High School we had the scholarship money we gave the Valitorian and Salutitorian (my spelling is terrible) alone with many volunteer ops as well hosting fundraisers for the new Key Club and Honors Club.

That is just a small part and off the top of my tired brain. We also worked very close with each Principal to support the needs of kids that needed uniforms (even had a little one that needed shoes--very sad story).

Yes, lots of organizing and lots of planning and it crumbled when one mom found it to be too much. My heart still breaks and I'm having a hard time typing knowing how much we were able to help.

It can be done and your school will be greatful. Great things can be done by a small number of people!

Is this a wise choice? How should it work? How is the board set up? Should the funds be split equally? What if one school generates more fundraising money than the others? Does the PTO have the same assemblies and activities for the schools?:confused: