How to Plan a 90s Themed PTO Board Meeting

When it comes to welcoming your newly elected board members, we're not saying you need to start off with an awkward JC Penney photo shoot, butttt we're also thinking that's exactly the vibe that makes PTO feel, well...a little less PTO-ish. (If your PTO does this, please be sure to tag us on social so we can see your board in all its 90s glory.)

A themed summer meetup or back-to-school kickoff with your new PTO board is a fun way to help everyone connect in a low key way before the calendar starts filling up and the can't-stop-won't-stop PTO group text becomes your new normal. 

And honestly? A 90s theme is the perfect way to make it fun with its iconic snacks and unforgettable school supplies. If you're ready to give your board meeting a little Saved-By-the-Bell sparkle, here are some fun ways to make it happen! (P.S. Be sure to download our FREE 2026-2027 PTO Planner!)

Stock the snack table like it's 1997

Nothing says 90s quite like snacks that turned your fingers neon orange (maybe now's not a good time to collate copies of that fundraising flyer...)

Set up a throwback snack station stocked with snacks and drinks popular in the 90s, like:

• Pop Rocks
• Candy necklaces
• Fruit roll-ups
• Pudding cups
• Dunkaroos
• Bubble tape gum
• Chocolate milk cartons 
• Pop Tarts
• Planters Cheez Balls
• Bagel Bites 
• Chocolate milk cartons
• Juice boxes (like Capri sun...or that "juice" in a barrel)
• If you're hosting over summer, have a bucket full of freeze pops
• "Square" pizza, or Pizza Hut, if you have one nearby

You can also plan a "Pump up the jam" breakfast featuring bagels and jams (don't forget the Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, Pop Tarts, and Eggo waffles), a "Saved by the (Taco) Bell” lunch, or an "Iced, iced coffee...too cold, too cold" coffee and cold brews.

Photo credit: Santa Fe Elementary PTA in Moore, Oklahoma

Give everyone a 90s PTO board meeting starter pack

Skip the standard handouts and leave each board member a nostalgic, 90s themed welcome kit at their seat. The goal is to be creative, thoughtful, practical, and playful enough to break the ice. Include:

• A colorful notebook or folder (think Lisa Frank) 
• 90s fruit scented pencil or a BIC 4-Color multi-click pen
• 90s stickers - think 90s Lisa Frank stickers, puffy stickers, scratch and sniff stickers (score if you can find popcorn fundraiser scented), or this Blockbuster laptop decal
• 2026–2027 PTO planner that includes all the staff appreciation days, special treat days and fun national holidays (use our FREE 55+ PTO planner Canva template) 
• A Mead® Trapper Keeper® Binder...a guaranteed crowd pleaser for the Gen X'ers on your PTO board
• A bag of chips with a note that reads, "Welcome to the PTO dream team. This year is gonna be all that and a bag of chips!"  

Build in a few fun icebreakers

Themed doesn't have to mean cringe. Keep it quick and low-pressure with easy prompts like:

• Were you even alive in the 90s? (This is a good one to start with 😂)
• What was your favorite 90s snack?
• Which school supply were you irrationally obsessed with in the 90s?
• What was your favorite after school activity in the 90s? 
• If your PTO had a 90s theme song, what would it be?

You can also do a fast round of the game "This or That":

• Dunkaroos or Gushers?
• AIM away message or instant reply?
• Mead® Trapper Keeper® Binder or spiral notebook?
• BIC 4-Color multi-click pen or stackable pencils?
• Puffy sticker collection or Scratch 'n Sniff sticker collection?
• Spice Girls or Nirvana?
• Make a fort or ride a bike?
• Freeze tag or four square? 
• Friday night, where are you at: Blockbuster or the mall?

Create a photo moment

Trust us...your board will want receipts (LOL). This is also perfect for social media and can help build excitement for the year ahead. And, when other parents see how rad your PTO board is, they'll want to join in on the fun, too. 

Set up a simple photo station with:

• Speech bubble props ("As if!" "Talk to the hand!")
• Scrunchies (loving these Lisa Frank inspired ones from Kitsch)
• Sunglasses
• Slap bracelets
• A retro backdrop (like this laser line school photo backdrop or this Lisa Frank style tablecloth)
• If you're board is willing to throw their pride to the wind, an awkward JC Penney style photo shoot is one for the books (literally, you'll probably make the yearbook)

@lackamas.pto ✨ Meet Your PTO Core Four ✨ 👩‍💼 Brittni, President – Chaos Coordinator (and professional meeting lengthener). 📊 Korey, Vice President – The ultimate sidekick, always there with backup, support, and purse full of snacks. 💰 Jessica, Treasurer – Tracks every dollar like it’s a toddler on a sugar rush. ✍️ Erica, Secretary – Writes faster than kids racing to the front of the lunch line. Powered by coffee ☕️, teamwork 🙌, and the occasional bake sale 🍪. #fullhouse #meetyourptoboard #pto #backtoschool #PTOInAction ♬ Full House - The Hollywood Prime Time Orchestra

A relaxed, themed kickoff helps your PTO board members get comfortable with one another before the busy school year begins. When people feel welcomed and connected from the start, collaboration gets easier—and PTO work gets a whole lot more enjoyable.

So go ahead. Break out the neon. Pass the Pop Rocks. Channel your inner 90s kid and get planning a school year that's totally rad. And, if someone shows up in scrunchies, overalls, or a windbreaker jacket, they understood the assignment—and will likely be a huge asset to your PTO! 

Photo credit: Adult "Lunchables" Wyandotte Elementary PTO in Lafayette, Indiana

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