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Wanted: More PTA
Published: 8/29/2012 11:44 AM
Last Modified: 8/29/2012 12:11 PM

For the second year, my local Parent Teacher Association elected me secretary.

I write the minutes like I write stories – using direct quotes and describing emotion in meetings. I figure the historical record needs a little entertainment.

As our group looks forward to a new year, we struggle with the ever-pressing question of how to get more parents involved in our activities.

Our group is able to make the $5 membership fee go pretty far, with the help of a few other fundraisers and volunteers.

With the massive public school budget cuts during the last few years, more is being asked of PTA groups. A few years ago, we focused on raising money for extras like laptop computers.

Now, we are purchasing janitorial supplies and copy paper for teachers to run off their lessons.

It’s even more important that PTA groups get the most membership possible and find every philanthropic dollar in the city.

My group didn’t break 40 percent of membership among parents last year. This baffles me.

I love the PTA events. I get to know the teachers, and I meet the parents of my children’s friends. It's good they get to know me too.

Also, I find out about the school’s budget and what needs are not being met and why. I've been in the loop with discussions ranging from problems with morning traffic to possible curriculum changes.

So, it’s with great interest to see how other PTA groups are raising membership and money.

Our latest idea is to create a bargain when buying the school spirit shirt: A shirt and PTA membership for $12 or just the shirt for $10. We do the same with a student-created poster.

We hold a free back-to-school picnic for families to give our membership pitch and send out monthly newsletters.

Last year, we held an evening auction for the first time and netted about $2,000. Other schools profit up to $25,000 with these events, so please tell me how to get those types numbers.

Until the schools and parents can afford all the needs for a well-rounded education (like books, paper and teachers), expect to see more forms at your office and church to buy cookie dough, wrapping paper and various types of candy and popcorn.

Ginnie's previous blog entries:


  • Aug. 23: Beyonce Loses Baby Weight Wasabi-Style


  • Aug. 22: Find DHS Child Care Reports

  • Aug. 15: Wake up Sleepy Head!

  • Aug. 1: Time to round up school uniforms, supplies

  • July 28: 50 Shades of TMI

  • July 26: Little League Puzzle

  • July 18: Pregnancy and drinking

  • July 11: To Pierce or Not to Pierce

  • July 4: Slow cooker meals for busy moms

  • June 27: Best places to get haircuts for kids


    • Written by
    Ginnie Graham
    News Columnist



    Reader Comments 4 Total
    Something to look forward to. If local taxes are partly used to support public schools, maybe something can be slipped into Vision2 about funding TPS janitorial supplies and copy paper :)
    Cee2 (6 months ago)
    Ginny,

    I understand your frustration even though my last child graduated many years ago. We had always been active in our children's schools in Texas. They accommodated the schedules of working parents. Neither of us as working parents could attend a meeting held at 10:00 in the morning. I gave up on the TPS PTA when I was told that "if I really cared about my children, I would miss work to attend their meetings". I worked because I cared about my children; it would have been far easier to stay home and attend useless meetings which crammed 10 minutes of information into two hours of gossip. We found other ways to assist in the schools - just not with PTA which was really just a stay-at-home mothers club. Our Texas PTA board had as many fathers as mothers on it and nearly all had full or part-time jobs outside the home. None of the PTA boards at my children's schools had a father on it.

    My advice to your group is to look at how the previous groups have treated working parents. If need be, hold two meetings - day and evening - to allow more to participate. Good luck!
    4200011l (6 months ago)
    Maybe by stopping the weekly papers in my kids backpacks about raising money for copy paper - how much of the school's paper did they just waste?

    I don't want to have my children selling expensive candles, wrapping paper or cookie dough door-to-door for the school's janitorial supplies. How much do you need from each parent in the school district for what the children really need? Just email me that figure and you'll have a check for 2x in a couple of days.

    Does the PTO have anything to do with the new construction of the school buildings with wasted space of 25-30 tall ceilings in the halls - extra room to heat and cool?

    Does they have anything to do with teacher evaluation or helping to rid the school of the lazy teachers?

    Do they have anything to do with the placement of children so that each child is challenged, not just those that are not performing at the benchmark?

    Mine doesn't - they worry about starbuck's cards to all teachers for their birthdays and christmas.
    As for fundraising ideas, I remember my mom saying back in Girl Scouts that magazine sales were always the biggest fundraiser (cookie sales just gave troops a few cents per box back then). If people already subscribe to magazines or want to, they should do it through a fundraiser for your school - a lot of the money stays with the fundraiser!

    Also, my church here in Tulsa sponsors a local elementary school (we buy backpacks before the school year and have a donation bin for copy paper and other supplies the rest of the year). If your church doesn't have a school sponsorship already, consider getting one started!
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