PTA moms-tell me what to expect

egpitt22

I see in the vents post that there are quite a few PTA involved moms on here-what should I expect?  Unfortunately, I can't go to the first meeting tonight but I hope to make it next month.  I'm sure all schools are different, but I'm just curious as to what everyone's involvement is.

waltsgirl102503

I think it depends on the school.  Are meetings tend to be organized chaos, which I hate.  And basically, they just stand there and tell you what the board members agreed to do.  There's no involvement for the rest of the group (like voting on what kinds of activities or how to spend the money or a general sharing/giving of ideas of others).  I feel like this is how the meetings should be.   Everyone also brings their kids, so a lot of the meetings have kid centered activities...which again, I disagree with.   

They will ask for volunteers for things - and I've been told that it's the PTA members who are asked first to do things like volunteer for parties, field trips, etc.  So that's really why I go.  Part of me would like to be more involved and I've expressed interest several years now, but it seems no one takes the request form further.  (Unless I'm overlooked on purpose and I wouldn't be shocked.  The woman who used to watch Noah for us (at an inhome daycare) is very involved and I think she blackballed me).  Anyway, last night they said anyone could come to the board meetings and be on a committee.  So I'm thinking of taking it a step further this year, we'll see. 

So, that's how ours is.  Unless you're on the board - you show up to a meeting a few times a year and you can volunteer for things at the school.  (I've done parties, field trips, Santa's workshop and the bookfair).  

lishie

Ours have an agenda, and are attended by the Principal, several teachers and intersted parents.

It's usually a small group of parents. Considering the school has 350 kids, usually it's a great day if 8 parents come to the meeting, which is frustrating.

The paying members do get to vote on anything the group chooses to spend money on, and on what activities we do and when we do it.

Our school doesn't have any parties, so showing up doesn't give you a leg up on volunteering to work the Halloween or Chrstmas parties, but it does give you a chance to help plan school events, which I like.

I did a lot of planning for the end of the year carnival, and that was nice. I really enjoyed seeing how excited the kids were to come and have fun after all the hard work.

There's drama between the executive committee and infighting, but I still like participating.

Luckystar2

I was totally going to ask this too!! Our school's first meeting is tomorrow night and dh and I plan to go. I have no idea what to expect! I also don't know if I really want to be involved! But we figured we would check out the first meeting.

lishie

So, after going to the meeting, it sounds like the PTA is going to be a lot more active at our school this year. The Montessori coordinator role has diminished due to budget cuts, as she has more teaching periods and less planning/Montessori based periods, and the school wants PTA to pick up the planning slack for Montessori events. I think it's going to be a busy year. And I think I got sucked into the secretary officer position, but it's better than the treasurer spot

Luckystar2

Well we went to ours tonight. I was shocked and appalled that there were so few people. Including us there were 15 plus the chair, co chair etc, board member and principal. 15 parents from a school of almost 500 kids?!?! I am so shocked! And they said that was a good turnout! I feel like they at least get good volunteers for events and I know it's hard to do meetings. But it was in the evening and they had free childcare so they made it less of a hassle. Anyways the principal talked a lot about their plan for this year, the common core, etc. they apparently bring in speakers and it sounds really helpful. They said they have done speakers to help understand the common core and want to know what we would find helpful.