Is your elementary school PTA out of control?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. No school needs the leadership OP is describing, but the most active PTA I know of has about 15 members show up for it's meetings on a regular basis. I've seen meetings as low as 5 members including the board. I think most PTA's are well intentioned. If people volunteering do make a mistake or don't communicate enough, they are probably just overloaded and trying to do the best they can. We are in FCPS and obviously from the schools email blasts the schools are not able to provide everything for our kids like most parents would like. Parents need to step off the sidelines and help out more and donate if they want the PTA programs to continue and expand. I've seen comments on this board regarding the cuts like "why doesn't FCPS cut field trips?" They already have. PTA's sponsor those and a lot of other things like this all year.

OK this is one of the issues at hand. THE PTA DOESN'T SPONSOR THESE FIELD TRIPS!!! THE PARENTS PAY FOR THEM. THE PTA ONLY COORDINATES GETTING THE FUNDS TO THEM.

In our school, the Boosterthon is listed as "helping to pay for xy and z." Field trips are on that list.

[Anonymous]

I am a PTA president. We have a great time. No drama. We had a few parents try to start drama. I ask them to not volunteer unless it was to help the kids and school and not to talk about others. I think they got the message very clear. I have a great relationship with our principle and I have been told that parents feel welcomed. Number one thing I do not do is MICRO MANAGE. Our volunteers are adults. I think if they stepped up to the plate to help our they are more than qualified. And really I do not care how it gets done as long as it gets done!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is "they" in this description?

The PTA is the entire body of parents and teachers.

So, who is "they" -- the executive board?

In our school, only a minority of parents are members of the PTA, and complaints are mostly directed at a core of insensitive parents who control the executive board.

In theory, re-electing new, more rational members should be the easy solution. However, like any democracy gone wrong, a significant portion of the parent population is somewhat transient and/or culturally not PTA-focused (military hospital families, international families, etc). For a few families, there is also a language barrier, which is not as big of an issue as the cultural one or the fact that in two years some will return to their home country or elsewhere.
The PTA's core of long-timers (who are all part of the same somewhat privileged social circle and go to the same synagogue) also makes the positions very unglamorous and the process forbidding, so the more stable families don't want the jobs anyway.

Get the picture?

that is sad. The PTA is for the kids not the school or the parents. 100% membership is a huge goal of my school each year. So far so good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a PTA president. We have a great time. No drama. We had a few parents try to start drama. I ask them to not volunteer unless it was to help the kids and school and not to talk about others. I think they got the message very clear. I have a great relationship with our principle and I have been told that parents feel welcomed. Number one thing I do not do is MICRO MANAGE. Our volunteers are adults. I think if they stepped up to the plate to help our they are more than qualified. And really I do not care how it gets done as long as it gets done!

OP here I hope what you say is true and if it is I am sure your PTA is successful. Just wish all PTA's had your attitude. I volunteer a lot but the PTA Pres. and cronies are total micro managers and control freaks. This is where they make their mistake and in doing so I have seen them yell at teachers, parents (myself included), etc..., over stupid stuff. They are a total drama, exclusive, group of friends on a power trip to somewhere. So my opinion is have at it Bitches but don't expect me to give my time (and money) so freely anymore.

[Anonymous]

It's unfortunate but your story sounds just like our elementary school in CA. Our current PTA executive board has pushed willing and able parents in our community away and it is extremely frustrating because so many of us want to help build a community school that our kids will be excited to come back and help when they are older. It's really sad and when a group isn't transparent but then expects kids/families to give them a ton of money all you can do is shake your head with confusion.

[Anonymous]

You bumped up a 3 yo thread to complain vaguely about a pta in California?

[Anonymous]

If your PTA has a >$200k carryforward into this year, and is worried that expenses will outstrip revenues this year, does that count as "out of control"?

[Anonymous]

No this has not been my experience. Sounds cray.