Does PTO have to follow its rules

[Anonymous]

Pto just put out the classroom activities and school lunch volunteer lists. Every semester it’s a mad dash for parents to try to volunteer, because there aren’t enough slots and these are the two volunteer areas where you can actually see your kid!

This year PTO said everyone needs to limit it to one sign up per family. The usual suspects signed up for more than one - one signed up both herself and husband in a single slot meant for one person, another signed up herself in one slot and her mother in another, and another woman just straight up signed up for first slot and last slot of the semester, like nobody would notice her name on there twice. All of this of course happening before the sign up is even sent to us “normal” families.

Yes I am petty. But that aside do you think PTO should have to play by its own rules it has set out? Or can all these women just take as many slots as they wish since they set up the signupgenius? I volunteer over a dozen hours a year every year in doing grunt work (not on the PTO board) and play by the rules.

[Anonymous]

I would put your energy elsewhere. And I say that after 7 years of school volunteering and a vow to not participate this year.

[Anonymous]

Dont play their games and volunteer for grunt work. You can send a short note to the current board leader saying that the only time you and your husband had available was a slot taken by someone breaking the rules, and that if the PTO wants more family engagement they should stop operating as if there are two tiers of parents.

[Anonymous]

If all the spots are filled before you can volunteer, just email the President that you will be coming on X day. Since it’s a time that someone else is double-booked, just say that you would like to her to swap in your name on the list and to please inform the other family of the switch. Then, show up on that day.

[Anonymous]

We choose to ignore these organizations. Lots of petit politics of one kind or another.

[Anonymous]

Kids know if their Mothers make the extra effort, or not. Ick. I was kidding. But honestly, why do schools have these positions? They shouldn't. Parents don't belong in schools in this way. It's more ordinary for adults to be in the workforce, and not be able to linger at their kid's school.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like this isn’t about the kids at all. If it was they’d prioritize consistency in volunteers. A new volunteer every day just makes work for the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Write a check to the PTO and be done. “See your kid?” Jesus Hell. Y’all are insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would put your energy elsewhere. And I say that after 7 years of school volunteering and a vow to not participate this year.

This. PTO is a joke. To keep busy body karen type of women with nothing to do have something to cluck about and act like they are sacrificing and benefiting the world.

Teachers hate PTO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If all the spots are filled before you can volunteer, just email the President that you will be coming on X day. Since it’s a time that someone else is double-booked, just say that you would like to her to swap in your name on the list and to please inform the other family of the switch. Then, show up on that day.

This. And if they balk, write the principal. Ours wouldn’t put up with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If all the spots are filled before you can volunteer, just email the President that you will be coming on X day. Since it’s a time that someone else is double-booked, just say that you would like to her to swap in your name on the list and to please inform the other family of the switch. Then, show up on that day.

This. And if they balk, write the principal. Ours wouldn’t put up with this.

Sigh. I don’t want to rock the boat or get people in trouble. I just want it to be a little bit more fair so I can get a chance to volunteer and have my kid see me at lunch. It makes him so happy and I know there aren’t so many school years of kids being happy to have mom or dad there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If all the spots are filled before you can volunteer, just email the President that you will be coming on X day. Since it’s a time that someone else is double-booked, just say that you would like to her to swap in your name on the list and to please inform the other family of the switch. Then, show up on that day.

This. And if they balk, write the principal. Ours wouldn’t put up with this.

Sigh. I don’t want to rock the boat or get people in trouble. I just want it to be a little bit more fair so I can get a chance to volunteer and have my kid see me at lunch. It makes him so happy and I know there aren’t so many school years of kids being happy to have mom or dad there.

Are you seriously wanting to volunteer for lunch duty??v? Just pick your kid up before lunch one day and take them to chipotle or someplace and when you bring them back they will be the envy of all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If all the spots are filled before you can volunteer, just email the President that you will be coming on X day. Since it’s a time that someone else is double-booked, just say that you would like to her to swap in your name on the list and to please inform the other family of the switch. Then, show up on that day.

This. And if they balk, write the principal. Ours wouldn’t put up with this.

Sigh. I don’t want to rock the boat or get people in trouble. I just want it to be a little bit more fair so I can get a chance to volunteer and have my kid see me at lunch. It makes him so happy and I know there aren’t so many school years of kids being happy to have mom or dad there.

I rather be stabbed in the eyeballs then volunteer for lunch duty. Just go and have lunch with your kid. Our school allows this any time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If all the spots are filled before you can volunteer, just email the President that you will be coming on X day. Since it’s a time that someone else is double-booked, just say that you would like to her to swap in your name on the list and to please inform the other family of the switch. Then, show up on that day.

This. And if they balk, write the principal. Ours wouldn’t put up with this.

Sigh. I don’t want to rock the boat or get people in trouble. I just want it to be a little bit more fair so I can get a chance to volunteer and have my kid see me at lunch. It makes him so happy and I know there aren’t so many school years of kids being happy to have mom or dad there.

OP, I get it. Some kids love to see their parents at school. I have a flexible schedule so can volunteer and the kids all know I’m x mom. Sometimes kids will say to me they wish their parents could volunteer. Elementary is the time to be involved if you can because you are right that in middle school, they likely won’t want you to be there.

Just email the PTO that person X signed up twice or whatever and you woukd like one of the spots.

[Anonymous]

I'm a rule follower OP so I feel you on fairness.

However, why are you annoyed at the person who signed up the mom & dad in the same slot? They are only using a single slot right?

Also, I get it... the grandma isn't a parent and is part of that family, so having them on the list over a parent is potentially "cheating" but it's not really a duplicate signup the way it has been happening.

The only true "cheat" appears to be the woman who signed up for the first & last slot.

And that's what... 1 out of 180-ish school days?

The problem with people like them is they don't play by the rules and don't care. And the problem with US is that we let them live rent free in our brains while we stew.

Lately I've been trying to spend less time doing that, for my sake, and I would recommend the same for you.