I strongly believe that our PTA should be open to all members (parents, carers and staff), and that the majority of our meetings should be open for anyone to attend. We should only hold (closed) committee meetings when sensitive subjects need to to be discussed (financial discrepancies etc). We really struggle to gain new members and volunteers and think we should be as welcoming as possible and less clique like.
Our staff rep (who was also on the committee 20 years ago when their child atrended) believes otherwise - that the members elected the committee at the AGM and the committee are now to hunker down and get on with it. Their argument is that members shouldn't know we are buying goods for events for pennies and selling at a profit (we're fundraising - I think that's a given).
We had a tumultuous year last year and this point was a straw to a camels back for me and I resigned but was later asked back and most meetings were open.
I have just become Chair and the argument was brought up again at our last meeting. Our new committee are naive to the formalities and voted with the staff member last night. So now I am faced with Chairing a committee in a direction I fundamentally don't agree with.
AIBU?
I'd be interested to hear how your PTA operate - are your meetings open to all or committee only? Do you think it matters?