PTA dilemma

[policywonk]

The PTA at DS1's infant school is on the verge of collapse at the moment - the Chair (our second in 12 months) has just announced that she's standing down, and no-one is very enthusiastic about replacing her. I've been told that no Chair = no PTA (for Charity Commission reasons - would be interested to hear from anyone who knows more about the legal position). We're also struggling to fill the other committee posts, and as for getting parents to help out at events... ha ha ha

I've discussed taking on the role of Chair, and possibly sharing it with my friend who does the bulk of the organisation work already. However, if I did this, i think I'd want to send out a fairly dramatic letter to the parents first, saying 'The PTA will be disbanded if we don't have more parental support and fill more committee posts; if you don't want this to happen then we need you to either attend the AGM [in a couple of weeks], the first PTA meeting of term, or contact us with specific offers of help. If this PTA is disbanded it will mean no Bonfire Night display, no Christmas or summer fairs, etc. etc. - and of course no further new equipment for the playground or the classrooms.'

Is this worth doing or is it me being a drama queen arse?

BTW, if you're a PTA sneerer, feel free to post but I probably won't reply

PW - your letter is spot on. If that doesn't work then you have carte-blanche to retire in a legitimate huff . Good luck with it all.

The only thing that would put me off in your draft letter would be 'if you come along, be prepared to take on a Committee position'. Some people might be interested but have no experience or confidence to want to do that and won't come.

Our PTA has had peaks and troughs and found that meetings held at 9.15am in the canteen were the most successful times. Obviously not for working parents but for those drifters who never seem to leave the playground it was ideal.

If the HT could make an appeal as well that would add weight. Also maybe she/he could send out questionnaire re how parents would like their PTA to be run.

Our school is also an infant school and we always felt that if parents didn't get involved when their first child started, they didn't want to commit to something that they weren't going to reap the benefits from in the long term. So catch 'em early! The induction afternoon for new parents is ideal for appealing for support as dads are often there as well as working mums. Also the harvest concert because you might bag a few active GPs as well! Perhaps your HT would let you display large Kitchener type posters saying 'Your PTA needs YOU!'

One year we appealed for people to stage a one-off event if they wanted to. This was quite successful as the organisers of the events didn't feel they had to commit to meetings and long-term involvement. I know this doesn't solve the committee issue but it's a way of still raising funds.

Thank you very much for all of these ideas - I will definitely put them into practice if we don't throw our collective toys out of the pram. Afternoon/daytime meetings are a good idea. I had already thought about crashing the induction meeting for new parents but we were just too late last year - will do it this year hopefully.

Flack, thanks a lot for the info, that's very useful and helpful.

purits, I'm happy to take help from working parents - sorry if I phrased anything badly - I just meant that, quite often on MN, ft working parents complain that they are made to feel bad by PTA people for not getting involved, so I wanted to make clear that I understand that people might have other commitments. From a FT working parent's POV, is there something I could add/change about my letter that would make it more welcoming?

tigger, so many people on this thread have been surprised about the amount we raise that I'm beginning to wonder whether I haven't over-estimated - but it's certainly in that region. We do fairs every term (Xmas fair with stalls and Santa's grotto; Easter fair with stalls and egg hunt; summer fair with all the usual guff), plus Bonfire night. On top, we do cake sales (one for each year every term) and quiz nights (every term), plus one-off events like ice-skating (a company that comes in and installs an ice rink in the school hall, believe it or not), discos, sponsored trampoline jumps, makeover evenings...

To get goods to sell at the fair stalls, we havea mufti day each term but specify that all children coming in mufti need to bring a particular thing (bottles of alcohol for tombola stalls, Easter eggs for the Easter fair, boxes of chocolates or sweets for the Christmas fair). We also ask parents and children to do various semi-crafty things, like making and filling crackers at Christmas to be sold at the fairs.

Basically we probably do way too much, which might be at the root of our present problems...

Hi pw
Ds starts in reception this year. I did go along to a PTA meeting (planning meeting for summer fair) last year. Was rather shocked to be the only person who wasn't in the committee there, tbh. I wonder if part of the problem is that the PTA seems (from the outside) very organised and successful - I didn't assume it was struggling certainly.

I'm certainly planning to be involved ... I'm trying to run down my NCT involvement for that reason Do I need to come along on Monday eve (Ds doesn't start for blardy weeks, so have lost track somewhat)

PS Agree with wheresthehamster btw re the committee post bit. That would frighten the bejesus out of me...

Policywonk--your letter is just fine.

Good luck!

Fab - you sound like an organised type. Plus you eat chocolate for a living and that's got to be a good thing.

Monday will be a run-of-the-mill committee meeting (you don't have to be on the committee to come though). Given that you now know the background you might find it quite amusing - there will be quite a lot of angst I think, but I'm sure people would be delighted to see new people there. The AGM is on October 6. That's a bit more fun (in the sense of free wine and chipsticks) than the ordinary meetings. Also that's where the committee posts and class rep posts are usually filled, if you're willing to take up a position (I haven't thus far - have always just been a willing-helper-without-portfolio). But either will do, honest!

It's interesting what you say about people perceiving the PTA to be successful and organised - that might well be true, and also makes me feel less like killing my fellow parents.

Point taken about the committee bit on the letter.

Doesn't Reception start this coming week, or are you still having your home vists and whatnot? And, if it's not too nosy, are you willing to tell me which teacher DS will be having? DS1 had Mrs Scott last year - she's great.

Organised is not necessarily entirely accurate. But I can do enthusiastic on a good day, if that works.

In that case, I might skip this Monday (as I am still officially at NCT committee meeting ). But promise to put the Oct date in diary if it isn't already.

Ds will also be in Mrs Scotts class too. He was at nursery, so no home visit necessary, & he'll be one of the last to start (18th) Good to hear positive reports - everything I've heard so far has been focused on her tendency to finish school late

Oh lord yes, that woman is late beyond belief. But she's a really brilliant teacher I think - I spent some time in the classrooms helping out last year and when you see her close up it's extremely impressive. Behind all the plastic jewellery and cargo pants lie balls of steel. She's also very experienced. (DS1's teacher this year is about six years old.)

The TA is lovely as well. They make a very good team. I actually cried on the last day of last term

Fab.
I am (so far) feeling very nonchalant about the whole thing, but will reread that post on the night before he starts

policywonk - only read your OP. Fab of you to consider standing - definitely send out the letter.

As vice chair of our PTA I know exactly how you feel.

policy im not suprised peopel stand down
i think they do TOO MUCh your pta

why not scale it downa bit

Aw fp, it's a funny old day when they start. Good luck.

Thanks gobble (ooh that's rude!)

I'm beginning to think you might be right cod.

I think it's worth writing a strongly worded letter. Our PTA had a situation a few years ago where the Chair cancelled the infants film show, saying she would only re-instigate it and other activities if more parents turned up to the next meeting. The children were distraught - film show is the highlight of the infants' year - and it did the trick.

PW: I was responding to your comment that "we don't like to harrass those who are in FT paid employment". The letter sounds fine (apart from the scary "be prepared to take on a Committee post" and I see that you have taken the point).

Looking further forward: to avoid this being a recurring problem, can you create a new post of vice-chair i.e. chair-in-waiting-for-next-year.

Lilo - am standing down at the next AGM!

Aw GDG you'd be a great Chair, but you certainly have done your bit and wouldn't blame you for standing down. I'd always intended to stand as Chair towards the end of DD's time at that school (never did it when DS was there as I'd have found it hard to stand down and there's 5 years between them so would have been Chair for longer than I care to think about). However, at the point when I was ready to stand, was told by one of the previous Chairs that I was not suitable as "they" wanted someone with younger children to do it!!!

Why am I not shocked?

When the last chair stood down everyone urged me to do it but I just don't want to - there is so much back biting and bitching that goes on and I've just had enough of it. I know what we do is important and it's rewarding to raise the funds we do, but it's time for someone else to have a go!

All my children are at school now and I want to take time to focus on work, take on more clients and take on a wider role, still freelance though.

Plus, am musing over a gov position as 2 are coming up soon - my interest is strictly confidential so do not repeat! I may decide against it...

oooh, it's nice to hear that other people's PTAs are hotbeds of intrigue and backstabbing.

Thought some of you might be interested to know that I've double-checked the figures, and our PTA raised £12,000 last year

I've run the letter idea past a few people and the consensus seems to be that we'll wait to see how much of a struggle we have to fill the Committee/class rep posts, and then press the nuclear button if needs be. Thanks for your input!

(Tis me, policywonk, renamed in honour of the large hadron collider)

GDG, will never repeat anything you write here. FWIW, you'll get my vote if you decide to go for Gov and will rally some support amongst junior parents. Thought about doing that too but can't stand the chair of govs and would probably find it too hard to bite my tongue. But will prob pursue at DS's school, esp if DD gets in there too (as unlikely as that seems ATM)

Meant to add, SuperCollider - we actually have a really good PTA but unfortunately there are some real bitches members who aren't as pleasant as others. Sounds like you have a successful PTA too, in spite of not getting the parental support you'd like.

lilo - hmm, chair of gov not my fav person but I am happy to give my opinions regardless. I'm not afraid to speak my mind

Have sought advice from current governors and they think I should do it in order to keep trying to change the representatives so that we have a 'louder voice'.

We are holding a "Tea and Tissues" morning this Friday for the new Reception parents. Grab them while they're feeling vulnerable, give them tea and cake, then say - casual-like "Now, about the Christmas Fair........."

A new approach - might work!

After many problems including mass resignations, we decided to do without an official PTA. We have an informal grouping of parents, with a nominal 'leader' who is the main point of contact with the head and we just get on with planning and running events.

We have done this for several years and it works brilliantly. We don't need a chair, secretary or treasurer, we don't need to have accounts audited as such.

We work under the school's insurance - all events, dates etc are cleared with the head and letters go out on school headed paper signed by the head, so letters 'sound' as if they are coming from her, not a PTA. We keep a bit of petty cash, but otherwise all funds raised are just paid straight into the school account, and parents are kept informed by letter/newsletter what the money is used for.

There are only 4-6 of us who regularly meet and plan things, but we have the backing of many more parens who are willing to give an hour or two to specific events. That way, they don't feel too pressured or in danger of being pressganged into an official position!

The head likes this system and we have built up a great working relationship with the school.