School switches from PTA to PTO

By Courtney Nguyen
Correspondent

August 28, 2009 03:47 am

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NEWBURY — Every parent of a student at Newbury Elementary is now automatically a member of the newly formed Parent-Teacher Organization, which will replace the dues-based, restrictive PTA of the past few years.

PTO President Audi Keller said that membership in the PTA started declining just as the demand for money from the PTA started going up.

"Principals everywhere are relying on parent organizations for money as funding from the state and federal governments is dropping off," Keller said. "The PTA was a big fundraising organization, nickel and diming everyone. With a PTO, we can involve the whole community and just do one big fundraiser."

Keller also started the Newbury Elementary Collaborative, which allowed fundraising outside the guidelines of the PTA.

"The PTA rules are that fundraising had to be by the kids, for the kids. This rules out silent auctions, wine-tasting events or any other large event for adults," she said.

Last year, Keller took a look at some numbers and saw that while the sixth grade was receiving 10 percent of PTA funds, only 2 percent of parents were involved in the PTA. She also noticed that board members were expected to do every aspect of the duties, from organizing fundraisers to allocating the funds.

"The word I got was that being involved in the PTA was an option," Keller said. "To me, there is no option when it comes being involved in your child's school."

She said that changing over to a PTO model, which does not require joining or dues but does make every parent a member, will take the phrase, "I'm not joining" out of parents' vocabularies.

"If your child goes to NES, you are a member of the PTO," she said. "If your child is a student and benefits from the PTO, then you are already involved."

This year, the PTO plans to bring back Inca Sun activities, bingo, host free monthly movie nights and hold a duck race in the spring.

"We'll have passive fundraising as well, such as box tops for education and collecting Capri Sun pouches," Keller said. A canoe tipping with Principal Sylvia Jordan may also be in the works.

"With the PTO, it's all about you," said Keller, referencing the students and parents. She said that she hopes parents will approach her or any board member with questions, suggestions or comments, and she wants to see a packed room at monthly PTO meetings.

Other officers include co-Vice Presidents Michelle Walsh and Maureen Heffernan; Treasurer Wendy Wood and Secretary Belen Weiler.

For a calendar of PTO events, click on the "parent groups" link on the Newbury Elementary page of the school Web site, www.trsd.net.