PTA Question

Can someone please explain to me how a functioning PTA is supposed to work?

My DD is in elementary school. The PTA solicits donations, as I imagine all PTAs do. To my knowledge, the only PTA “sponsored” event is a Halloween carnival. It does not appear anything at the carnival is outsourced (no rides, DJ, etc) and the individual activities, like paint a pumpkin or cornhole are sponsored by local businesses (ie a local nursery provides the pumpkins, a bakery provides cookies that are then sold). The businesses can sponsor activities that don’t require any materials (like musical chairs), so they basically pay to have a sign next to the activity. The wristbands for the carnival are $40 each. I think “PTA sponsorship” is perhaps a bit of a stretch?

I have not seen any other PTA sponsored event of any kind in 3.5 years. Originally I thought maybe it was Covid related but the school has no problem holding 3 midday events for parents this week so that can’t be it.

Is this normal? Am I just a curmudgeon? What do they do with all this money?Before anyone suggests I go to the PTA meetings, I would if they weren’t on Tuesdays at 1pm without a zoom option.

PTA Question

Yeah, that sounds odd. But, perhaps they are using the money earned from this activity is used for in-school activities for the children. All the money earned from fundraising must be used for the benefit of the children at the school. And, it should be relatively even. If you do something that's just for Kindergarten, then you also need to do something for the other grades. You can't do more for one group of kids.

Also the PTA is supposed to have a budget of income and expenses each year. It's supposed to be a "zero-sum" budget. (I don't know if that's the correct term.). Basically, all the income must equal the expenses. Of course, at the end of the year, usually you do have a surplus, but you can't keep stockpiling money and not spending it.

I would start by asking for the budget to see what they're spending the money on. Hope that helps.

PTA Question

Our PTA posts minutes on the PTA section of the schools website, maybe yours does as well?

That one big event sounds like a fundraiser, not a giveback. Our PTA has various fundraisers throughout the year but also gives back in the form of assemblies, grade level functions (equitable like PP said), purchasing recess equipment, purchasing books for the library, grounds beautification, etc.

ETA - I skimmed over the $40 entrance fee for the carnival without rides and such - that is ridiculous! In elementary we had a BBQ with a carnival ride, game trucks, etc and it was $5pp or $20 per family. And you got food and entertainment (nothing was sponsored by a local business either).

And 1pm is a horrible time. We have meetings either at 9:30am or 7pm - for Middle and elementary schools. We found the morning meetings are more well attended as a lot of people in our community dont work traditional work schedules.

Message edited 12/20/2023 3:25:09 PM.

Re: PTA Question

PTA Question

Most money raised by the PTA is used to sponsor Arts in Education programming during the school year. (I was on the committee during my son's elementary school years).

Bringing educational, cultural and fun programming into the schools is very expensive so they have to raise a lot of money.

PTA Question

My school has:
First Friday movie night
Bingo nights
Karaoke nights
Spooktakular
Holiday shop
Curiosity shop
Color run
End of year carnival

Our PTA brings in a lot of performers and assemblies for kids. They do an arts program for 4/5th grade. They have put in a 200 yd track. They got a canopy for the outdoor eating space. I’m sure they’ve done more but those are the big things.

Message edited 12/20/2023 8:52:19 PM.

PTA Question

Wow, your PTAs do so much! I looked at the PTA section of the school website and the activities they list are the Halloween carnival, walk to school week (as opposed the parents driving- we don’t have buses) and the talent show, which is held at the school and the tickets are $30 each (I admit I forgot about his one but it’s not a free event). If there are activities during school or equipment they’re purchasing, it’s never been mentioned to the wider school community.

I’ve asked some of the moms I’m friendly with but none of us know anyone on the PTA. They also think the whole situation is strange.

Re: PTA Question

PTA Question

I'm on the PTA board at our Middle School & was involved at the elementary level.
1- the budget MUST be made available to anyone who asks. ASK FOR IT!
2- we sponsor a lot of things for the kids, some educational, some fun. Examples: we fund before & after school clubs and teams. meaning we write the school a LARGE check every year, which helps cover supplies AND teacher pay for hosting the clubs & teams, since it's outside of school hours.
3- we do things for the teachers, admin & staff too- welcome back breakfast, food trucks for parent teacher days, gifts for holidays/end of year.
4- we provide funding for assemblies for the kids (again fun and/or educational) and workshops for the parents.
5- we do lots of things for our graduating 8th graders- senior spirit week, senior breakfast/yearbook signing event, gifts & more.
6- we co-host events with the school- like Jr Arista, award night, night of the arts- we provide the refreshments and decorations
The fact that PTA meetings are at 1PM with no option for zoom is ridiculous. I would make some noise about that. We go out of our way to make sure our meetings are as convenient for parents as possible!

**we were in another district before we moved and that PTA raised so much money, but literally gave it all back to school to use for in school funding- lunchtime aids, recess "equipment" (jump ropes & balls), Para salaries, computers & tech stuff.

PTA Question

Ask to see the budget. That should tell you where all the money is going. In elementary the PTA hosted numerous events a year but we also had schools in our district who did not but used their money to provide more cultural arts activities. Maybe the PTA is doing something like that. Ask though, it is your right to know where your money is going too.

Re: PTA Question