Be Our GuestOptimizing The Principal & PTA President

Partnership for School Success

Capistrano Unified Council

November 18, 2013

PTA 101

• Organization• Purpose • Basic Policies• ADVOCACY• Bylaws• Financial Procedures• Responsibilities• The Real PTA Moments of CUSD

PTA Organization

Purpose of PTA

★To promote the welfare of children & youth in home, school, community & place of worship★To secure adequate laws for the care and

protection of children & youth

Purpose of PTA

★To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of

children and youth

BASIC PTA POLICIES

• Noncommercial• Nonsectarian• Nonpartisan

Basic pta policies

IRS Tax Code 501(c)(3)

• Charitable• Contributions are tax deductible• Not for private interest• “Shun” political activity • File tax returns• Spending limits

Advocacy

• Since 1897!• Champions for all issues affecting

children: social, health, safety and education

Advocacy

• Support or oppose positions on:–National issues & legislation–California issues & legislation–Local issues

Advocacy

No amount of fundraising can equal what one piece of legislation can do!

PTA’s raise money to fund plannedprograms and projects.

PTA Governance

• Bylaws• Parliamentary Rules of Order• School District Policies

Bylaws

Who, What, Where and When

• Officers• Responsibilities• Policies• Membership/Dues• Meetings

Bylaws

• Executive Board• Association• Committees• Principal’s role

You, the Principal

• Are a member of the Executive Board– Involved with planning and budgeting

• Can Serve on Nominating Committee• We need your Approval

Basic Financial Procedures

• Taxes & Charitable Trust• Transparency: Financial Reports• Insurance & Liability• Contracts• Fiduciary Agreement

Fundraising

• Raised for planned and budgeted programs• Safe money handling procedures• Security

money MATTERS

Discretionary Accounts?• Paying Employees• Science Camp, etc.• Transportation• Mismanagement of funds: It happens!

Be our guest

Dear Principal,

Thanks for inviting us on your campus.We invite you to join and support our PTA.

Best wishes,Your PTA President

Our Responsibilities

• Communication• Scheduling• Requests• Respect• Promote Parent involvement• Support curriculum & school programs

Supportive Principal

• Makes PTA feel welcome on campus• Helps with Parent Education• Invites President to some staff meetings• Assists with conflict mediation• Thanks volunteers• Does not promote excessive fundraising

A ReallySupportive Principal!

• Joins PTA• Encourages PTA Membership• Writes column in PTA newsletter• Attends PTA meetings and events• Meets regularly with PTA President• Help recruit volunteers

Supportive PTA President

• Knows/upholds school district policies• Two-way communication & respect• Meets regularly with Principal• Discusses concerns frankly• Maintains confidentiality• Gets approval of printed information• Positive & enthusiastic about the school

Principals don’t like

• PTA dominance• Cliques, gossip, conflict• Lack of training• Lack of planning• Doesn’t consult/include Principal• PTA doesn’t take suggestions

Pta doesn’t like

• Non-supportive Principal and/or staff• Lack of staff participation• Dominant Principal• PTA seen as ATM

Let’s discuss

The Real PTA Moments of CUSDWhat Would You Do?

Wardrobe Malfunctions

WardrobeMALFUNCTIONS

ELEMENTARY GROUPS: A mom arrives to volunteer at the elementary school book fair. She signs in at the office and proceeds to the Library. A parent complains to the office manager and the PTA President that this woman is inappropriately dressed.

WARDROBEMALFUNCTIONS

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS: A dad who is a research biologist volunteers to speak to AP Biology students about careers in science at the PTA Career Day.

He is uncomfortable with many of the students’ fashion choices. He tells a female student that her attire would be inappropriate for the workplace.

After his talk, he demands that the PTA do something and that the school should enforce a dress code that requires adequate coverage.

It Must Be True . . .

It MUST BE TRUE . . .

During the post-PTA meeting in the school parking lot, several volunteers chat about what they’ve read on their kids’ Facebook pages about one of the teacher’s relationships with a student.

One of them pulls out her phone and looks it up.

It is on Facebook and has been “liked” by dozens.

It’s 5:00 Somewhere!

IT’S 5:00 SOMEWHERE

ELEMENTARY GROUPS: The PTA Chair for the Jog-a-thon shows up intoxicated to the planning meeting with the committee in the library. MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS: The PTA President meets with ASB students to coordinate activities for Back-to-School night. One of the students appears to be intoxicated or high.

Would you like fries with that?

Would you like fries with that?

ELEMENTARY GROUPS:PTA volunteers will provide treats to reward outstanding readers. Carol, of Carol’s Fabulous Cupcakes, has offered to donate dozens of her specialty cupcakes including the award winning Peanut Pizazz. MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS:The Principal plans an all day in-service program for teachers. He expects the PTA to provide hospitality for the all day event.

But, we’re special!

BUT, WE’RE SPECIAL!

When the PTA President gets to “New Business” on the agenda, a parent who represents a small group of other parents requests that the PTA support, with a donation, an enrichment activity/program for their children. A teacher who has offered to coach the students speaks to support them. (Destination Imagination, Model UN)

Whose business is it?

Whose business is it?

ELEMENTARY GROUPS:Parents just learned that a favorite second grade teacher has been reassigned to another school. They are mad and want to know why.

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL GROUPS:Several parents are upset over the selection of a venue for the Winter Formal. They attend a PTA meeting to ask the Principal why the Activities Director has selected a site for prom that is pretty far away from the school.

CASH & DASH

CASH & DASH

The PTA carnival is a huge success. It looks like thousands of dollars was collected during the event, almost all of it in cash that is in an unlocked cash box. Everyone is exhausted. The carnival chair leaves with all of the proceeds from the event.

HappyChristmahanakwanzika!

HappyChristmahanakwanzika!

Students are working with PTA volunteers to package donated books that will be delivered to a local church. One of the volunteers and her daughter describe all of the activities that their church is doing to assist families during the holidays. Another PTA volunteer who is clearly of a different faith feels that the project has taken a religious turn. She complains to the Principal that PTA is supporting this church.

PTA Resources for the Principal

• Insurance & Loss Prevention Guide• PTA Printed Materials• PTA Toolkit• PTA Websites– www.cucptsa.com– www.fourthdistrictpta.org– www.capta.org– www.pta.org

Partners for school success*

*For all kids!Thanks for working with PTA.Martha McNicholas, President

Capistrano Unified Council