Canyons District is creating a new policy, allowing for a parent organization other than the PTA. I am thrilled that our school community will get the chance to vote on whether we want a PTA or a PTO at Silver Mesa. We have never been allowed this choice before. Because the new policy will only allow for a petition to change the school’s parent organization once every three years, it is important that we as a community really consider the issue before voting this fall. In light of this, I have written the following:
My Top Five Reasons for Supporting a PTO at Silver Mesa Elementary
by Holly Hendrickson - Silver Mesa Parent
All-Inclusive - I like that a PTO is all-inclusive. Everyone with a child at the school is considered a member with voting rights. A PTA has members and non-members. With a PTO, everyone would receive communications from the PTO about things that impact our school. With a PTA, only PTA members receive emails concerning some of the things that affect the entire school. Having PTA members and non-members can be divisive. Having a PTO where everyone is automatically a member and can be as involved (or uninvolved) as wanted, creates a sense of unity.
Dues - I like that it is up to the individual school’s PTO to decide whether or not to charge dues. I like that if dues are charged by a PTO, 100% of that money stays at the school. The PTA requires dues. Of the $5 PTA membership dues charged at Silver Mesa in the 2015/2016 school year, less than $0.50 will stay at the school. Of each $5 membership, around $0.50 was sent to the Council PTA , $1.75 was sent to the Utah PTA, and $2.25 was sent to the National PTA. That money adds up and would be better-used at our school, rather than at state and national levels. I like that with a PTO, one can volunteer regardless of monetary contribution. In the PTA, one cannot volunteer at the board-level, or in any other position that requires the handling of money, if one has not paid membership dues. It seems counter-productive to require volunteers to pay in order to donate their valuable time. Anyone wanting to donate time for the benefit of our kids should be able to do so, regardless of whether he/she is a member of the PTA.
Non-political - I like that a PTO is a non-political, local group. The PTA is an advocacy group that spends money lobbying for various things concerning children. While I don’t have a problem with most of the things the PTA lobbies for, I don’t think being a member of a school’s parent organization should be tied to political advocacy. With a PTO, I wouldn’t be sending dues money away from the school to support lobbying efforts I may or may not agree with. The majority of PTA members are unaware of what the PTA’s state and national lobbying agenda is. If I feel strongly about a position the PTA (or any other organization) is lobbying for, I can donate time and money to that group of my own volition. I should not be forced to indirectly fund advocacy (through membership dues) in order to be a part of my school’s parent organization.
Transparency - I like the idea of establishing a PTO that is by the people, for the people, and available to the people. I like the idea of a transparent PTO, with PTO bylaws, PTO board meeting minutes, and the PTO budget posted publicly online, where the school community can easily access it. The PTA will not publicly post their bylaws. PTA bylaws, the annual PTA budget, and PTA meeting minutes are only available if one attends monthly PTA meetings. For the sake of transparency, I think budget items, agenda items, meeting minutes, and bylaws, should all be posted publicly where the school community can access them.
What are We Missing? The vast majority of parent-teacher groups in the U.S. are actually independents, rather than formally affiliated PTAs. Utah is one of only 4 states where there are more PTAs than PTOs. (The others are Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, where the PTA has it’s national headquarters.) PTA membership has been dropping steadily over the years, and there are reasons why. Many groups have a hard time justifying the rising expense and sometimes question the practical benefits of belonging to the PTA. Muir Elementary, in Davis County, is one of these groups. In 2012, they voted to disband their PTA, in favor of establishing a PTO. I asked Shelly McKenna, former Muir PTO President, if their switch was worth it. She gave me a resounding, “Yes!”. According to McKenna, parents were skeptical of the change at first, but after the first year, they were able to see and appreciate the benefits of switching. Parents were more willing to support PTO fundraising efforts, because they felt like they knew (and agreed with) where the money was being spent. Muir PTO was able to grant money to the school earmarked for teachers to use for classroom supplies. (No more notes requesting funds or donations!) They were able to fund better field trips for each grade. They were able to establish a program called “Expressions,” to replace the PTA’s “Reflections,” and give cash prizes to top winners. This makes me feel like as a school, we are missing out! I think the PTA has its place and does much good; but, I think that a PTO would be a better fit for Silver Mesa and offer much more.
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