Even Better

Even Better- by Carrie Tuttle

I think the Silver Mesa PTA ladies are doing a great job this year. But there is one thing that I think would make it even better...
if they were working under the setup of a PTO. These are the reasons why I believe this:

1. All funds stay at the school. The PTA had a great membership drive. They have about 200 members. If all that money stayed at the school they would have $1,000 more to use to help students and teachers.

2. If they didn't have to follow PTA rules then anyone could volunteer at any level. They have been looking for a volunteer coordinator since the beginning of the school year. I know several talented and available ladies who would love to be the volunteer coordinator but can't because they aren't a member of our PTA. The great thing about a PTO is that any parent can volunteer in any position because there are no restrictions.

3. The school PTA has to support the National and State PTA even if they don't agree with their rules, regulations and lobbying platform. Why not let the parent organization make their own rules that fit their own standards, needs and morals (and those of the staff and students at the school). Why do we need to be ruled by an outside organization? I think our parents are smart, talented and educated and can decide for themselves how our parent organization should be run and what rules we should follow. The needs at our school aren't necessarily the same as a school in LA, NYC or even rural Idaho but the PTA rules and lobbying are the same for each of those schools.

If we all work together I think we can create a great parent organization that is tailor made for our school. Each school has special needs and with a PTO we can cater to those needs and make the school an even better place for our students, parents, teachers and staff.