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With COVID-19 rising, summer plans have been readjusted, and the fall school year format remains uncertain. But it is not just children facing a change in their plans; PTAs and PTOs are also uncharted territory. They have to plan for a fall school term without knowing what the fall will look like. This uncertainty does not have to result in inaction; here are some things PTAs and PTOs can do over this summer to get prepared.
Virtual PTA/PTO
1) Schedule a Summer Executive Board Meeting (virtually)
Summers are a great time to meet and plan the upcoming academic year with the organization’s executive board. Members will likely have more time, as they will be free from the PTA/PTO workload that the school year brings. It is also a good time to welcome and acclimate new members who can learn from the veterans on the team. So go ahead and schedule a meeting or two. If you cannot use your school’s technology, Google offers conferencing, or you can leverage an app like Skype.
You should set an agenda that includes the following: an ice breaker to get to know each other (e.g., social questions), a discussion of the upcoming year’s goals, and any learnings from last year. Keep this first meeting pretty high level as its goal is to get to know each other and get everyone on the same page. You should plan to schedule a late summer/early fall meeting to get into the school year plan.
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2) Organize your School Fundraising Efforts
Like any other institution, schools also need sufficient funds to operate effectively. This is even more important during the budget impacts of COVID-19. PTAs/PTOs can strategically plan their school fundraising ventures for the upcoming academic year in the summer months. One thing that is easy to do is to open an online store for school spirit wear and apparel. The PTA can then push spirit while part of back-to-school shopping time. This gets fundraising going early and, since the store stays open all year, allows it to continue with minimal effort from the PTA.
If you are the PTA member in charge of fundraising efforts, research virtual options for your typical fundraisers. For example, virtual fun runs are popular and easy to do. Book sales can be made virtually (e.g., scholastic), and instead of a fall carnival, consider a fall drive-in movie fundraiser. A dozen more ideas are on Google, just waiting to be discovered.
3) Get in Touch with School Administration
The partnership between the PTA/PTO and administration has always been critical. This is even more true this fall when the school administration is dealing with a lot of change for fall 2020. As a PTO leader, contact the administration over the summer and share any PTA/PTO plans. Ask them what they need from the organization this year that may differ from prior years. Getting this information will help your organization plan for the upcoming school year.
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4) Send Parents an Update
Summer doesn’t mean that communication with parents should cease to exist. Sure, there is not as much to share, but one update over the summer can help set the stage for parental involvement in the fall. Your summer communication should include an introduction to any new board members and recruitment calls for open positions, an update on how the PTA/PTO will change this fall, and if you’re ready, a preview of any fall fundraising.
We know there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this fall, and you will not be able to prepare for every scenario. However, following some of these tips can better position your parent organization for fall success. If you have more tips, we would love to hear from you here or on our Facebook page.