PTO Fall 2011 Survey Priorities and Feedback

Key take aways  Strong response - 72 people responded to (and finished the) survey from October 12 th through October 21 st  Positive - Mainly supportive comments throughout the survey responses  On track - Respondents seem to feel that the PTO has the right priorities; keep funding the way it is  No general funds to playground – grants OK  Top priorities – classroom support, starting enrichment/tutoring programs  Important – fund field trips and scholarships

Spending on track? The bulk of the approximately $16,000 PTO budget last year (not counting playground which was in a separate account) was spent on 1) Classroom support, through grants to teachers and 2) sponsoring events and activities at the school. Smaller amounts of money were allocated to field trips, community support (donations to families), PE/Assembly/library support. Do you feel… Answer = YES

Classroom support field trips/PE/Assembly/library support SHOULD TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE SCHOOL BUDGET; Reverse the priorities …it seems that parents donated dollars should support the student- based outcomes (field trips, assemblies, and events) vs. … direct funding of classrooms. …teachers really need and appreciate the support from the PTO …match money in to pay out. Cut classrooms by half for example. I'd like To see more money raised for a larger scale project each year - if not to purchase an item this year then to build for something really good. I agree that the top spending priorities should be for classroom support … I do not agree that the funds should be used for community support. This is a small budget and I think the PTO manages it fairly well....I have concerns about commercialism in the schools Giving baskets should be af food drive only. We don't need to spend $ on Plastic containers. "Thank yous" such as kids who help in the office should be donated and not out of our budget. Spending Comments

Priorities? What do you think should be the top action priorities for the PTO this year? This question is not so much about funding but what we should make sure we accomplish this year. # of responses

Priorities Comments sign should be LAST on this list of priority items 3rd prior - help kids in the classroom extra reading and math I feel these need to benefit everyone not just a few. Library improvement You could probably get a Boy Scout troop to build you a new sign box if the old one is damaged.

Playground In addition to funds set aside in the playground account, the PTO will need to contribute an additional $18,000 to finish the garden/walking path projects as designed and approved last year. We are planning to grant write for those funds but if we do NOT receive that funding... Would you be willing to participate in additional fundraisers? Do you think the walking path should be our priority? Do you think the garden should be our priority? Do you feel finishing these playground projects should take priority over some of our general budget expenses? # of responses

Fundraisers If we were to do any additional fundraiser(s) outside of the Fund Drive and See's Candy (scheduled for this holiday season), which would you prefer? # of responses

Fundraiser Comments If someone were able to sell Smencils during lunch recess-that was very popular a few years ago and I believe it was quite profitable. depends on the cost to family and friends... and the % we get back. Game night It may be too late this year but what about a membership fee that would then entitles the family to a directory and maybe a free movie night or certain number of harvest fest tickets. Garage sale or something that gets the school % of the profit. CPK fundraiser dinners or food sales whatever makes the most money just hit us in March. Sept all our $ goes to back to school and sports. Dec it's xmas. Wait til March when we have recoverd Note: BTMS already does the magazine drive in the community

Harvest Fest The PTO generally tries to provide events for free to students and families (movie nights, Art Walk reception, Winterfest/Festival of Lights) or for a slight cost ($.25 tickets used for HarvestFest games and activities). Would you be in favor or opposed of slightly increasing the cost for HarvestFest tickets ($.50) and/or movie night admission ($.50 - $1.00)? Answer = YES

Suggestions for PTO Encourage more parent education from the school on autism and asperger's syndrome More ethnic diversity within the PTO. No suggestions! I think everyone is doing great… Getting the staff input is a great start! …teachers feel strapped for paper [O]ffer "Donations gladly accepted" at the door - every little bit helps. You are awesome I hope you get feedback that is helpful, but I fully support the current direction and goals. I like the balance Make class mother(Father). If she(or he)organaized class parents, I think school event, class event, etc are going to be more familier. I would be in favor of postponing the walking path/garden projects,… I also would be very much in favor of doing a walk-a-thon after school or on a weekend, as I think it would be much easier to raise funds for such an activity than to just ask for "donations," as was done this fall...

Suggestions for PTO (cont) After school sports PTO is doing a great job! BETTER ADVERTIZING OF THE EVENTS, VOLUNTERS ONLY! This survey is a great start! Academic and social support through extra curricular enrichment programs, assemblies, and tutoring should be top priorities, with financial support to individual students being secondary. No money should be spent on playground/recess oriented items

Suggestions for PTO (cont) Make all PTO-sponsored activities free to students and families... Education and enrichment first. I really appreciate this survey... …I trust my PTO to make the right decision. I think the field trips, assemblies and activities give kids a more interactive way to learn and compliments their book learning, so those are important to me..path and learning garden are [not a] priority to me, but I would be happy to help with grants you are applying for any way I can. on going surverys for ideas from the community. [F]ocus…on the children - anything to help enrich or help with their learning should be top priority..I feel that sometimes we get fliers home that could have been done by so that paper could be used for their spelling list, for example.

Your Skills  People noted already volunteering  Number of offers to help with internet research  Several gave names and contact info.

Conclusions/ Thoughts  We have a responsive base  We have good information to apply to budget priorities  Reflect on the next big project  Given responses, what types of fundraisers should we concentrate on?  Other?