Parent-teacher organizations keep Butler elementary schools afloat
CENTER TWP — The McDonald’s near the Clearview Mall had extra help on Monday, Sept. 29.
Teachers and staff of Center Township Elementary School worked the front counter, drive-thru window and even the McFlurry machine to serve what ended up being a large crowd of customers, who flowed in and out of the fast food restaurant all evening.
The faculty members were not working for tips — rather, they were working there to raise money for the school through its parent-teacher organization, which provides financial assistance to the school for programming and supplies year-round.
Sarah Sauers, president of Center Township Elementary’s PTO, said, that from a parent’s perspective, an organization of this kind can help ensure that students and teachers have access to what they need to maintain a good learning environment. Even if it does take a significant amount of volunteer time for herself and the others who help the organization.
“I really value PTO; I think it’s really important because we’re trying to promote helping the teachers, helping the students, and they need an organization that has their back,” Sauers said. “It's important to have caring people in our PTO because it affects the kids.”
A majority of the elementary schools in Butler Area School District have a parent-teacher organization of some kind. Broad Street Elementary is the only elementary school in the district without one.
These organizations not only help teachers and administrators pay for school supplies, they also provide programming to fundraise, or be “rewards” for students in their schools.
Brian White, superintendent of Butler Area School District, said the parent-teacher organizations in the elementary schools contribute to the well-being of the students and teachers they help.
“The impact of a highly functioning parent-teacher organization on a school and district culture can be tremendous,” White said. “Their work often sets the stage for moments that students will remember forever.”
Parent-teacher organizations are made up of members of faculty as well as parents of students who attend a school. The cooperation between parents and teachers helps a parent-teacher organization have a handle on the needs of a school and its students, according to another parent leader of one of these groups.
“Our teachers do so, so much beyond their job description, so when the (Parent-Teacher Committee) can step in and fill those voids, I think that’s one of the best parts of a parent organization,” said Brittnee Hammonds, president of the Connoquenessing Elementary PTC. “It varies from year to year, but we try to focus as much as we can on the teachers.”
Hammonds said the Connoquenessing PTC works with teachers and administrators to steer initiatives to help the school. The committee helps fund activities, like an after-school art club, and items in the school’s store.
The Connoquenessing committee is also looking to reduce the cost of taking students on field trips.
“This year we’re looking for field trips that don’t have direct costs, but PTC needs to cover transportation and those associated costs,” Hammonds said.
Laura Vincent, treasurer of the Summit Elementary School PTO, said her organization also helps with field trips.
“We also cover the cost of site visits and transportation, so students and teachers can benefit from experiences outside the classroom,” Vincent said.
The organization also focuses on events for students and their families, and, Vincent said, planning also falls in line with the school’s goals as an agricultural education center.
“Through fundraising and volunteer efforts, we host family events such as the Back-to-School Carnival, Trunk or Treat, Holiday Night and Field Day,” Vincent said in an email. “As a Community Agricultural Partnership (CAPS) school, the PTO provides vital funding for hands-on learning — supplying fish tank materials for trout; food and bedding for chickens and rabbits; gardening tools; and more.”
Putting on all these initiatives keeps these parent-teacher organizations pretty busy.
Kati Gray, president of the Northwest Elementary PTO, said that on top of raising her children and keeping them involved in extracurricular activities at Northwest, she spends many more hours leading the parent-teacher organization. She said she works a lot with the teachers of the school so members of the organization know what to focus their efforts on, but it still requires at least five hours of attention per week.
However, Gray said one of the most important aspects of working as a PTO is building community among teachers, students and parents at the school.
“It’s at least a part-time job,” Gray said. “The community-building is a big piece of it.”
While a PTO requires hours of work each week to keep up with the needs of its school, the leaders of each of them in Butler County said that work is worth it.
“It requires a significant amount of time,” Hammonds said. “Knowing that our teachers and staff put in just as much time, it’s critically important for us to do these things.”
Sauers, too, said she takes the role of PTO president seriously, because she is working with students and teachers, who each need support for different things throughout the school year.
“Teachers spend a lot of their own money so if we can help them out in any way, we want to,” Sauers said.
And the PTOs in Butler Area School District are not picky when it comes to volunteer opportunities. Hammonds said the Connoquenessing Elementary PTC has different committees that parents can volunteer for, or they can even just come to a fundraiser or event to help out however possible. She said she shares this information with parents at the school.
“Whoever your grown-up is, we want to have them involved too,” Hammonds said. “Our goal is to have as many families participate as possible.”
Working with a PTO has also helped the parents become more acquainted with their school community. Gray said she got to know not only her children’s friends through her work at the school, but also their parents, who she was able to form bonds with through a mutually shared goal of supporting the school.
Gray said this community-building aspect of her PTO has been integral to learning the specific needs of a school and its students and teachers.
“Now being in it, I love being in these events and knowing all the kids,” Gray said. “It’s really fun to be able to see them at after-school events and get to know who my kids are friends with, and building that community.”
