Board recognizes PTAs and PTOs for volunteer support and fundraising

The Stillwater Area Public Schools Board opened Tuesday’s meeting by recognizing representatives from numerous PTA and PTO organizations and thanking them for volunteer work and fundraising that staff said support students and classrooms.

Nut graf: Board members and district staff highlighted PTAs/PTOs’ roles in building school-community partnerships, supporting staff and funding programs and supplies that are not fully covered by the district budget.

Board Chair Sherman read a statement expressing appreciation and asked PTA/PTO representatives to identify themselves and describe challenges and successes. PTA and PTO leaders from several schools described two recurring themes: strong community support for events and fundraising, and difficulty recruiting volunteers for recurring duties. A Lily Lake PTA leader said rising costs for transportation and field trips increase demands on fundraising; a Brookview PTA leader said five volunteers were frequently running events and the group is working to recruit more parent help.

Several speakers described ways PTO funds are used, including purchasing supplies for teachers, funding social-emotional supports such as art supplies for grief groups, and funding playground or equipment upgrades (three permanent basketball hoops and a Gaga ball pit at Oakland Middle School). Board members reminded PTAs/PTOs that board liaisons are assigned to schools and encouraged organizations to use the district calendar to publicize events to enable board members to attend.

Ending: The recognition segment closed with board members thanking volunteers for braving cold weather to attend and with an invitation to PTAs/PTOs to continue coordinating with district liaisons and the board calendar.