Board discusses appointing a PTO liaison to improve budgeting and communication

Board members discussed a proposal — raised by PTO leadership and board members — to have a district board member periodically serve as a liaison to the PTO to improve planning and reduce duplicate effort between administration and the parent‑teacher organization.

Patrick described the idea as a response to PTO leaders who said they sometimes did not know whether a request should be funded by the PTO, the district budget or another source. He said the proposal was for a board member to attend PTO leadership meetings on a quarterly basis, not to join all PTO meetings. "It wouldn't be that a member or two members of the board would join all those meetings, but maybe three times a year or four times a year," Patrick said, characterizing it as planning and coordination rather than control.

Board members and staff said the intent was to make it easier for PTO volunteers, avoid duplication and surface requests that might be covered by existing budget lines. Staff described existing budget review processes: PTO budgets are reviewed in summer and administration can clarify which items are covered by district funds. One staff member noted that many PTO updates are routine and not budget related. "It was more of their invitation to potentially do that," a board member said, adding that any formal assignment would wait until the board reorganizes next month.

Some board members voiced concern about preserving PTO independence. One member said the PTO’s purpose is parent‑led fundraising and cautioned against the board inserting itself in a way that changes the PTO’s dynamic. The board agreed to take more time to consider the idea and to return to the topic after the reorganizational meeting.

No formal vote was taken; the board asked staff to continue communication with PTO leaders and to consider less‑formal coordination options such as targeted attendance at planning meetings and improved budget communications.