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McFarland K–8 PTO reports $26,000 in yearly fundraising, seeks volunteers
Summary
Samantha Zeilenga, president of the McFarland EC–8 PTO, briefed the school board on the PTO’s programs, finances and volunteer shortfalls; the group raised and spent about $26,000 in 2024–25, paid roughly $13,000 for yearbooks, and plans volunteer outreach changes.
Samantha Zeilenga, president of the McFarland EC–8 Parent Teacher Organization, told the McFarland School Board that the PTO raised about $26,000 and spent roughly the same amount in the most recent year, including roughly $13,000 for EC–5 yearbooks.
The PTO president said the group serves early childhood through eighth grade, runs monthly advisory meetings open to all parents, and stages districtwide events such as “stock the lounge,” trunk-or-treat at McFarland Primary School (MPS), family fun nights, conference meals and staff appreciation week. Zeilenga said the PTO tries to make volunteer commitments short—hour-long shifts are common—and is exploring a volunteer coordinator role to address chronic shortages.
Zeilenga said the yearbook program distributes a copy to every EC–5 student regardless of payment. Parents are charged $15; the PTO’s invoiced cost for yearbooks was about $13,000, leaving the group about $86 ahead this year after fundraising. She said the PTO added a donation option in the district’s Infinite Campus system to help cover unpaid yearbooks.
The PTO reported several in-kind donations and fundraising details: Pizza Hut donated 40 pizzas to an IMMS family fun night, the PTO’s supply fundraiser used an Amazon wishlist, the trunk-or-treat drew roughly 20 trunks and about 500 children, and the group raised “a couple hundred dollars” at trunk-or-treat via small-change contests. The PTO said it splits remaining operating funds into three checks—one for each school site—intended as discretionary funds for principals to spend on classroom or building needs.
Zeilenga identified volunteers as the PTO’s biggest challenge: she said the MPS carnival was canceled this year because the PTO could not secure sufficient volunteers to operate an event of more than 500 attendees. She described plans to recruit high school volunteers, tap local organizations and create a standing volunteer coordinator in the PTO bylaws.
Zeilenga asked the board to support improved district-level communication with families (a consistent PTO section in school newsletters, more visible presence on picture day, and selective paper flyers at MPS) to increase volunteer recruitment and fundraising participation. The board thanked Zeilenga and noted the PTO would provide an annual update going forward.
The PTO provided contact information and encouraged parents to reach out with volunteer offers or funding requests.
