Prepare For Next Year Now

It’s the end of the 2013-14 school year, and everyone involved is breathing a much-needed sigh of relief. 

But, for those who have spent this most recent year of learning volunteering with their local Parent-Teacher Organization, (PTO) this also means getting things buttoned up and organized for when the next academic year rolls around. 

Here at Quality Wholesale, we know many of you are active participants in school organizations, so we’ve put together this simple checklist of things to remember before powering down your PTO for the summer. 

ORGANIZE FILES

A great first step into summer is to go through your PTO files to make sure everything is there. Collect committee files and other information from fellow members and store everything in a safe and accessible location. And, while it can be fun and rewarding to purge files of things you don’t need anymore, hang on to all things related to finances; PTO groups are audited like everything else, and you’ll want to make sure you have your fiscal information in a completed state. 

KEEP TABS ON SCHOOL SUMMER HOURS

 Even though the balance will shift dramatically from school to home over the summer months, many groups still like to hold regular meetings. If you’re planning on using your school building for this, look into open building hours. It’s always a drag to set something up, only to find out last minute that your chosen venue isn’t available. 

SUMMER = RECRUITMENT OF MEMBERS

Summer, with all of its leisure activities, youth sports and more, is a great time to connect with like-minded individuals to gauge their interest level in joining your PTO. Take advantage of community activities to share with others what your group has been up to - and get them excited about potentially getting involved!

REFRESH YOUR PTO DISPLAY

Many parents and their children visit schools over the summer to check them out prior to enrollment. Keep your PTO group’s public display sharp and current so they get a strong idea of what’s going on at your school. This can really make a strong impression on new families!

REVIEW INCORPORATION STATUS

If your PTO is incorporated, look into whether or not you’ll need to review that status over the summer. Most incorporated PTO chapters do need to renew their membership yearly, and often, that renewal date arrives during summer break. Double check to make sure your status doesn’t lapse!

GATHER VACATION DATES

If you are planning to meet with your fellow PTO members over the summer months, reach out for their vacation dates. Summer can be a real scheduling headache, so get out in front of it by getting planned trip dates of your fellows into a calendar.

SET PRELIMINARY BUDGET

It’s always a good idea to reflect on your budget for the previous year, while it’s still fresh in your mind, before heading into the summer. If you’re not contemplating or forecasting any particularly large changes for next year, the odds are good that your operating budget will remain relatively unchanged. This will alleviate some stress for you come fall. 

RECOGNIZE YOUR FELLOW PTO-ERS

Finally, before the bell rings and everyone is released, take some time to thank fellow PTO members for their dedication throughout the school year. If you have any retiring members, consider thinking of a way to honor them. 

Anything you’d add to this list that we might have missed? Leave us a comment and let us know. Happy summer!