by Davy James, Staff Writer
Members of parent teacher organizations say they could use some help.
With free time at a premium these days, participation in the PTO has suffered.
At the heart of the problem is that as children progress through the school system, fewer parents seem to be staying involved in the goings on at the individual schools, according to Dayton resident Gina Gerstein, who is involved with the PTO at the middle school and high school level.
”It’s very apparent that attendance is suffering,” Ms. Gerstein said. “Every year the amount of involvement is reduced.”
Ms. Gerstein, who moved to South Brunswick 10 years ago, said she’s been involved at each grade level with the PTO and has noticed a decrease in the number of parents involved in recent years.
”I think it’s a combination of factors,” she said. “Times are tough and it takes two people to work. They come home exhausted and the PTO falls by the wayside. The makeup of the community is changing and cultural stuff isn’t as important. It’s a shame because South Brunswick stood for shaping a child in every respect as a well-rounded person.”
The lack of involvement has led to fewer volunteers for fundraisers and parties and less resources to draw from when the PTO seeks to show appreciation for each school’s teachers.
”People don’t realize how much we give to teachers for supplies and other programs,” Ms. Gerstein said.
Ms. Gerstein said she’s heard concerns from PTO members regarding other members dominating planning and discussions, which she believes, may discourage people from returning.
”We all start out not knowing anyone, but if you really want to participate keep raising your hand and getting involved,” she said. “I keep hearing about the same five or six people doing everything and you just can’t do it that way.”
In contrast, the Constable PTO has experienced healthy involvement from its parents, according to its president, Dana Miller.
”We have an amazing support system at Constable,” Ms. Miller said. “It’s a great environment to be involved with the students smiling and the staff is so welcoming. It trickles down from the staff to the kids to the parents and back to the staff.”
Ms. Miller said a large percentage of Constable parents get involved and that she has a list of approximately 70 volunteers to draw from when needed for parties, events and fundraisers. Brooks Crossing PTO President Laura VanDemark said the number of people willing to pay the yearly $5 membership fee to the PTO is strong, but there are fewer people coming to meetings and volunteering.
”We don’t have a big turnout for our meetings at all,” Ms. VanDemark said. “It means a lot to the kids to have their parents come into the schools and be involved.”
Ms. VanDemark said she’s lived in the district all of her life and remembers fondly when her mother would get involved when she was in school.
”I always loved it when I was in school and I know that feeling that kids get,” she said. “It’s kind of sad because we’ve lost a lot of that along the way.”
Ms. Gerstein said she believes that involvement tends to wane as children get older and don’t want their parents in the schools quite as much.
”In high school, kids don’t want their parents coming into the school anymore and that’s understandable,” she said. “Plus, some parents may feel that somewhere along the line they need to cut the apron strings.”
Ultimately, Ms. Gerstein feels the communication between parent and staff suffers as fewer parents know what’s going on inside the school and parents miss out by not being involved with the meetings.
”Communication is a valuable tool and you get to have that one-on-one attention with the teachers and principal,” she said. “It’s good to be on the forefront. There’s going to be changes with the budget coming up with cuts made and it’s valuable information that affects all of us.”
