Editor's Desk: PTO Support

By Michael F. Flach
Herald Columnist
(From the issue of 10/17/02)

Having served for seven years on the board of the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) at Corpus Christi School in Falls Church, I can appreciate the comments made by Father John Cregan, pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Alexandria, during the recent gathering of the Diocesan Council of PTOs.

In his discussion of the "Pastor’s Expectations for a School PTO," Father Cregan said the expectations for a PTO start with the school it supports and the sacrifices necessary to provide financial and volunteer assistance. The PTO is an important part of every school community and is critical to the school’s long-term planning, he said.

PTOs come in all shapes and sizes. Their primary purpose is usually fundraising, but this mission can serve each school in a different way. At Blessed Sacrament School, for example, the PTO supports the school's ability to retain high quality teachers. Tuition paid by parents accounts for only 91 percent of total school costs budgeted each year, Father Cregan said. The balance is made up by a subsidy from the parish and funds raised by the PTO.

Some parents may complain about the number of fundraising activities that each PTO sponsors and the pressure they feel to volunteer their time amidst an already hectic schedule. Discussions undoubtedly take place at PTO boards across the diocese concerning the possibility of charging each family a one-time fee at the beginning of the year and forgoing all the bake sales, car washes and silent auctions.

But Father Cregan pointed out that in addition to fundraising, the PTO can be a tremendous source of energy for both the school community and the parish. It is a vehicle for bringing families together. The community building aspect of each PTO is so important, he said, that no other school or parish institution can adequately fill this role.

Father Cregan gave the example of volunteers initially exposed to the Catholic faith through the PTO who ultimately converted to Catholicism through the parish RCIA program as a result of their experience.

At Corpus Christi School, the hours spent volunteering at events such as the Christmas Attic, the Christmas tree sale and the spaghetti dinner have helped foster deeper bonds of friendship and trust among the parents as well as the students. Working and laughing side-by-side, year after year, extends the family atmosphere at a time when we all could use a little reassurance that our children are safe, both at school and in the homes of their friends.

Father Cregan also noted the PTO's role supporting school families in need. He offered the example of a family with young school children whose father suddenly fell gravely ill. The PTO families rose to this challenge, supporting the family in myriad ways, including cooking meals, caring for the children and otherwise helping this struggling family to weather its crisis.

He noted that children seem to get more out of their Catholic school education when they see their parents involved in the school through the PTO. In the PTO, parents can have substantial input on things that have to be done at the school, including supporting accreditation reviews and helping to implement a school's "Design for Excellence" commitments.

He closed his remarks by saying he found PTOs to be a great resource in supporting him in his role as pastor for a parish and its school. — M.F.F.

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