What to do when you’re stuck on the PTA
I know that feeling well. Until recently, I had been a Chair for the past 8½ years, but I knew for the past 18 months (maybe more) that I was done. I knew the PTA needed fresh blood and a change, but no one came forward despite repeated requests. My Treasurer felt the same, so (taking the advice that I regularly give our members on the phone) we gave a full academic year’s notice of our resignations to the committee, knowing that the AGM was due in September and that if we stayed to the AGM, we’d end up doing another year.
CarolineI was able to do this as there were other committee members remaining in post. Your constitution will detail what your minimum number of committee members are and as long as your resignation doesn’t take them below this, you are free to walk away. If it does take you below, then you will need to find a replacement before you leave or stay until the AGM.
So, what happened next? Well honestly, absolutely nothing. Still, no one came forward and the PTA was at real risk of having to disband without a Chair or Treasurer. We handed out flyers, posted on social media, spread the word on the playground and the Headteacher requested for people to come forward in the newsletter. Still nothing – as we both had children at the school, we discussed the possibility of doing another year (guilt, see?) but ultimately decided that it wouldn’t actually help to do that as it would never end.
Instead, we set a date for the AGM and made it clear that if a committee wasn’t elected then the association would close, which meant no discos, Santa or extra funding. Parents were horrified! The class WhatsApp groups went wild! The enquiries over what it would involve started to pour (well, trickle!) in, and there we sat, both feeling happy that it was finally happening and sad that this is what it took.
The committee have co-opted a new Chair on and are in the process of finding nominees for the other committee roles. There is nothing more rewarding than the feeling after a successful event, but your heart has to be in it and when it starts affecting other parts of your life, it’s time to think about whether it’s worth continuing. If this is you, I give you full permission to do what you need to for yourself without guilt, you’re not stuck.
For me, the replacement committee will be elected once the new year starts and I get my summer off! Whilst I have loved my time on the PTA, the thought of not having to think about September, other than usual back to school preparations, is such a joy. I’m happy knowing that the PTA will continue in safe hands without me.
