PURPOSE

The Newton PTO Council (officially known as the “Newton Council of PTOs”) is an umbrella organization composed of all 22 PTOs in the city. Its members are the current and past presidents of each PTO. The Council’s ultimate purpose is to support all Newton parents in the quest for the highest quality of education in the city, which it does primarily through the individual PTOs. The Council’s bylaws state:

The purpose of this PTO Council shall be as follows:

• • To serve as a fact-finding and discussion body to clarify issues related to the Newton Public Schools and to recommend or take appropriate action on such matters where advisable;
  • To act as a clearinghouse for information from members of the school administration and community leaders to the member Parent-Teacher Organizations and Parent-Teacher-Student Organizations (collectively referred to herein as the “PTOs”), to provide communication among the member PTOs, and to provide communication from the member PTOs to the community and the members of the school administration; and
  • To act as an advocate for public education in Newton and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

HISTORY

In the 1970s, a group of concerned parents recognized the need for an organization that would promote more communication with the city and advocates for children in the school system and city and state government. Up to that time, parents’ voices were heard only at the individual school level and dealt with individual school interests. Once the Council was formed, it became the parent voice in the school system. The Council developed a new approach that dealt at the system level with system-level issues. One of the most important issues that mobilized the Council was Proposition 2 ½, which the Council worked to block but failed. Other issues that brought parents together and in which the Council was actively engaged have included:

• • kindergarten starting and ending times
  • placing copy machines in elementary schools
  • protecting arts education and creating and supporting the Creative Arts and Sciences program
  • equity of funding between schools
  • ensuring the continued success of the METCO program in Newton
  • identifying the need for the Newton Schools Foundation
  • dealing with enrollment declines and budget shortfalls in the late 70s and early 80s
  • solving space problems in elementary schools by developing the middle school model we use now (mid-80s)
  • development of a city-wide Crisis Team in conjunction with the city (2001)
  • working to pass an $11.5 million Prop. 2 ½ tax override (2002)
  • advocating for smaller class sizes
  • organizing Newton’s part in the Fund the Future Campaign and rally to pressure the State Government for additional school funding

Today, the Council continues to advocate on behalf of our schools and children.

ORGANIZATION & LEADERSHIP

All current PTO presidents or co-presidents are members of the PTO Council. The Council is governed by an executive board which is elected each spring. In addition to the typical officers (co-presidents, vice-presidents, treasurer, and secretary), the board includes the chairs of the Council’s various committees and representatives for METCO; Early Childhood; Special Education; Elementary School PTOs; Secondary School PTOs; and Principals/Teachers.

FINANCES

The PTO Council is a state-registered 501c3 non-profit organization. As an umbrella organization, the Council has a minimal budget and engages in minimal fundraising. As a registered 501c3 non-profit, the Council can support legislative initiatives but may not endorse political office candidates.

PTO COUNCIL DUES

In June 2005, the PTO Council voted to change the method for assessing dues from a per-student-based calculation to a flat fee. Each fall, PTOs will receive a request to send a check, payable to “Newton Council of PTO’s, Inc.” to the PTO Council Treasurer. The PTO Council voted to set a new flat fee of $100 per school. In addition, the preschool was exempted from the payment of dues.