Brown PTO Officer and Committee Descriptions
Message from the PTO
We welcome all who want to be active members of the Brown PTO! We have many volunteer opportunities, large and small. The following is a list of officer and committee descriptions for your information. We encourage the formation of new committees if there are other areas of interest. In addition, we need general volunteers who can be tapped during the year as situations arise. Please contact us if you’d like to help!
Brown PTO Officer and Committee Descriptions
(SH) - Involves school hour participation
President(s) – Has general charge and supervision of the PTO, including but not limited to: presides at all meetings, ex-officio member of all committees including School Council, acts as liaison between parents, teachers and school administration, represents Brown at PTO Council and Middle School meetings, determines budget with executive committee. Meets biweekly with school principal to review upcoming activities, planning, issues, etc. Performs all other duties pertaining to the office.
Vice President(s) – Acts as an aide to the president, would perform the duties of president in his/her absence, may serve as a chairperson of one or more standing committees, and performs other duties as required by the office. ***Note: It is the PTO’s goal that all elementary feeder schools should be represented between the president(s) and vice president(s).
Secretary – Records and keeps full and accurate minutes of all PTO meetings, keeps committee reports, and completes any correspondence of the organization as needed. May perform other duties as required by the office.
Treasurer – Performs all monetary duties as required by the organization including, but not limited to: receives all funds, keeps accurate records of receipts and expenditures, manages all accounts, pays out funds in accordance with the by-laws, provides and presents budget reports, files all required reports with state and federal agencies.
Student Enrichment
Creative Arts and Sciences (SH) – Throughout the school year, previews potential and existing curriculum enhancing programs with assistance from the citywide coordinator. Solicits input from the various school department heads regarding which programs to select for the school year, based upon available programs in the Newton-approved resource guide. Schedules and finalizes contracts for all programs with the Assistant Principal. Communicates to parents and students about programs presented via the school newsletter.
Library (SH) – This committee provides support to the librarian to keep the library functioning smoothly and efficiently. The chair of this committee coordinates all volunteer activities such as scheduling.
School Pictures (SH) – Helps photographers and teachers on school picture and retake days. The chair of this committee acts as a liaison between the school, PTO and photography company. The chair also recruits and schedules parents to help on picture day and arranges/coordinates retake day.
School Store (SH) – Sells school supplies and novelties to students before school and during lunch. Chairs oversee the purchasing, financial aspects and staffing of the store.
Eighth Grade Year End Activities – Organizes special “moving-on” events for eighth grade students and their families at the end of the school year.
Music – This committee supports the music programs at Brown by providing volunteers when needed and by raising money earmarked specifically for music. The committee also maintains an email list and website to keep interested families informed about musical events at Brown and at other Newton schools, as well as musical events and field trips outside of school.
Building Community
Hospitality – Provides refreshments for PTO meetings and coffees.
Ladies Night Out - Plan a social evening outside of school for women to attend.
Middle School Speaker Series Coordinator - Represents Brown M.S. on committee which organizes city-wide speaker series that brings information to parents on topics relevant to the middle school.
Teacher/Staff Appreciation – Helps teachers and staff feel appreciated by organizing special food events during the year, such as breakfasts or luncheons.
Keep Brown Cruising Along
Building Brown – Organizes one or two “spruce up the school” parent and student volunteer work days (Saturdays), usually in the late fall or early spring. Projects typically include painting, cleaning, and light carpentry (e.g. fixing doors, installing shelves, etc.).
Grounds – Helps maintain and beautify the grounds around Brown.
Environmental Committee (SH) – Identifies building deficiencies affecting a safe and healthy environment for students and staff, both large and small, and advocates for their repair. Evaluation forms completed by staff are compiled and evaluated by the committee. Topics are Indoor Air Quality, Chemical Reduction and Management, Waste Reduction and Management, Recycling, Integrated Pest Management. Works with various city groups (e.g. Operations & Environmental Affairs, School Committee, Public Buildings Department) to make both short and long term improvements.
Database Coordinator – Maintains the PTO database and email list for Brown families. Sends all emails from the Brown PTO, and some from the school. Provides data for the directory and membership records as well as printed labels for newsletter distribution.
Directory – Creates and prints the Brown Directory which contains a wealth of contact information for students, families, administration, faculty and PTO. The directory is compiled as soon as possible after the start of school in September.
Newsletter Editors – The chief editor puts together the biweekly PTO newsletter from items submitted by the school, PTO and assistant editors. The assistant editors take any hard copy items from the newsletter box in the school office, type them up and email them to the chief editor. This process is typically done over a weekend, and emailed to parents by the database coordinator.
Newsletter Distribution – This person picks up the newsletter from the copy center and distributes it to families who are not on the PTO email list. Distribution is done at school by affixing labels and placing newsletters in contact teachers’ boxes for applicable students.
Webmaster – Maintains the Brown PTO website. Manages hosting and domain name.
Chapter 766 Liaison – Is the Brown representative to the Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education (PAC). Attends monthly PAC meetings, informs the Brown community about pertinent issues, and notifies parents about upcoming meetings or lectures of interest. Helps to foster community among parents of children with special needs and acts as a liaison between these parents, the administration and the PTO.
Membership – This committee tries to get all families to pay PTO dues and distributes the directory.
Political Action Liaison – Keeps the Brown community informed of all pertinent political activities affecting education and/or our school in the city, state and country. Follows School Committee meetings. Helps advocate for Brown in the political arena and coordinates political advocacy efforts on behalf of Brown.
Respect for Human Rights – Works with teachers and administrators to help keep attention focused on the “respect for human differences” core value. Plans events for students, teachers and parents that raise awareness of, and respect for, human rights and differences.
Fundraising
Magazine Drive (SH) - Sell subscriptions to a large varity of magazines. School gets a percentage of total sales.
Faculty Foul-ups (SH) - Organize afterschool event that’s a tradition at Brown. The Brown community pledges support for teachers and staff that agree to a “Free Throw Shoot Out”.
Cookie Dough - Sell delicious cookie dough. School gets a percentage of total sales
Recycling – Coordinates and promotes laser and ink jet printer cartridge and cell phone recycling. Identifies and implements other recycling programs of interest.
Box Top$ for Education and Shaw’s Receipts - Organize and promote collection of Box Top$ and Shaw’s receipts.
Mimi Karys Lucia Dolan PTO Co-Presidents: brownpto@brownpto.org