Recent Parent Survey

Recently you received a Parent Survey from the East Antioch PTA, the following is a summary and answers to questions you asked. We received 78 surveys back and have reviewed them all. The survey was sent out to help the PTA plan for next school year as well as address any questions or concerns.

1. Are you a PTA member?
Yes 43
No 35

2. How satisfied are you with the East Antioch PTA:
Extremely Satisfied 19
Satisfied 36
Neutral 12
Somewhat Satisfied 6
Not at All Satisfied 3

3. Did you make the time to be a volunteer for a PTA event/extracurricular activity this year?:
Yes 43
No 33

4. If you answered no to question #3, please mark the reason(s) below that apply;
Inconvenient time for planning meetings. 8
Inconvenient time for event/activity. 8
Unclear of what is expected of me. 2
Not enough personal free time to volunteer. 25
Don’t know anyone. 4
Unsure who to contact to volunteer. 4
Not enough notice prior to event. 3

5. What question would you most like to ask the PTA board?

* We have posted answers to some of the questions that were asked on the survey. If your question, but in order to keep the length of this post reasonable we only posted answers to some of the questions. If you would like to get a response to your specific questions please feel free to send an email to the PTA email address located in the contact section of the blog.

6. What is the PTA doing that you like most?
* Helping organize events
* “Field trips are a great thing for students in any grade
* Making a difference in our kid’s school experience.
*”Providing fabulous opportunities for our children. Fun Run, field trips, science night, cultural arts night, etc..”
* Holiday Shop
*”Appreciate all they do.”
*”Very present, planning lots of activities, and funding field trips.”
*”Staying involved with school, remaining positive.”
*Why no Entertainment Books this year?”
*”Teacher Appreciation”
*”This is our first year at E.A. and would have to say I have been very pleased so far. We love attending all of it.”
*”I enjoyed all events at the school.”
*”affordable family events.”
*Trying to raise money.

7. How would you rate your opinion of East Antioch Elementary PTA’s communication of events, activities, and fundraisers?
Poor 1
needs work 13
adequate 14
good 32
excellent 17

8. How would you rate East Antioch events?
Poor 1
needs work 7
adequate 9
good 43
excellent 17

9. How would you rate your opinion of catalog sales (Sally Foster) and other fund raisers?
Poor 9
needs work 14
adequate 23
good 24
excellent 4

10. Please use the space below to add any comments/suggestions that you feel the East Antioch PTA should focus on for next school year (keep in mind "You rock!" or " You stink!"--ha,ha--do not provide useful information):

•I think the PTA needs some new ideas whether that’s new people or not, I don’t know.
The PTA is always open to new ideas and feedback. We are currently clsoing up PTA business for the current school year and the new Board Members will be working over the summer to come up with new ideas for the upcoming school year, if you have ideas or feedback please email to eastantiochpantherpta@gmail.com.

•“Enough with the Sally Foster. Can someone please find more exciting and new fundraisers?

The 2010-2011 PTA Board is currently reviewing other options that are available for fundraisers and activities for the upcoming school year. Please check back on the blog for any upcoming and new things that will be happening this next school year.

•“ You need to represent yourself out front at the beginning of school so we know who the PTA is made of. Have more parent involvement, greeting people, have more new parent “meet & greets”, interact more with parents, hand out flyers after school. There are some of us out there who want to be involved but have no idea who to contact. This is our first year at E.A. and I thought the PTA was non-existent, reach out to new families, create a sense of community. The PTA could do much better; you have an awesome school that could have a great sense of community and great involvement.”•

The last thing the PTA would want to have happen is for a new family or an existing family not to feel part of the school community and hope the following will help answer some of your concerns. The PTA provides several activities throughout the school year to all of the families of East Antioch. PTA memberships are available all school year long and membership forms and contact information is sent home via back pack mail at the beginning of the school year, being new to the school as well it can be frustrating not being able to get this information. There are more visible opportunities to meet PTA Board members and sign up for PTA at activities such as the Ice Cream Social the week before school starts and at Back to School Night. After reviewing your questions and comments on the survey we are planning to have specific membership and activity information tables set up at the Ice Cream Social in August. We will also be asking parents and families at this time to sign up to volunteer for activites that will available during the school year. If you know you will be able to volunteer for any of the activities for the upcoming school year or to get information on any activities please send an email to the PTA email address located in the contact information section of this blog.

•“Why change events that work in the past by changing t-shirt prices from $5 to $15 in the Fun Run. We will sell more $5 t-shirts that $15 ones. As PTA prices rise, parents also have to pay more for things they really need, which make them choose not to come to an event if 2 or more kids are in school.”

Families, businesses, and school have taken a huge hit in this economy, but in order to have fun and educational activities available for the students and families the PTA must fundraise. The prices for t-shirts and other activities at the Fun Run cost the PTA more money than in the past, so in order to make the money back that was spent to purchase items and raise more money we have to raise prices. We want all of the families to be able to enjoy the activities that the PTA has to offer. We will research some other options as far as t-shirts and other items we may be able to sell at a lower price so everyone can enjoy the event in the future.

“Seems to be a lot of last minute requests, more notice via emails, newsletters.”

Once planning starts for activities the PTA starts asking for volunteers via emails and fliers sent home through backpack mail. At times the requests for volunteers is last minute because we have not received responses from people from previous requests or have some have cancelled close to the event date. We make every effort to try to staff the spots available at the events but we don't always have takers, that is why it is so important that all of the families make the effort to volunteer either through donations or giving 30 minutes of their time at school activities. One parent said it best on their survey "Unless you are involved in your child’s life you will never know who is in theirs!"

•“Sometimes it feels intimidating to call PTA leaders at home, perhaps being able to get information from a number or website at school would be helpful.”

You asked for it and we are making it happen! We will be posting all PTA happenings on this blog. We can also be reached via email at our general email address eastantiochpantherpta@gmail.com . Never feel like you can't contact a PTA Board member, that's what we volunteer for to make sure yours and your childs experience at East Antioch is a great one. The PTA does not handle any problems having to do with school staff issues though, if you have a problem and are unable to get it resolved please contact the School District.




“What does the PTA actually do? At East Antioch?”

The PTA plans, and executes all of the following activities and more:

Newsletter
Ice Cream Social
Kindergarten Kleenex
Watch D.O.G. Pizza Night
Sidewalk Chalk
Cultural Arts Night
Carnival
Veteran’s Day Assembly
Holiday Shop
Watch D.O.G. Donuts with Dads
Family Fun & Movie Nights
Science Night
Kindergarten Round-up
Bike Rodeo
Field Day
6th Grade Olympics
PTA School of Instruction
6th Grade Celebration
Hospitality
KU Reading Program
Field Trips
Holiday Class Parties
Staff Appreciation
Library/Reading Incentives
Chat N Chew
Nurses Fund
Teacher Class Fund
Yearbook
Project Preschool
Courtyard Classroom
Mathletics

“How can I help in little ways being a working mom?”

These days there are many working parents and we completely understand that. You can volunteer during a time that works with your schedule at any of the PTA events, even if you volunteer for a 1/2 an hour that helps.

Are you willing to take a little heat short term to shape things up long term?”

Easy answer to this question, Yes!

Financial Reports?”

The PTA financial reports are available at most PTA meetings. If you have any questions regarding any PTA financial matters please contact one of the PTA Board members and they will do their best to answer your question.

"Was an audit done?”

An audit is done every school year on PTA business. We are finalizing all current school year business now and an audit will be completed in June.


If you have any questions regarding the Parent Survey or you feel your specific question or concern was not answered please feel free to contact one of the PTA Board members or send an email to our general email address.