PTA Committee roles
Here is an outline of the roles that currently exist within the PTA. Although official most roles are shared in order to distribute responsibility, commitment and time.
Committee
A committee is a team of volunteers who are elected at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) to manage the association on behalf of the members. Officers have specific roles such as Chair, Treasurer or Secretary. Ordinary Committee Members play a vital role working alongside and supporting the Officers. All committee members have equal voting rights, with the exception of the Chair, who has an additional casting vote, should this be needed.
It is normal for the size of the committee to vary, depending on the size of the school. The minimum number for with which it is possible to operate is two; usually a Chair and Treasurer. There is no restriction on the maximum number of committee members. However it is in the associations interest not to make a committee too large, as this may prove unmanageable.
Chair
Characteristics
The Chair provides leadership for the committee sets the agenda for meetings and manages meetings in line with the agenda.
The Chair should ensure that issues are properly debated and an agreement is reached. Some committee members will be better at expressing themselves than others; it is important that the chair welcomes contributions from all members of the committee so that everyone feels involved.
The Chair will ensure that all new members feel welcome and their contributions valued. The Chair will introduce them to the other members and encourage them to play an active part in the discussions at committee meetings.
To ensure the smooth running of meetings the Chair must remain impartial and make sure that all parties have a voice and the opportunity to participate in decision-making.
The Chair will work closely with the Treasurer and Secretary to ensure that the PTA is run effectively. As an Officer of the committee, the Chair will be one of designated signatories and will sign cheques on behalf of the PTA along with other designated signatories.
Job function
To ensure that the business of the PTA is conducted in accordance with the wishes of the representatives of the PTA, to uphold the constitution of the PTA, and prepare and submit statutory reports to Regulatory Bodies
Main duties:
• Provide leadership
• Sign the approved minutes of the last meeting
• Set the agenda for meetings
• Get to know members of the committee
• Run meetings in an efficient and timely manner ensuring that everyone is able to contribute
• Agree a date for the next meeting
• Welcome and involve new members
• Write the annual report in cooperation with the Secretary
• Sign cheques for the PTA with one other committee member
Vice-Chair
Characteristics
The support provided by the Vice-Chair is invaluable. Deputising for the Chairperson when necessary, the Vice-Chair helps to ensure that the Committee and all of the events continue to run smoothly. As with the Chair, leadership, enthusiasm and energy are necessary qualities for this post.
Job function
To support the chair in all aspects of their role, to ensure that the business of the PTA is conducted in accordance with the wishes of the representatives of the PTA and to uphold the constitution of the PTA.
Main duties:
1. To chair meeting in the absence of the Chair
2. To draw up annual PTA programme in consultation with the Chair.
3. To prepare meeting agendas by consulting with the PTA Chair.
4. To welcome and involve other parents into the PTA.
5. To lead parent and wider school community engagement in PTA (class representatives, use of local contacts and skills).
6. To prepare with the Chair the PTA annual report for the Annual General Meeting.
Secretary
Characteristics
The Secretary ensures that the PTA runs smoothly and provides a link between Committee Members and the PTA, and between the PTA and the School. This requires good organisational and communication skills and being able to stick to deadlines.
Job function
The Secretary is a key committee member as they are responsible for ensuring effective communication links between committee members and between the PTA and the school.
The Secretary deals with all the correspondence that the PTA receives and helps the Chair ensure that committee meetings run smoothly. Building up a good relationship with the school Secretary will help make sure that correspondence, sent to the school, is passed onto the PTA promptly.
As well as dealing with correspondence, following a committee meeting, the Secretary will need to make bookings and other arrangements for events. Confirm arrangements made by telephone in writing (by letter or e-mail). The Secretary will make arrangements for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and help the Chair prepare the annual report. The Secretary may also be involved in co-signing cheques on behalf of the PTA.
Main duties:
• Deal with correspondence
• Arrange meetings giving plenty of notice
• Prepare and distribute agendas
• Take the minutes of meetings, type them up and distribute them
• Ensure that enough committee members are present to make the meeting quorate
• Sign cheques as required
• Write the annual report with the Chair
• Preparation and distribution of newsletters and other communications to parents
• Preparation of publicity flyers, posters, tickets, etc. for events
• Make meeting and event arrangements
Treasurer
Characteristics
A key role for all committee members is to manage and control the funds the PTA raises. Although all the committee members have equal responsibility for the control and management of PTA funds the Treasurer plays an important part in helping the committee carry out these duties properly.
Job function
To maintain up-to-date records of all PTA financial transactions. The treasurer should record all income and expenditure, and have details available for every committee meeting plus the balance of funds; committed expenditure; income, expenditure and profit from each event held.
Main duties:
• Day-to-day management of accounts, including issuing bills and receipts on behalf of the PTA and making payments.
• To prepare and update financial ledgers on a regular basis.
• To complete banking transactions on a regular basis.
• To organise floats for fundraising events, collect and reconcile monies raised at these events and report totals raised to the appropriate stakeholders. Money raised at school events will be locked in the school safe after the event.
• To prepare and report financial statements at PTA Meetings.
• To prepare a concise Financial Report for the Annual General Meeting.
• Charity registration and Gift Aid
Publicity Officer
Characteristics:
A vital role within the PTA is promoting and communicating work of the PTA. The publicity officer must be an excellent communicator both in writing and in person.
Job Function:
To communicate and promote the work of the PTA.
Main duties:
• Work closely with the school office to circulate information to parents via email, website or text alerts
• Publicising PTA events and fundraising initiatives,
• Liaising with the local press to get press coverage of PTA events.
• Ensuring posters are displayed around the school in good time.
• Ensuring all information on PTA work is kept current and up to date
Committee Members
Committee Members work alongside the Officers, contributing ideas, helping to organize events or running smaller projects.
Main duties:
• Attends PTA meetings
• Gets involved in planning, owning and running events
• Runs smaller projects
• Encourages participation and enthusiasm for the events organized by the PTA
We want representation across all year groups. New parents to the school will be warmly welcomed.
