Volunteering

At first, I was thinking - Yes, I get asked all the time. But then I realized you were talking about being asked because you were STAFF. We have a very active PTSA (and other organizations too) and they put out calls for help a lot for fundraisers, meals, carnivals, book fairs, you name it. But they are asking me as a parent and community member, not specifically as staff. I'm in a small community and I'd say over half of our staff have students in school. So sometimes the lines are blurred. But I would say for a staff member that doesn't have kids in the school and doesn't live in our town - there aren't many occasions they are expected to donate time/money.

We are only asked to volunteer for one of our big fundraisers in the spring - we have a spring dance/carnival - We sign up for a 30 minute slot to man a carnival booth/food booth. The principal spins it as that the PTA does so much for us - snack carts, monthly luncheons, random gifts thru the year etc that it would be nice if we gave back to them.

After hour PTA events - my principal does not make it mandatory to attend but always states it would be nice for us staff to make an appearance if we are able to. I usually don't go to the events that happen on campus since I no longer have elementary age kids but I will go and grab dinner for the family if it is a fund raiser type of thing at local restaurants/fast food places. I am also lucky enough to live in the same neighborhood as my campus so it is really not out of my way to participate every now and then.

I get asked, but it's because mt children attend here and I'm asked as a parent, not usually as staff.

We are asked in general emails to volunteer as we typically don't have a lot of parent volunteers. Half of our PTA board is made up of staff, unfortunately. I never volunteer because I am extremely busy with my home life outside of work, plus I don't work in my kids' district and I already do the PTO thing there.

I was also involved in a few committees during the previous few years. I was able to be involved because we got extra time during the school day to meet on early release days. This year, they took away that extra time and told us that we had to meet during our summer break instead. Nope.

We are expected to attend some after school events such as Open House and Title I Nights. On some of those days we are offered comp time for a work day. No other times are we asked to work more than our expected hours.