Our Mission
The mission of the St. Michael Catholic School Parent and Teacher Organization (SMCSPTO) is to support the positive growth and fiscal well-being of St. Michael Catholic School in accordance with school administration, St. Michael Catholic Church, and the Diocese of Charleston. By contributing to and the sponsoring of charitable fundraisers, events and activities, the PTO contributes over $30,000 annually to help offset expenses, keep tuition costs down, and provide programs and materials that might otherwise be unattainable.
Parents and caregivers automatically become members of the SMCSPTO once a student is enrolled. All faculty (including school administration) is part of the PTO. Each member is required to support the efforts of the PTO by attending sponsored events, and through participation in fundraisers as defined in our school’s Fair Share Policy. Your participation creates school spirit, sets a great example for our students, and promotes positive school awareness to our community as well as the parish we represent.
The SMCSPTO welcomes and encourages any ideas, comments and suggestions pertaining specifically to our fundraisers, events and activities. However, the SMCSPTO is a non-policy making organization. If you have any issues or concerns regarding school policies, practices or procedures, please contact a school administrator or a school board member directly. All issues will be noted, addressed, and kept in strict confidence.
Membership
As previously mentioned, any teacher, school administrator, parent or caregiver of an enrolled student, is automatically a member of the SMCSPTO. An annual membership fee of $5 per family is automatically collected as part of the enrollment fees due at registration. Amount of dues is determined by the school’s principal, not the PTO.
The Fair Share Policy and the PTO
The Fair Share Policy is a school policy, not a PTO policy. However, the PTO benefits greatly from the mandatory service hours it promotes. As stated in the Fair Share policy, parents, teachers and caregivers are required to attend two mandatory PTO meetings each year: one in September (in conjunction with our school’s open house), and one in January after our Christmas break. Throughout the year, parents can obtain information on our website. It is your responsibility to check our website frequently to stay abreat of what’s happening. Unless you have paid to opt-out of the Fair Share Policy, everyone is required to participate in the PTO’s most two important fundraisers: The Harvest Festival and the Spring Auction. See the school’s Fair Share Policy for details and requirements.
Also stated in our school’s Fair Share Policy is an incentive to serve on the PTO. The policy states: “anyone who completes a full-term as a PTO officer is automatically exempt from the following year’s Fair Share obligations.”
The Offices of the PTO
The offices of the PTO include: President (elected bi-annually on odd years), Vice President (elected bi-annually on even years), Secretary (elected bi-annually on even years), Treasurer (elected bi-annually on odd years), and Volunteer Coordinator (appointed by the principal). New to this year’s PTO is a position called Teacher’s Rep., to improve communication and act as a liaison to the faculty. This is an “invited”, not “appointed” position. The PTO officers meet at least once every quarter, or as often as needed. To obtain information regarding your current PTO officers, click on the PTO officer’s page under the PTO section of the website.
Timeline and Procedure for Nominating PTO Officers
Any member of the PTO may nominate a candidate for election once their term is up. Any member is eligible to run for an “open” office. Elections will be held on-line during our fourth quarter, and winners will be announced before the end of the year. Over the summer, officers will be required to meet with the principal to review the following year’s calendar.