...The only thing these school employees would have been contributing would have been an hour or two of time. It wasn't just the teachers who chose not to attend. The principal and administrators didn't show either. The parents likewise mostly gave the event a pass. I'm not sure why. ...
You have two dominant charity genes; I one recessive. When I get the least hint, the faintest waft, of entitlement - and in the case of these teachers and these administrators it's strong enough to be mephitic - my money and I retreat back under our rock.
As do I, although my olfactory gifts are more puny so I require more like a facepunch's worth of entitlement before I lose interest.
Large-scale loss of interest from donors and supporters is definitely what I foresee for this particular school unless they make some big changes. For example, every group or individual that donated more than $50 worth of goods for the auction should have received a free pair of tickets to the event, so that they can schmooze with the ticket-buying parents. Faculty and staff should receive free tickets likewise, because that's how you attract the ticket-buying parents. You have to bait your hook to catch the fish.
Here is a slightly paraphrased excerpt from a conversation with my friend who is involved in running said PTA:
Friend: We're making some changes for next year. There's a new administrative team.
Grim: If you'd like some help--
Friend: (brightly) Any time or resources you're willing to commit would be more than welcome.
Grim: -- I wrote a book on the subject a couple years ago and there's an entire section on parent-teacher organizations. Whatever problems they have, there's most likely a solution in there. And if they buy it on SmashWords they will get the next edition for free when it comes out.
Friend: (less happily) Ah, I'd forgotten about that. I'll mention it to them.
I have found it's a delicate balance at our school, and probably many.
On one hand, you NEED new people, new blood, new excitement! Because, well, kids and families come and go, right? Not everyone is like me and spaces their kids 6 years apart, guaranteeing a straight 13 years at the same elementary school.
New ideas are great too - it's always good to try new things. Except: some things don't work. And: some things that didn't work last year might work next year. And vice versa. And some things will NEVER work with a particular demographic. But demographics change.
We've had a few newer parents who are super excited to jump and do ALL THE THINGS. And in some ways, they are trying to emulate the wealthier schools. We've done that before, every few years in the 8 years that I've been at this school. With varying success.
- Jogathon. Instead of low-budgeting and going with parent work, we hired a company with chips to set up, be the EMCEE, and do timing. We also lured kids into getting donations by promising a free shaved ice if they raised money. It was a lot more fun this last year! And it was a bit easier.
(but it netted almost exactly the same amount of money. In truth, a little less than normal considering the $1000 cost for the chip company. Though it's really hard to make a comparison with declining enrollment).
- Party books - one or two couples offer up a party, or a sailing trip, or whatever and others pay to attend. This was a dismal failure.
- Festival with donated food. Our school is heavily Latino/ Hispanic. This is the first year that the festival planners just opted to sell pizza, instead of getting food donated by families. This might be because our powerhouse parent left (her daughter graduated). I have no idea how well the festival went this year, as I was injured and wasn't able to go.
So many of the people come in with I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS, but "I'm not a doer". Okay, come back with a doer!