Parent-Teacher Groups

Although District 401's parent-teacher groups go by different names, they share the same goal: to support the education of our children by fostering relationships among parents, teachers and staff at their respective schools.

Whether it's the PAT at Elm Middle, PATT at Elmwood Elementary or PTA at John Mills Elementary, our parent-teacher groups help build a genuine sense of community by organizing fundraisers, sponsoring social events and holding regular meetings.

Examples of sponsored activities and fundraisers include book fairs, fun fairs, walkathons, fun runs, holiday shops, ice cream socials, bingo nights, family social nights and student dances.

To Learn More

Our parent-teacher groups differ in their specific membership procedures, dues and sponsored activities, so we invite you learn about each organization at the following links:

Information links are also available in the column at the left-hand side of this page.

District 401's Policy on Parent Organizations

All of our parent-teacher groups are governed by District 401's policy concerning parent organizations and booster clubs, which can be found in Section 8:90 of the Board of Education's Policy Manual.

While parent-teacher groups have no administrative authority and cannot determine District 401 policy, the Board of Education welcomes their suggestions and assistance.

District 401's Superintendent shall designate an administrative staff member to serve as the liaison to parent-teacher groups.

The liaison will serve as a resource person and provide information about school programs, resources, policies, problems, concerns and emerging issues. Building staff will be encouraged to participate in the organizations.

Use of District and School Names and Logos

As stated in Section 8:90, parent organizations and booster clubs are recognized by the Board and permitted to use the District's name, a District school's name, a District school's team name or any logo attributable to the District provided they first receive the Superintendent or designee's express written consent.

Consent to use one of the above-mentioned names or logos will generally be granted if the organization or club has bylaws containing the following:

  • The organization's or club's name and purpose, such as to enhance students' educational experiences, to help meet educational needs of students, to provide extra athletic benefits to students, to assist specific sports teams or academic clubs through financial support, or to enrich extracurricular activities.
  • The rules and procedures under which it operates.
  • An agreement to adhere to all Board policies and administrative procedures.
  • A statement that membership is open and unrestricted, meaning that membership is open to parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school, District 401 staff and community members.
  • A statement that District 401 is not, and will not be, responsible for the organization's or club's business or the conduct of its members.
  • An agreement to maintain and protect its own finances.
  • A recognition that money given to a school cannot be earmarked for any particular expense. Booster clubs may make recommendations, but cash or other valuable consideration must be given to District 401 to use at its discretion. The Board's legal obligation to comply with Title IX by providing equal athletic opportunity for members of both genders will supersede an organization or club's recommendation.

Permission to use one of the above-mentioned names or logos may be rescinded at any time and does not constitute permission to act as District 401's representative. At no time does the District accept responsibility for the actions of any parent organization or booster club regardless of whether it was recognized and/or permitted to use any of the above-mentioned names or logos.