Ironwood PTO's future uncertain as volunteer search continues

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

Ironwood — The Ironwood Area Schools may not have a Parent Teacher Organization next year.

The group is facing the possibility of disbanding if new volunteers don’t step forward to serve as board members, according to current president Clancey Byrne.

“We’re at a point where we’re down to about six consistent members that show up, four of which are board members,” Byrne said. “The rest are fantastic and helpful,” (but more are needed).

Byrne said he and the vice president, treasurer and secretary all have reached the point where they have other efforts they’d liked to be able to devote energy to.

“Personally, the balance of this and the school board and all the extracurricular things — I can’t put enough energy (into everything) to do it well, and I don’t want to,” Byrne said. “I think it’s time to hand it off to people who have the time to take it to the next level.”

He hopes new members and those interested in being officers will come forward by the group’s May meeting, with the PTO likely disbanding if replacements aren’t found by June.

The group meets at 5 p.m. on the first Monday of the month at Contrast Coffee in Ironwood.

Byrne said there is a pretty consistent fundraising system already in place to fund the present operations.

“So if someone took over, it’s not like they’d immediately have to figure out how to pay for everything,” Byrne said, adding he was more than willing to help the new people transition into running the organization.

The PTO is largely whatever its members make it, according to Byrne, and lately that means it’s been used to help fund extra things for the district — such as personal teacher requests for field trips and classroom items.

Those interested don’t have to already belong to the PTO, according to Byrne, and the organization is open to “any individual who has an interest in the Ironwood Area Schools District.”

For more information on the PTO, visit the Ironwood K-12 PTO’s Facebook page or text Byrne at 906-285-0606.