We at the Warren School PTO have an exciting opportunity to provide more for the students, teachers and families of Warren School. At the same time, we will be helping longtime community member, friend and all-around best lice checker, Laurie Jones. We would like to announce that we have hired Laurie Jones as the PTO coordinator of events and enrichment. The Warren School PTO is thrilled to offer Laurie this new position where she can continue to provide love, attention and care for students, teachers and families of our school community. But, we need your help to make this plan a reality.
As the PTO coordinator for events and enrichment, Laurie will be responsible for on-site and off-site coordination of school functions such as the Harvest Dinner, Mother’s Day Follies and Upper Unit dances, as well as identifying and coordinating grant sources of funding for our programs and many, many other functions. Not only will the PTO coordinator of events and enrichment handle the details regarding the special events and activities that we have come to cherish at Warren School, but our hope is that with Laurie’s support, Warren School staff can offer even more enriching experiences for our children such as community service project work.
In order to retain Laurie’s services for the whole school year, we must raise the funds necessary to cover the costs that are outside of our regular operating budget. We hope our community recognizes the importance of the many responsibilities we are trying to fulfill and will give generously to this effort. In voting to approve the hiring of a consultant, the PTO committed to pay Laurie from our reserves for the first six weeks of service in the hopes that donations from our community will offset these expenses as well as fund the position for the remainder of the school year. Our goal for this special fundraiser is $20,000 for roughly a half-time position from September 1 through the end of the school year.
We are happy to report that the Warren School PTO is now recognized by the IRS as an exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
While we navigate the many transitions at school, Laurie is doing the same personally. Her settlement with the school mostly covers her health insurance costs for the next two years. Between her part-time job as lead teacher with the Warren After School Program and this contract position with the PTO, she is piecing together a portion of what she anticipated as her income this year.
This is a win-win solution. The traditions that have made Warren School unique over the years will continue. The PTO will have support from someone with a deep history and knowledge of the school, the staff will have more assistance with enrichment projects and, most importantly, the students and families will get even more out of an already vibrant school environment – all from someone who cares deeply about the school and the people who walk in and out of it every day.
If you are able to contribute to this fundraiser you can do so online or by mail. Our online campaign link is https://fundrazr.com and type in PTO Coordinator in the find campaign box in the top right. If you prefer to send a check, please make your check payable to The Warren School PTO and mail to: Warren School PTO c/o Warren School, 293 School Road, Warren, VT 05674. Please indicate the check is for the new PTO coordinator position. Or email
The Warren PTO executive committee
Marie A. Schmukal, president; Jennifer Pryzsinda-Patterson, vice president; Joanna Von Recklinghausen, treasurer; Nicole Krotinger, secretary
