Comp help for a cheap (free?) PTA website

Post by **danlo** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 2:42 pm

I'm, suddenly, president of my daughter's elementary school's PTA (Parent Teacher Assoc. for those over seas) I can manage a website, but I can't write http or javascript. Yes, we need a site and don't have much of a budget. Any help is welcome. I know Romeo does this, but I think he charges, surely there is enough expertise out their or fingers to point me in the right direction. I'm going to be looking at some PTA page models from schools I used to teach at and will post their links here.

We basically need the site for community outreach, fundraisers, events and budget reports and a lot of this stuff will need to be (and I have some people here who can do it) translated to Spanish. Thanks for any help and guidance.

I couldn't find a good local example, but this one is, probably, a little above and beyond: freedompta.com/

Post by **Avatar** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:54 am

It can be pretty easy. What are you looking for exactly? Free hosting? Or just free design?

There's sites you can use for free hosting. They probably include ads, and the URL will be odd, but they are free.

The one I'm thinking of includes a "what you see is what you get" editor as far as I know, making it fairly easy to make the actual page yourself too.

--A

Post by **Orlion** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:52 am

Does the school have a website? I ask because, depending on what you want to do with the site, it might just be easier to leech off of it, kinda be another portion of the site. Also, if you go the Avatar route, having the link at the school website might make it more accessible so that lazy parents don't have to memorize goofy website names.

Post by **danlo** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 3:48 pm

Yes a pretty good one, but it needs to be updated. They have asked me if I could do it or know someone who can-my friend Forest in Santa Fe, probably could if he ever has free time. Yes that's the ideal goal to link off the school's site for PTA business...

Here's their site: www.whittierlions.com/

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:38 pm

The school has not had a PTA site before which you can build off of, danlo?

Post by **danlo** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:51 pm

not to my knowledge...

edit: I just found out that the school's site runs through a group called Professional Innovators here in Albuquerque that contracts with the entire Albuquerque Public School System and that the Assistant Principal is the person who updates it. Apparently she lacks the knowledge to post new links and make addendum pages (like a PTA annex), however PI's info says that that stuff is simple to use and is accessible in the Admin Control panel and if that's too hard workshops are available, occasionally at some of the high schools.

So I'm going to try to meet with the AP and if I still need development advice for a separate PTA site I'll let you know here. Thanks.

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:09 pm

I will admit that surprises me in this day and age. Are there other officers, or active PTA members, who have older children you can ask? Or maybe you can ask the webmaster of the school's site if they have had a site for the PTA before?

Post by **danlo** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:17 pm

See post above---no there has never been a PTA site, in fact there were only 3 members of the PTA last year and no PTA whatsoever for 5 years before that--and this is a school of 1200+ kids that desperately needs community outreach and active Spanish translation.

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:30 pm

danlo wrote:
danlo wrote:I just found out that the school's site runs through a group called Professional Innovators here in Albuquerque that contracts with the entire Albuquerque Public School System and that the Assistant Principal is the person who updates it. Apparently she lacks the knowledge to post new links and make addendum pages (like a PTA annex), however PI's info says that that stuff is simple to use and is accessible in the Admin Control panel and if that's too hard workshops are available, occasionally at some of the high schools.

So I'm going to try to meet with the AP and if I still need development advice for a separate PTA site I'll let you know here. Thanks.
no there has never been a PTA site, in fact there were only 3 members of the PTA last year and no PTA whatsoever for 5 years before that--and this is a school of 1200+ kids that desperately needs community outreach and active Spanish translation.

This sounds like now you are on the right track. Glad you are finding local resources that work with what is already available. I'm looking forward to hearing updates and am sure many Watchers here will be happy to help further once you know what you have to work with. Good luck with it all!

Post by **High Lord Tolkien** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:14 pm

How about Facebook?
You're going to be dealing with a small group of people, i assume.
Might get more interaction/feedback that way.

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:18 pm

That's a great idea, HLT!
Although I think they can use both.
A general website linked to the school's website for announcements, calendar events, et. al., with a link on that to a Facebook page for those who wish to be more interactive.

Not all parents have been sucked in to Facebook yet...

Post by **Avatar** » Tue Jul 13, 2010 4:49 am

danlo wrote:...however PI's info says that that stuff is simple to use and is accessible in the Admin Control panel and if that's too hard workshops are available, occasionally at some of the high schools.

If there's an existing school site, it should be extremely easy to add some extra pages for the PTA.

--A

Kevin's Watch

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Comp help for a cheap (free?) PTA website

Comp help for a cheap (free?) PTA website