What your board should be doing right now

Every month of the PTO year, by role — the tasks, the deadlines that bite, and the things to start now so they're ready later. Assumes a July–June fiscal year; adjust if yours differs.

October: Peak season

This month

October is peak event season: the fall festival or trunk-or-treat, the fundraiser closing, and conference-week meals stack into one month. In October a PTO board should execute the big fall event with enough volunteers, reconcile the fundraiser within two weeks of closing, feed staff during conferences, and get the IRS Form 990 filed well before the November 15 deadline instead of discovering it late.

Events & volunteers

Run the fall festival / trunk-or-treat

Day-of command sheet: who opens, who holds cash, who handles the bounce-house company, who closes. Print it.
Feed staff during conference week

Meal train or catered dinner on the long nights — check allergies against the favorites collection first.
Close the fall fundraiser on schedule

Announced end dates that quietly slide teach families to ignore the next deadline too.

⏰ Deadlines that bite

IRS Form 990 — file this month

Due November 15 for June 30 fiscal years (15th day of the 5th month after year end). Filing in October leaves room to fix surprises.

📅 Start now, thank yourself later

Holiday shop volunteer schedule

December shop needs a full roster and inventory plan by Thanksgiving.
Winter staff gratitude

Pie drop before Thanksgiving break or cocoa cart in December — order ahead.

Prefer the readable version? Read the October guide · or see the whole PTO year at a glance.

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