In short: the first parents’ meeting takes place in the opening weeks of the school year and serves two purposes — information about the group and electing the parents’ committee. The general assembly for electing the committee is convened within the first 15 calendar days of the start of classes, and the group committee consists of 3 people: a chair and 2 members, elected by simple majority, usually annually.

It is also the moment the money conversation appears. Below: what actually gets discussed, what to ask, and what you are not obliged to accept.

What gets discussed, in order

A well-run meeting covers:

  1. Introducing the teachers and the daily routine, hour by hour.
  2. Internal regulations — arrival and pick-up times, absences, return after illness.
  3. Settling in — how it works, how parents are kept informed in the first weeks.
  4. The daily routine — meals, naps, activities, outdoor time.
  5. What the child brings — spare clothes, slippers, personal items.
  6. The communication channel — group chat, app, scheduled conversations.
  7. Electing the parents’ committee.
  8. Any other business — performances, photographs, optional activities.

If the meeting skips past regulations and communication and goes straight to “what shall we buy for the group”, that’s your cue to ask the questions in the next section.

The parents’ committee: how it’s elected and what it does

When: the general assembly is convened within the first 15 calendar days of the start of classes.

How: election is by simple majority of votes, usually at the first meeting of that school year, and is repeated annually.

Composition: 3 people — a chair and 2 members. After election, members divide responsibilities among themselves and inform the teacher.

Role: the committee represents the interests of the group’s parents in the general assembly, in dealings with unit management, and in the structures set out in the regulations.

What it is not: the committee is not a body that compulsorily collects money and cannot impose contributions. Its decisions do not create payment obligations for other parents.

The money conversation: what the law says

A “class fund” proposal will almost certainly come up. Here is the framework, so you know where you stand:

  • The framework regulation on the organisation and functioning of education units (ROFUIP) removed every provision that allowed money to be collected from parents.
  • Unit staff cannot collect or manage such funds; their involvement constitutes a disciplinary offence.
  • Contributions between parents are strictly voluntary and cannot be a condition for a child’s participation in activities, performances or gifts.
  • The legal route for contributions is the parents’ association, with its own account and reporting.

The full guide, including what to do if pressure appears: the class fund at state kindergartens — is it legal?.

At private units the relationship is contractual: you pay what you signed for, and additional sums requested during the year must have a contractual basis. See hidden costs.

What to ask at the first meeting

Not all of these belong in the plenary — some work better in a separate conversation with the teacher. Choose based on the tone:

In the plenary:

  • What is the exact daily schedule and the pick-up deadline?
  • How will you tell us if a child isn’t settling or has had a hard day?
  • What is the official communication channel, and how quickly do we get answers?
  • How do you handle absences and return after illness?
  • What optional activities exist, who runs them, and what do they cost?
  • How are food allergies managed? (See menus and allergies.)

Separately, with the teacher:

  • How is my child settling in, specifically, and how long until they calm down after drop-off? (See what’s normal in settling in.)
  • Is there anything I should know about their dynamic in the group?

How a parents’ group works well

The group’s WhatsApp chat becomes, in most cases, the main communication channel — and the most frequent source of friction. A few rules that genuinely help:

  • Official information comes from the unit, not the group. What is decided in the chat binds nobody.
  • No photos of other people’s children without their parents’ consent.
  • Individual situations are discussed directly with the teacher, not in the group.
  • Contributions are discussed transparently, with a clear option not to participate, without pressure.
  • Formal complaints are made in writing to the unit, with a registration number — not in the chat. See the incident procedure.

If you can’t attend

Meetings are useful but not legally compulsory. If you can’t make it:

  • Ask the teacher or another parent for the minutes or the points discussed.
  • Send your questions in writing beforehand so they’re answered in the plenary.
  • Request a separate short conversation about your child on another day.

Bear in mind, though: if representatives are elected or decisions are made about paid activities, being absent means others decide in your place.

Frequently asked questions

When is the first parents’ meeting? In the opening weeks of the school year. The general assembly to elect the parents’ committee is convened within the first 15 calendar days of the start of classes.

How many members does the parents’ committee have? Three: a chair and two members, elected by simple majority, usually annually at the first meeting of the school year.

Am I obliged to contribute to the class fund? No. The regulation removed the provisions that allowed money to be collected from parents, and unit staff cannot collect or manage such funds. Contributions between parents are voluntary and cannot condition a child’s participation in activities.

Can the teacher collect the money? No. Involving unit staff in collecting or managing funds from parents is prohibited and constitutes a disciplinary offence.

What if I can’t attend the meeting? Send your questions in writing beforehand and ask for the points discussed afterwards. If representatives are elected or paid activities are agreed, being absent means others decide for you.

What should I raise in the plenary and what separately with the teacher? In the plenary: schedule, regulations, communication, optional activities. Separately: your own child’s specific situation and how they are settling in.

Sources

Conclusion

The first meeting sets the tone for the whole year: the communication channel, the group’s rules and mutual expectations. Go with two or three written questions, take part in electing the committee, and remember that no financial contribution is compulsory.

And if you’re only now comparing options for next year, explore the institutions in your neighbourhood on the piticluj.ro interactive map. See also our data sources.