Question: Loss of PTO Officer before end of year

How should a board respond when one member submits a letter of resignation? After months of tension and dischord between board members, one resigned. The other board members are willing to regroup and move forward. With a need for volunteers and several events scheduled before the end of the year, how should remaining board members let parents and teachers know of this unexpected change? Also wondering, should board members send a thank you note for past service despite the conflict? If so, suggestions for wording?

Asked by Anonymous

Answers:

Advice from PTO Today

Rose H writes:
Hi!
It sounds like this resignation, though disappointing, is not going to be too disruptive as the other board members are willing to regroup and move forward. So, don't make a big thing out of it with parents, especially where it is so close to the end of the year. That will only get parents concerned or worried that something might not happen/go wrong. Consider adding this news to an email or newsletter, saying this board member has moved on but XXX (names of current board members) will take over whatever that person was handling.

In terms of a thank you, I'd say it is nearly always correct to thank the person for the work they did unless there are additional circumstances surrounding her departure (financial questions, for example). Then you'd want to hold off on communications. Buit if it was more personality conflicts, rise above that to thank her for the work she actually did. That's only fair.

Sounds like you have a good plan in place to wrap up your year, though.

Good luck with everything!

Rose C.