Question: Power Hungry President

Our PTO president is on a power trip. She has been having private conversations with our new school principal even before the school year started. She has decided several times already how to spend money. She agreed to host a breakfast for the teachers without letting any board members know. Then sent out an email to the board saying how amazing the teachers are and if anyone disagreed with her they could email her back. She feels that she can spend any amount of money up to $200. This worries me because all of this money adds up and it is being taken away from the needs of the students. What can we do?

Asked by Anonymous

Answers:

Advice from PTO Today

Rose H writes:
Hi there,
Does the board have a regular board or executive meeting? It's worth discussing in this kind of forum. Rather than approach it as, "Hey, we think you are doing something wrong....", approach it as, "Hey,we think it would be helpful if we did a quick review of process as we kick off the year." Ask questions about how decisions should be made -- as a group discussion. Also, check your bylaws. Depending on how detailed your bylaws are, there may be language in it that explains how decisions should be made.

Rose