Okay, the letters have been sent, so it's too late to take those back, but it's not too late to follow JHB's advice about finding a way to work together.

You stated earlier that "the President doesn't have time and the Treasurer is nowhere to be found." That could be why your principal and assist. principal are taking things into their own hands. While I don't condone their spending money without parent approval and feel that they could have made an effort to reach out to any officers they knew about(like you), they may just feel like it's time to pull this group together and get something that really works. From the note they sent home, it sounds like they are excited and positive about having a parent group in the school, so maybe before tonight's meeting you could give the principal a call and try again to talk with him. Be straight-tell him you are very upset and that you have filed complaints, but that you have a feeling that you might both want the same thing and you hope that you can be a part of a positive move forward with the parent group.

Have you met with your principal and vice principal to discuss plans for the PTO? Maybe there is still a way you can salvage this relationship.

First, take a step back and think about parent groups. Most of us here tend to think about the ideal version of a separate, independent group with some level of continuity successfully from year to year. That's great - but I suspect not the majority.

A long-term princiapl (say, 20 years) will see many versions. A PTO may run strong for 3-5 years, interest wanes, there's year with no PTO. There's still a bank account sitting somewhere. A new group may get enthused and gear up. Maybe that works for awhile. One year the president may just be a flake who drives everyone away and leaves a situation with catalog company calling the school for payment and no PTO to be seen. Over the long course of time, these informally developed PTOs change as volunteers move on. The school/the administration may be the only thread of continuity.

I'm not saying yours was like that. But I do believe a Principal has the obligation to set the stage for the school having parent group. If it's a strong, independent group, he should work with them as a partner. If there's a vaccuum, he tries to draw parents in to create a group.

Again - I am not saying your principal is "right". Maybe he created this situation. It sounds like he's approaching it as if there is no real PTO and he's starting from scratch. From his view, an organization with no bylaws, no elections last year, and the only voice is one parent claiming to be VP may essentially be a group that has died out.

As far as one meeting every 9 weeks, that sounds fine to me. Many of us have seen trends in less and less general meetings because parents don't want to attend them. That's not to say other things aren't going on. Relevent committees are working, the officers/board may meet. Lots goes on behind the scenes beyond those general meetings.

Please understand - I am not trying to put you down. He may be a complete monster. I'm just pointing out that there may be another viewpoint here. No matter what, he is the principal and he will run the school. I'm not sure sending complaint letters about him and going in to a public meeting "guns blazing" is going to get you very far. Maybe you can find a way to work together.

I sent letters today to the MS State Board of Education and to our Local Board of Education. I will go in with guns blazing tonight. I'm fighting for the parents and our children not for our principal. I spoke with our Parent Advisor and he informed me that in no way was the principal or the assist. princ. allowed to do what they are doing. He is the one who nominated me 2 years ago. He has now become a BLUES Legend and is touring and it is hard to catch him at the school.

YOu need to show up at the meeting and ask these questions. You, as a parent, have a right to know what is going on since this is a change from previous years. Ask for the bylaws and state that unless they are produced, they cannot go any further with elections or use of the funds until they can prove they are acting in accordance with them.
go to your board of education and state your concern for the principal using PTO funds without a vote or approval from the PTO board of education, removal of officers without cause or notice.
Check with the bank to determine how the principal got his name as signer on the account. They have a responsibility to make sure that only the correct persons are allowed access to the bank account.

Have you checked with the superindent/ maybe even a board of ed person,they may have some insight on who ran previous PTO's and what the duties and responsiblitities would be.
I know we have an email for ours at our school website. That might be a better way of contacting them so you have what you need for the meeting on Thursday. Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

Okay - I get my little one home from schooand find a school newsletter stating the following:

Parents: Our PTO is going to be bigger and better this school year, but we need people who are willing to serve as PTO leaders..... we are only going to have 4 meetings a year (1 every nine weeks)......... Thanks for your support the ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL..


WHAT??? What is the purpose of having officers if the school is running things?

I have spoken to people who started the PTO at this school. There are laws, but no one knows where they are. They are not inc. for tax exempt. Does that mean that we are supposed to be paying taxes???? According to the former pres - the principal is in no way to take funds away from the PTO. I've got my meeting Thursday night. I just wish I could fly everyone in for support and to show them how things are NOT to be.UGH!!!!