Thank you so much for the information! Although we are not actually able to voteon the budget we are encouraged by our school to call our Alderman and let our feelings be known. You have certainly given me some things to consider and I appreciate your advice. I have emailed the Board for their approval of the letter and once all have agreed to it, I believe that I will send it out with the principal's blessing (of course)...I will sign the letter PTO Board that way none of the other parents who are members will feel that I am speaking on their behalf...I will first check our 501c3 information to be certain that I won't get into trouble with the IRS (I hadn't thought of that)
Thanks again and I'll repost once the dust settles
Filling out our 501c3 application, I came across the question about whether the PTO does any political activity. 501c3s are generally forbidden to advocate for a specific candidate (and the IRS publications have some examples on when issue-advocacy is really thinly-veiled candidate support). 501c3s can lobby/support legislation, but there's a reporting requirement. I thought surely we'd want to have the ability to support the school budget, but other parents wondered if everyone would agree (suppose half the PTO only wanted 50% of the proposed increase, do we vote in the PTO on what its official position is?).
So, ultimately, we filled out our 501c3 saying we do not lobby. Of course, the officers and members are free to write letters to the editor as parents.
I had this problem back in december. the super asked us to mail letters, make phone calls, post signs, anything we can do to support his budget. He told us that it was legal and in our rights as a pto. PERSONALLY, I did not feel right telling people how to vote and I had the support of the rest of the pto board. We ended up sending home a letter with the facts, ending it by saying PLEASE VOTE. We did not say how to vote.
:confused: I am writing a letter that is supposed to go home with the students with regard to a proposed school district budget cut of $7 million dollars. If I send this letter home, with approval from the school principal what is my liability if someone considers it to be provocative or too strongly worded? Can I be sued for my point of view if it is given while wearing my PTO President's hat? Would it be better to send this letter to the local paper as a letter to the editor?
I don't want to be sued nor do the other volunteers on the board but I know that the principal is not at liberty to send out a letter like this to the parents from her...thank you to anyone who has any advice on this matter.
