Hi Jamie,
Thanks for sharing. The situation doesn't sound very productive -- it sounds like this core group is doing more to hurt itself by excluding others. Is the group set up as a PTO or PTA? Then there should be regular open meetings for all members. If it is a private parent group, then, technically, they can do what they want, but as you point out, they aren't getting much help or building involvement.
If you are interested in passing along recommendations to them on building involvement, I'd recommend these articles:
I found this question interesting, the PTO at my children's school very seldom has open meetings and when they do it's to "inform". This has caused many parents to step away because they feel like the 5 "core" members have made it very cliquish. Parents also feel like they have no say so and it's caused a lot of damage to the point where those 5 "core " members end up with very little parent volunteers at any event.
Was the HSA set up as an open group for all parents? Is there a membership requirement? If it is either open to all or you have fulfilled the membership requirement (dues, for example), then the meeting should not be closed to you.
Found this in the archives, and my question is an extension of this situation. In my scenario thought, a dozen parents are excluded from general meetings of our school's HSA (literally, meetings are promoted on a closed, online group page without notice to these parents). What recourse, if any, do these parents have???
You should check your bylaws. In the states I'm familiar with, at least, you're not a "public body" subject to an open meetings act (as the school board is, for instance), so your bylaws will tell you whether or not you can have a closed meeting. I recommend against it, though, even if your bylaws allow it. You think it's uncomfortable now? Wait until people accuse you of making decisions in a bubble, without input from the people you represent.
If you're uncomfortable because she's threatened physical violence, that would be a different story, of course, and a matter for the police.
I have a scenario I was hoping all of you experts could advise me on.
We had a person who was on our board and due to mistakes made by her in the recent past, she is no longer on the board. She showed up at our last meeting as a "parent" and it was uncomfortable for all of us. Our next meeting is supposed to take place at a private residence, however, we are not comfortable if she would show up at this private residence.
That being said, can we hold a "board only" or "closed" PTO meeting for the next meeting?
