sunflower,
I agree with C.Brooks. Start by drafting a new set of bylaws. You have the backing of the school administration. Make sure you work with them on the new draft. There are numerous sources to draw sample bylaws. I'll send you ours if you want. Keep up the good work!
Don't give up, if you had that many at the meeting, it sounds like they are ready to have a good PTO. Did you tell the "old committee" that it was all voted for and the assistant principal backs it? Remind them they could've have been at the meeting or had a representitive, so now it's done and over with.(politely of course) When your new group starts having loads of fun helping the kids, they'll probably shut up. Just ignore the negative stuff, the more you let it bother you the more they will feed off of it. Did they call you at home? That is totally inappropriate, tell them you are going to report them to the phone company if they continue to harrass you. Or perhaps they will give in and want to help too. Are you the only one they are bothering or is it your whole group? Write down everything they do to you just incase you have to go before the board of ed or something. That will you will have something to back you up.
If your by-laws are no where to be found and your PTO has been inactive, I'd say they are probably out dated anyhow. There is a good starting point.
Actually, many parents stop coming to the PTO meetings because it was just a bunch of gossip and issues. As for the teachers they were tired of listening to all the hear say and gossip and pointing the finger that so and so teacher is not doing their job. Teachers don't have time for this. They have to make sure that the kids are getting educated and the PTO should be trying to raise money and find parents to help out in the school.
There was no active PTO at all. As for the bylaws, i have been requesting them and they have not given them to me.
The Assistant Principal told the former PTO Prez that the school is sticking with the new PTO committee and there will be no re-elections.
I was told by the principal that it was the first time the school had a great PTO meeting. I really would like to work things out, but they are very rude and disrespectful. I don't have time for this. Like many parents I work full time and the only day off I have is on Fridays, which I volunteer at the school as well hold the meetings.
Where do I start? I know they are not going to quit, now that there are parents who are doing something. How can I fight this?
You said that the decision made about voting was in the previous meeting minutes and that reminders were sent out. Why are they complaining now? It sounds like there was plenty of info about the election. What is in your by laws? Maybe you should have a special meeting and talk everything out.
Sounds like the former prez is to busy to see to a PTO, was she re-elected? How late was she? I understand her being upset about the meeting starting without her but it sounds like she may have overeacted.
Why wasn't the old committee involved? Were all their efforts rejected?
[ 10-19-2003, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: C. Brooks ]
Our school PTO Committee has not been active for a while. The FOrmer PTO President (now) had the Asst. Prinicpal doing everything for the PTO. Being the Asst. Principal she wanted parents to get involved so she helped. Eventually to get stuck doing everything.
I decided to go to the first meeting and there was no committee, no agenda and only a notebook paper to sign.
The meeting did not go no where but just issues about this teacher and buses and gossip.
So I asked the Former PTO President that I will help her to create the agenda, sign in forms and sent reminders to parents. I also told her that I took notes and that I will use that for the agenda. She said fine. I told her that if she thinks we should include something just to call me.
A reminder was sent out to all parents. The day of the meeting I bought donuts and coffee. I passed out the agenda with pens, as well brought in two speakers.
At 9:30 AM the parents were waiting for the meeting to start. The PTO President was not there and instead was busy somewhere else. So I decided to start meeting with our first speaker.
PTO president got very angry and resigned as PTO president to the Principal and Asst. Principal.
The thing is that FOrmer PTO President wanted to elect officials that sameday. It was in the agenda as well in Local School Council minutes. NOt having no committee, I was voted in as President and then my committee was formed. I have a strong committee.
Out of no where I had the Co-founder of PTO who was not actively involved call me and harrassed me. As well we had the old committee saying that they were still the committee (even though the FOrmer PTO President said there was no committee). I am lost! Now the former PTO President is saying that she still is the President. Now they want to do re-elections. I have to say that the new PTO are getting the ball rolling. We are actually making accomplishments. Can anyone advise me in what to do? We have two PTO's holding meetings! HELP!
