That is exactly the point of the donuts and pastries to get people to vote FOR an issue. It appears this PTO and school are using their organization in a substantial way to influance legislation. Whether it is the fact or not the appearance is what counts. The school and the PTO are acting as a lobby group. You have stated one of the reasons for the appearance of this, it is silly to think the school itself is not in support of a bond issue that will grant them more money. This is anything but neturual ground and to be doing it on election day itself, that has to violate a half dozen state laws if indeed the school is a polling place.
As an example: We wanted to do our Harvest Festival on Election day. Out school grounds (we are a polling place) are large enough that we would have been able to keep the two events completely seperate (distance and access). After a discussion or two I moved the date by 2 weeks, appearance alone was sufficient reason (Several political canidates would be in attendance at our festival).
I agree that the campaigning done by the person whose husband was working so hard to get the bond issue passed was inappropriate. Sounds like your Prez started off on the right foot, but didn't know when to stop talking....
But as for having donuts for dads and muffins for moms on an election day to encourage them to come in and vote--I don't think that's necessarily such a bad idea. (I'm assuming your polling places are in the schools?) As long as your flyers don't actually say "vote to pass the school bonds," but say "come on in and enjoy a treat with your child when you exercise your right to vote," I think that's actually a good thing. Granted, you would have to be a moron to think that the school does NOT support getting the bonds passed, but still.... Gets people in the school, and gets them involved in something that is important to the school system. AND, gives parents an opportunity to discuss with their child the importance of voting.
Sandy, Though the Principal is a member of our Executive Board, she sits in the audience during meetings and just the officers are at the head table.
Dave, I LIKE the camera idea!
If you liked that Dave...you'll loooooooooove this:
During the meeting, prior to the mentioned members "report/campaign.... our school Principal talked about the upcoming Bond election, and that the school would host the morning of "donuts for dads" and later in the day “muffins for moms" and stated that a flyer would go home with the children to announce this...in an attempt to get the parents to vote on the bond issue while at the school that day.
