You are the greatest. Thanks! I talked with the PTO president, whom I was told is a favorite of the principal. My wife talked to the school superintendent. They have conflicting stories on who knew what and when...LOL. But I'm 90% sure the PTO is a 501c3 corporation... has a tax ID number and such. I asked the president if they had plans for another meeting to discuss the issues I talked to her about and to formally dissolve the PTO and she didn't really seem to know. She tried to explain what is going to happen to the money. They would transfer it to the school general fund... which sounds like a legal problem to me.
The principal wants to go to another type program like the school down the road, but from what I understand the officers are appointed by the principle and there is really no parental input, unless it matches what the principal agrees with.
Seems like there are a lot of people on either this side of the fence or that side of the fence and it will likely get uglier before it gets better.
Contact the IRS and make sure you are a recognized 501c3 organization separate from the school before you go any farther.
You could seek out an attorney, but unless you are recognized as a separate entity from the school, there probably won't be much recourse available.
You probably need to make nice with the principal until this is solved, one way or the other. If you are a 501c3 group, separate from the school, then the IRS may have advice for you. If you are separate from the school, you are still not going to want to be at war with the principal.
I urge you to make a list of everything your group does for the school (fundraisers and amounts brought in; events you pay for and/or staff; supplies you provide for classrooms, teachers, and students; playground equipment you have replaced; Arts programs; etc.) and present it to her in a meeting. Don't hand it over as it just gives her a starting off point for her committee.
Thanks for the reply. As for leaving a zero balance, I'm in favor of that. I believe there is $7000 right now.
Reading the bylaws the firlst article states "...It is a not-for-profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Ohio to pormote the welfare and interests of children attending..."
That sounds like it is incorporated to me. The articles were also revised October 21st, 2003 so they would have been revised after the reorganization of our city elementary schools.
What are the legalities here? As long as no one says anything it is OK, but if I were to complain who do I complain to that will put her in check?
If your group is incorporated, then she really can't disband you. She can, however, stop you from meeting on school grounds, sending home info in the student backpacks, etc.
If your group is not incorporated and working under the school umbrella, then she can disband you.
Things to bring up to her might be that your group raises funds for the school and staffs events. Her parent group won't be able to do either of these things as efficently as is done now.
Now, for the money issue: If it were me, and I'm saying this not as advice but just if it were me, I'd make sure that every dime was spent before she disbands the group. Buy a playground map series, book an artist for an assembly, buy paper, whatever... I myself would probably buy prizes for assemblies, like license plate holders that say Honor Roll Student or Principals List Student, or other things like that. I'd maybe give the students one hell of a party to say Hello Summer. I'd spend it on the kids. Every dime. Before handing over the books. I'd have a zero balance before the last day of school. But that's just me.
I have the bylaws now and other than the principal being on the exective committee it mentions no power of the principal. What steps should I take about what has happened here. The election was suppose to occur in the May meeting which almost nobody attended, likely due to the principal's announcement in the April meeting. Should I ask the principal directly what she thinks she is doing, the PTO president or the school board?
Hello, I'm new to this forum and sorta new to PTO's so I apologize in advance for any ignorance.
Our school districts were rearranged last year that combined three PTO into one. My wife was active in the PTO at the old school and maybe not quite as active this year, due to confusion of what is going on. The PTO had a meeting last week to elect officers (this years were appointed by the new principal of the combined school) and the principal came in and stopped the election of officers. She stated that there would be no PTO next year. She stated that there would be a parent advisory committee that she would appoint committee members.
I know a little about bylaws of other professional organizations, but have no idea about a PTO. (I'm trying to track down a copy of the bylaws for this PTO...) Does this sound like something she can do? Aside from the fact that I fear my wife will no longer be allowed to participate in school activities, I am also concerned about the money issues. There is about $7000 that the PTO has and I'm concerned as to where that will wind up.
