Since I last wrote in alot has happened. Our principal DID show at our last meeting, she had alot to say but nothing to say!!! Nobody understood a word she said, even the teacher reps. We had a second meeting with just board members and principal. She talked to superintendent and they decided that we should restructure our PTO. In other words, they now have control of the money, they chose the school secretary to be our treasurer and our tres. the co. They decided to get rid of our sec. and have the teacher reps. be the sec. So now we,the pres. and me the v.p. are trying to decide if we bother to stick around!! We want to just to be a thorn in her side and to do the best for the kids. But since she has control of the checkbook I am sure she will decide want they should and shouldn't do. She has already put a stop to any field trips so far. And we can't find our bylaws to know what she can and cannot do. So we do not know what we can or should do.Is she allowed to decide who will be on our board or take over the money like that? We would like to just see her gone, hopefully at the end of this year, she is only under a year contract,some things happened last year that she did not take care of properly between the PTO and one of her friends, the P.E. teacher. She blames us for getting rid of the p.e. teacher and made her look bad. So we think she is doing this out of spite!!!!I could go on forever about this principal but I think I have rambled on enough. Thanks for any help or advice you could give us. cjrosie in Il. :confused:

Well, I have a few meetings to go to today. Then I will head over to the school and try and run the student store. After that I am going to tell him that I will help him set up the next meeting for PTA but I will not be a part of it. in a nice way
Then we will see what happens. I just wish I could find the appropriate way to explain to him why we are there and what his role is. I think sometimes when you talk in a strong way, men seem to get on the defensive and stop listening. And feel the main man and boss come out in them and its their way or the highway. I guess it could be a woman in higher position also [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Well thanks for the advice and such I will keep you up to date. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Jaime PTO president
Back in sunny CA. finally, no more rain.
like we even know what that is?

I'm with Phil. It does seem that with all the budget cuts that many of use are dealing with it seems that the principal wants to see what money is coming in.
If our principal wanted to take over he/she would quickly find out what we as VOLUNTEERS do. Many times teachers and parents who are not very involved forget that we are volunteers who are trying to help make our child school experance memorible.
Good Luck

It makes me sad to read these types of post. Having said that, if the principal want to run the show, then I say let him and you can concentrate on your childs education, and if or should I say WHEN they ask for help, tell them your too busy.

Phil PTO president

I am also having this type of problem. The Principles secretary seems to be the one though. She wants weekly reports on what we spend, with reciepts. How much we make. And wants records of the bank accounts. I dont have any problems with this. I told the principle that we always have accountability at the PTO meetings, treasurers reports on hand. And for her to do it weekly is just ridiculous. But I told her to get it together for this week. It mostly has to do with a student store that was agreed upon with the principle, his secretary, and my treasurer. We bought all the supplies through PTO funds and it seems he thinks his secretary bought them with asb monies. i am sorry if I am not making much sense but I am tired and frustrated. The secretary has pretty much convinced the principle that they are PTO people also. I told him they are not. That we are independently running on behalf of the school. And that he plays a big part in being involved. I need more information on how to explain in kindergarten terms of how PTO is run and what involvement the principle has. He told us today that we will not be a PTO that we will be a PTA. I refuse just because I feel that I am being forced into something when we aleady have something that works. So once this is all done I will be resigning. but I would just like to have info for the next people on how to treat this principle and his secretary. Thanks so much

Jaime
PTO/president :confused:

Thanks for your replies, it is a public school.We are just frustrated, we are the second lowest income school in our district, there are about 4 other people that come to our meetings besides the officers and the teacher reps., and when the principal decides to show. We may be a bit unorganized, but we always put on good events and they always have a good turn out. I guess what our problem seems to be is that we are not running it they way she would like us to. We may just decide to let her have the whole shabang...then she and the secretary can do it all. Maybe they can find the right people to do things the right way,(HER way). Thanks for your time.