The first year I was pres we ran WELL over $60K through the PTO account. The librarian uses PTO for her account which includes bookfair. We have Fall Festival, Spirit Sales, Holiday Shop, Basket Ball tourneys, and Spring Fling to raise money. All our students have to do as far as PTO is concerned is have fun. All our staff has to do is work two of these events per year and they get money for that! The volunteers do set up, get donations, and what ever else has to be done. The office staff is usually clueless, but very helpful when needed. We do not feel the need to put any more hardship on our staff than they already have. The principal is in charge of the SCHOOL. Not our non-profit parent group, which she is very supportive of by the way. She has the power to stop us from doing anything to protect the repuatation and safety of the school. I pay taxes for the staff to get paid and the board of education members too. It should not be up to a PTO to determine or pay for cirriculums in my district. We also have fees for membership ($1 and if that is to hard for some people, it is worked out). Our principal is not a dictator she is a valuable advisor and our members vote on what goes on with the money WE make.

I have no idea what your personal situation with your PTO is but the Principal has no control over the PTO money, because the PTO is a seperate Organization that operates within the school.

Most PTO's earn their money for specific reasons which usually include class trips, assemblies, in house work shops, etc...Then they can use excess money to purchase items needed by the school for the kids.

Your PTO would be correct in saying that school curriculm is the job of school board & Superintendent. This does not mean that they can't help out in this area, but technically it is not their responsibility to take care of the cirriculum for the school.

I can also tell you there are countless items we would buy for the school and our own principal tells us not to do it as it is not our responsibility. He feels that because we are successful the board of Ed tries to use us to accomplish things that they are fully capable of doing.

Our PTO makes it abundantly clear what we are raising funds for and we do not use any office staff to do our work for us. Your own PTO should have a budget they can show you. It should state what they expect to take in and how much they expect to spend and on what.

Sorry, but you are just plain wrong! If the fundraiser is sponsored by the PTO/PTA, organized, run by them, monies collected, orders processed and delivered by them; it's THEIR fundraiser. Usually, this is the bulk of the budget for the parent group. However, it's important that the parent group is clear as to how the funds will be used. Parent members, staff, and yes the principal (who should certainly be a member, too), all have a voice and vote as to how the money is spent. I'm sorry, but I think you are wrong that the fundraiser should be spent on curriculum. PTO's and PTA's offer wonderful family events and add to the curriculum with great programs and such. Many parent groups do help out with some equipment needs. But, your fight should not be with the PTO and it's fundraiser, but with your legislators to stop cutting public schools budgets! Put your energy to good use and talk to your legislators...I hope you voted today and kept that in mind.

I read several messages about the fundraising and how the school should not spend it as the principal sees fit. Excuse me, but the PTO is not the one earning the money. The students are doing the work, the office staff is doing the work. The PTO is just sponsoring it with their name. How can a few parents and that's just what it is delegate how the funds are spent. The principal should be responsible. Our PTO has over $20,000.00 in their account and yet every little item that goes to the board for approval is like a major act of Congress. This is not right. Do you think that the community would respond if they new just a few people were controlling the funds. No Way! Not every princpal is going to spend the money wrong. Our principal wants curriculum: PTO says that is not their resonsibility but the responsiblity of the district. Who ever is responsible is not the issue. The issue is to help the students get the best education possible. Why aren't there laws for this. I will never ever help our PTO out again.