"the PTO is an entity separate from the district and therefore I do not have a say in how things are done, but I CAN give advice, if needed"
thats EXACTLY what our principal has told us. bottom line, it doesnt matter WHAT the truth is, if the principal doesnt want to take a position, there is not much yu can do. theoretically, they must allow the use of shcool bldg to the PTO, so yes, they do have a say in matters if they choose. If the PTO uses the TIN tax ID number of the district , for filing purposes, then of course they are linked. you could also ask if your donations to your pto are tax deductible, and if so, why. if the PTO donations are tax deductible because of their association to the school, seems to me the principal has every rigth to call the shots IF she wants to , of course.

I have been nominated as an officer on our school's PTO board. This nomination and election process has become a TOTAL nightmare. Our current PTO board has not recognized the by-laws in years and feel that elections are not a necessary part of this PTO. They feel that they should pick and choose as they please and that the election is being run incorrectly. Translation - it's not going the way that THEY want it to go.

The principal was notified of the current situation and came back with an answer of "the PTO is an entity separate from the district and therefore I do not have a say in how things are done, but I CAN give advice, if needed" (and I'm paraphrasing on that answer).

My question - IS there an authoratative figure that can say what's right and what's wrong? Come election day, if some of these current board members aren't re-elected, can they start all kinds of problems trying to GET their way? Who can step in, by-laws in hand, and make them realize that this is the way things should be? That there are rules for a reason.

I've reached the point of TOTAL frustration with this whole situation. I simply want to make a difference in my child's school and have a say in the way things are run, the way things are handled - to actually try and MAKE things a little bit better. I did not accept this nomination thinking I was walking back into high school, being outed by the "clique" that wants things done THEIR way.

ANY advice would be wonderful! I would greatly appreciate thoughts, comments, etc. on this situation. I feel as thought I'm running into a brick wall.