If in fact they are a 501(c)3 organization, they are subject to certain public disclosure requirements. (See more info here: www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96430,00.html)

You can call the IRS to check and see if they are listed as a 501(c)3 (you can check online at www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96136,00.html, but that's not so reliable--there could be valid reasons why they are not listed there, but are still 501(c)3). If they are, they do need to disclose certain tax/financial information each year to ANYONE who asks for it, but basically they need to be big enough to be required to file an income tax return (more than $25k in annual revenues). If they don't provide what they are supposed to, they can be fined by the IRS.

If none of this ends up applying, I would get a group of parents to ask some questions. It's their money going in; they should be concerned about how it is spent.

I agree with CC and Roof, check with other parents. How can you possibly know if the money you voted to spend on a program really got spent for that program? If I was part of a group that was this secretive, I wouldn't fundraise for them. I want to know where my $$ are going.

I also agree with going to the school district administration to get their take on the situation.

I just posted this on another thread but I think it might help your situation too.....

Another point brought up on previous posts is the Open Meeting or Sunshine laws. Google search these laws for your state to see what they say. This group may be legally obligated to provide copies of meeting minutes, including the bylaws revision meeting, treasurer's report and so on, to anyone who asks for them or risk being in violation of a state law.

Thanks for the kind words ademom74. I try my best. I'm far from the experts like Tim, Critter, pals, and many other higher ranking Member #s here but I'm glad my experience helps others.

momfirst - congratualtions for sticking to your guns. It sounds like every effort was made to scare you off. I imagine you've been labeled the local troublemaker, which is just another bullying tactic to discredit you and get you to be quiet.

If your original bylaws have an outlined process for ammending bylaws and that process wasn't followed then this 'new and improved' set technically doesn't exist.

I agree with the other posts that the next step is higher up the chain of command. The superintendent and BOE need to be made aware of this.

And I ask the same question Roof does - Isn't anyone else up in arms about this? Surely even without a treasurer's report to look at, common sense tells you if a lot of money is going in and not a lot coming back out in the form of programs, events, fieldtrips, classroom supplies, etc. then something is definitely wrong. Accounting practices should be so transparent that any parent or staff member should be able to see exactly what's going on. Treasurer's reports, bank statements, meeting minutes, anything with information about your financial status should be wide open for review.

One other thing. As far as you know, is your treasurer bonded? If so, what insurance company handles the policy? They might be interested to know that there's a potentialy huge problem brewing.

Wow! I would be angry too. I am in total agreeement with ademom74... superintendent first... hope you have some sort of paper trail... even just documenting converations or occurrences with times and dates.
The town paper is a great way to expose an issue.(carefully)
Also, get some other parents on board with you. Doesn't ANYONE else think this needs justification?
Also, your school board members may want to hear the possible misuse of funds.
Lastly, IRS. I'm sure you don't really want the organization to fail to the point of extinction. So make it your last persuit.
Go with your gut!

As you can't get satisfaction from your principal, go to THEIR boss. Go directly to your district superintendent and school board. Put all details in a registered return reciept letter, follow up with e-mail and request for meeting with him/her. If superintendent and school board don't comply (I would find that highly unlikely), write a public letter in your town paper (be careful it's not slanderous. Any lawyers on this thread to concur?) and then go to the IRS.

This all sounds way to fishy to me. Oh, and they can't remove you from membership.

Just my 0.02 cents. See what others think... DLF usually gives insightful answers as does CrewChief.