Conflict of interest on decision making is certainly an issue, but other problems arise.

Time is a big issue. I've known situations where a staff member served as an officer or committee chair and the principal felt the person spent too much work time doing their volunteer assignments for PTO. (He was supportive, but I could see his point.) Yes it's all for the school. But balancing the volunteer time versus the workday when one is employeed by the school can be tricky.

in theory, any of our staff can hold office, but in practice, those parents that have become empolyees have stepped down to avoid anything appearing like conflict of interest.

no one will believe that you can keep your hats independent of one anther, even if YOU know you can. its all in perception, sometimes.

Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are. Franklin D. Roosevelt

All you Presidents out there... just make sure you use your power for good, not evil.


JHB, I think a better word is influence, not power. I also think the Principal and the President are often the people who have the most influence on the direction of a PTO - by far. Which is #1 vs. #2 would be different for each group/dynamic.

Anyway... Mustang Mom,

If your groups by-laws don't speak to the situation, then there is nothing preventing you from serving on the board.

However, our groups' Charter specifically says that the 5 Exec Bd positions must be filled by parents/legal guardians. If the parent is also a teacher that is OK, but a teacher (without parental responsibility) is not allowed to serve on our board. But different groups are free to craft their rules for their own situation.

And finally.... Roof 6 Pack,
It seems to me that if you are on the board of a PTO, you have a fiduciary responsibility to act/decide for the benefit of the PTO. Therefore you are not acting as either a parent or as a staff member, but as an Executive Officer of the organization.

I also recognize that is easier said than done especially for the tough calls.

One more note, the president only getting a vote in a tie situation is not a very strong one, in my opinion.

Rarely is the president merely a presiding officer with no influence. My experience is that the President is the most powerful person in the PTO.

This discussion pops up periodically on the Forum and different people have different views.

Our elementary PTO had a large Board (25+) and no school employee could hold one of the 5 elected officer positions. But they could hold other Board positions (i.e., committee chairs). This was a rule in our bylaws, partially at the principal's request. There can be situations where a well-meaning employee might get into a conflict of interest. We had a great relationship with our principal, yet had a key officer (like President) been a teacher that reported to him, that would have been awkward at times.

Also, if anything were to go wrong - especially with funds - you have not only the PTO but a school employee involved.

In our middle school PTO, there's no such rule and staff members have even served as president.

If the principal wants this policy enforced (whether or not it's a written policy), I think you need to consider his wishes.

Principal, District Parent Liason to start ask both about any written policy and explain what Vprincipal informed u of