We do take ideas and considerations from our principle, but she has no voting power what so ever. We have always worked with her in what she wants for the students and school, but that doesnt mean we do everything or get everything she wants. She wanted a talking monitor light for the cafeteria that was voted down big time. But we did get a school mascot rug for the front enterence.
Do you have bylaws that you can look at and see where you can go from there. We do have follow some regualtions as to when we book events, and take her considerations as to what the teachers and school needs are but we are seperate from the school and are not required.

Good Luck

Our principal also has a seat on our Executive Board. She has to approve everything that we do. She also lets us know what we can and cannot pay for. It upsets me sometimes when she shoots down my ideas, but it's her school. We all have to respect that.

If we could "play together nicely" I would not see such a Problem with our principal, right now I just see him more as interference. Our current president is moving on to middle school, so she will no longer be a part of the PTO. Most of the(5-7, maybe 10) parents that are currently attending the PTO metting started this year (myself included).

Thanks for the advice, we are just trying to tough it out this year is just about up and we have a lot of great ideas for next year. Just wanted to know where the principal needed to be figured in the equation for the new president.

Sounds like you don't just have a principal issue, you've got a President issue too. If these 5-7 parents have stuck it out through all of the President's alienation attempts then they are probably pretty thick skinned and determined to have a voice in their child's school parent group. I'd run with that. When a vote is taken and the principal then tries the strong arm tactics, simply say "I'm sorry that you don't feel the same about this issue as the majority did, but I made my vote based on what I felt was best for our children as did the other members, and I'm sticking with that." Then just wish him/her a good night and walk away. If you can get the rest of the parents to do the same, your principal should eventually give up the attempts to change your mind and hopefully this may even end the advance plotting by the principal and the President.

Then next election time get a new President who will do things the right way.

Basically our PTO pres. has alienated the majority of the parents from the PTO to where only 5-7 (that includes officers) parents are attending. She and the principal have [private meetings and discuss the way they think the PTO money should be spent and when/if it comes to vote before the PTO quorom and it does not go the way they wanted it to, the principal will single you out and try to strong arm you into swaying your descision to change majority. Ecspecially if you are an officer.

Our prinicipal sits on the exexcutive board as a voting member. We have always included the principal in all of our group's decisions, often seeking input and advice. She knows district policies, the staff, the students, and the families, and can be an invaluable resource when trying to figure what programs will and won't work in the school. We have been fortunate to have a principal who embraces the parent group concept and truly wants and encourages our involvment in the school.

I guess in general I would expect the principal to have at least some say in activities organized by the parent group in relation to using the building and sending things home with students/communicating with parents. Having them sit on the executive board is in my opinion the best way to accomplish this. Whether you give them voting privileges is up to the individual group. I would hope that there is a sense of working as a team from both the principal and the parent group perspectives. I don't think the principal should have control of the group or its finances, or be able to make unilateral decisions. I also don't think the group should expect to be able to do whatever they want without consulting and truly taking into consideration the principal's ideas and advice.

Are you having a specific principal issue?