I agree that it's fine for these two to have a personal friendship. In many schools, and especially in small towns, everyone knows everyone else. It's so much nicer if everyone is friends and can work happily together.
As long as their isn't an obvious show of favoritism or unfairness, I would definitely let it go.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
I think it is fine and counted my relationship with the Principal and VP amongst my best when I was PTO President. We were all very respectful of each others role in the organization, provided leadership of our respective groups and were able to bond with a terrific relationship that benefitted the children. We didn't talk much about the PTO outside of school and certainly didn't step over any lines of what was appropriate. It would be very difficult to say who you can and can't be friends with.
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If these two were two of three or four on the board, then there would be cause for concern as collusion influenced by friendship could lead to poor decision making. However, assuming that there are several other board members who have voting rights and who together could pass or fail motions, I wouldn't worry too much about this friendship.
This is my first post on this site and it's my hope I can receive some feedback from some of you PTO or PTA veterans out there.
Is it appropriate for an executive board member to socialize outside of the school with a Principal or Assistant Principal? I am not sure how long the relationship has existed, but there is little doubt it does and I am not the only parent uncomfortable with it. My past experience was with a PTA, and in that school our Principal and Assistant Principal established clear boundaries so as to avoid a perception or actual conflict of interest. This time I am now in a smaller town and everyone just seems so much more laid back. Am I making too much out of this, or would you too be turned off if you heard your PTO Board Member and Assistant Principal were shopping, lunching, or bar-hopping together? I know we are all "people" first, but as I said before, I am not the only one who has noticed and is turned off. Our Principal, nice as she is, is known to steer clear of negative issues and conflict, so I don't even know if approaching her is worth the effort.
