First and foremost, the principal has NO business running, voting,being on the board, taking in or counting money, at all!!! Theprincipal's role is adjunct only, to assist and offer suggestions... PTO is a parentorganization, run by parents and for the school, with the guidance andsuggestion of the principal.
In no way do I advocate the principal trying to take over as the original poster suggested. But I have to disagree with part of this statement. The principal's role is whatever the specific PTO's bylaws defines it to be. In many PTOs the Principal is a voting board member. I've never been involved in a PTO that was exclusively parent-run. Yes, they tend to take the lead, but teachers and staff are part of the organization also.
One of the advantages of the PTO structure is that it is independent and not tied to anyone else's way of doing things.
I agree with Lisa that you should always keep a level head at the meetings regardless of who attends . That yes you are better off to try to make friends or at least get on common ground with the Principal .
I only suggest getting a member of the Board of Education to be at meetings when you have exausted all other efforts to get on common ground .
We also need to remember that the Principal may feel the same way about us as we do them . They may be trying to be helpful or have great intentions but just over stepping some boundries . Coming to a new school can be hard for anyone and a new Principal trying to prove themself is bound to make mistakes .
If conflicts can not be resolved then yes bring in a third party to help everyone make friends or get some common ground . But remember you also run the risk of making things harder if you call their boss and complain . This tends to offend people . So if you take that route be sure you are as willing to give on a few things as you are to get .
Most of all keep in mind that you joined the PTO for the good of the kids and be sure that you have their agenda at heart .
Yes I will be using this upcoming meeting to get things for the kids I and others feel they deserve . But most of all I will use it to mend broken fences and give everyone a chance to get on common ground or I know the year will be a disaster and the kids will suffer the most .
First and foremost, the principal has NO business running, voting, being on the board, taking in or counting money, at all!!! The principal's role is adjunct only, to assist and offer suggestions. I am very sorry that you have to deal with this. Remember PTO is a parent organization, run by parents and for the school, with the guidance and suggestion of the principal.
You can have a "pre-meeting", in which you discuss what will happen and the PTO meeting, decide who will make what motions, and exactly what will be covered. Get those parents to stick with that agenda. Then approach the meeting as a respectful President and bypass what was not discussed in the "pre-meeting". Just don't let on that you had the "pre-meeting". Lots of meetings are done this way (city, county government, etc).
Remember, you are working for the students, that is your focus and keep reminding EVERYONE that.
Good Luck. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger, and there is strength in numbers.
Sounds like some frustrating situations out there. Just in case you haven't read these articles yet, I thought I'd pass them along -- there's some info in these that's very relevant to dominating principals.
Goes without saying that it's in your best interest to make the principal your partner.New principals usually come in with lots of new ideas... some good advice that I often heard relative to conflict resolution is: Seek first to understand, then be understood.
When it comes to meeting with your principal (with or without the superintendent) prepare by making a list of what is most important to you (so you are centered), then go into the meeting with a level-headed (rather than combative) attitude. Catch more bees with honey than vinegar, as they say. Good luck -- hope you all keep us posted!
PTOMommy -- I would totally take advantage of the Superintendent's presence at your next PTO meeting and load up the agenda with every issue possible. Put a review of all your events (past and present), the budget, the camping trip, the student of the month program, the treat bag, and everything else the principal has opposed or interfered with this year.
Then, during the meeting, proceed as normal with discussion, motions, and voting. Be certain that the secretary takes careful minutes of the activities and the results of the votes.
The principal will probably just play nice in the superintendent's presence, so this would be an ideal time to get a lot of business squared away and on the record. Then, should she capitulate afterwards, you'll have documentation to defend you organization when you call the superintendent for support.
A principal trying to take over must be a theme this year .
We have a new principal and she has decided that the school is all hers and she is the only one with any say so . She also dose not make parents feel welcome at the school and so they do not come and it is hard enough to get parents to help out with only 75 kids in the school. This year only the kindergarten and 1st grade parents can help their child get ready for our Halloween party the other parents have to stay out side till we have our parade .
She planned the 5th grade trip and PTO and parents had no input at all .She is planning on taking them on an overnight camping trip(we live in WV so a kids camping in the woods is not a big thrill for them) with another schools 5th grade where she is also principal at . When a parent questioned her at our last PTO meeting she became rude and actually told the parent you will do it because I said so .
She dose not want the kids to have the same treats for our student of the month program that they have gotten for the past year now ( a pizza and a movie that is donated by local businesses) .
She also doesn’t want any games or crafts at our school parties , nor dose she feel that money raised should be spent on the kids for party treat bags (our student only get 1 treat bag provided by the PTO ) .
After she humiliated one of my most helpful parents at our meeting and constantly talking down to me and everybody else I called our Board of Education .Advised them of her rude attitude and made my feelings known . The Board of Education called her and our Superintendent is coming to our next meeting .
I can say that today when I went to the school for PTO business she had a much better attitude . Even though she thinks she did nothing wrong in the way she treated this parent . So I am hoping this will get things under control and make for a great year .
