We have two teacher reps that attend meetings. Teachers support us and partipate in events, but don't generally come to meetings. Those that ARE involved are also parents - and they've been a real blessing.

However, we do have a rule in our bylaws:

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>{Officer} Nominees must be PTO members in good standing and may not be faculty/staff of [XYZ]Elementary nor hold a management position with the school district. <hr></blockquote>

So this means that a teacher or staff member may not serve as an officer (Pres, VP, Sec, Treas, Parliamentarian). But they may serve as Committee Chair (and thus a Board Member). We've had two teacher-parents serve on the board and they've been wonderful! (There have been a few sensitive moments, but no huge problems.)

However, we feel it is a conflict for one to be an elected officer.

[ 06-17-2003: Message edited by: JHB ]</p>

Have you seen a copy of your by-laws? I would ask about it.

We are a PTO and our school board has nothing to do with our organizations except to approve fundraisers which is never a problem.

As far as having staff on the board. We want our Treasurer to be a staff member. It's very convenient that way, but just like any other officer or member a decision has to be made through the exec. board or at general meetings. She doesn't decide to spend any money herself.

I was President for 1 1/2 years at my kids current school. I am also a sub aide and volunteer many hours. I think it gave me better insight on what the teachers, students, and parents needed to have a strong PTO.

A committee needs to be set up in order to change the by-laws. Ours was extremely out dated. We had 2 teachers (one did have a child at the school), 2 parents, and 2 board members (myself and the treasurer). After we decided what needed to be changed we brought the revisions before the members at a general meeting before turning them into the IRS.

Have you talked to the principal about the bad experiences that have been had over mentioning this situation? If he/she won't listen I would be taking it a step farther. If the kids are getting treated unfairly for the opinion of a parent that is wrong, what kind of message does that send to the students?

Our school does have teachers on our PTO, but they are usually too busy to even make it to meetings. They don't like working all day and them comming back to school later for PTO.

Our school's PTA has been plagued for a number of years by a self-votinf cliche of parents, who happen to be staff at this same school, and in some cased teachers as well. Is this allowed in PTA/PTO by-laws. Are they allowed to created by-laws that allow for this. We have learned the hard way that anyone who calls attention to this has (along with their child) a bad experience at this school. Do school board policy typically allow for this type of teacher/staff involvment in the same school's PTA?