It would be ideal if you can find a patient person to co-chair the project with her then she could provide the manpower and maybe the co-chair could be the staff liasion. My mother always preached "Kill them with kindness" when you have a challenging person to deal with. Good luck!

I know why I LOVE this website. What a wonderful way to get UNBIASED opinion. When you are removed from the situation it is much easier to state your case. ALL of your responses have been "food for thought". I would never indiscrimately target a volunteer for their opinions because that is what they are...opinions.However, I do have an organization, administration and an on -going trust and respect building with the school that one can NEVER stop working on. My Board is terrific...6 great women with no hidden adgendas and a DAD that I am so proud of for stepping up to the plate. We have worked soooo hard for the past 3 years to earn the trust( and YES>>>you earn trust and respect) from our administration and faculty that I do not want someone in a position that can create discord within the ranks. Again, one of my biggest fears is that if we let this person continue in the position will it be construed by the faculty that we support or condone her actions? (Neither of which is true) It is impossible to get with 80+faculty members to say "we want this to run it's course." I value and appreciate each of your opinions and comments. Thank you for taking the time to respond to this posting. I love getting your thoughts.

I also am very uncomfortable with the potential problems this situation creates. My Accelerated Reader experience is that this position would require working with the librarian, and with the classroom teachers. The librarian runs our program. Many teachers use the program in the classroom, such as by assigning a minimum number of points to accumulate during the grading period.

Now, the possibility exists that this parent is 110% in the right. It could well be that every other staff person in the school is holding their breath and crossing their fingers, hoping and praying that she will prevail. The principal may be seeing this as the chance to accomplish a firing that a strong NEA presence is preventing.

IT DOESN'T MATTER! The fact exists that this parent is engaged in legal action against the school. In order to run a program like A/R effectively, they will need to work closely with the paid professional staff of the organization they are sueing. This presents a tremendous opportunity for a conflict of interest, and it would not surprise me for the school's attorneys to prohibit the staff from working with her while the case is pending.

And that assumes that the staff would otherwise be supportive. Now, imagine trying to run this program when the staff is hostile!

Three years ago a parent (lets call her 'j') joined in a band of other parents that was lead by a man that decided to dig for dirt. He was told by a former employee of the school a bunch of stuff animals do on the ground . 'j's son was also dating this man's daughter SO her family trusted him adn started to help him find out how much was true etc. Well, in the course of all this criminal charges were filled against our principal (and founder of the school) the former emplyee was miss quoted etc, etc, etc. Now at the time she was Prez and I was her secretary. I honestly felt like I was on the Titanic! The Principal was scared of these people (they also sent her threatening messages) and never felt she could trust any of these parents ever again. The charges against her were dropped (the police chief called LAUGHING at what they didn't find the parents swore was evidence) and while her good name has been cleared and we didn't lose our charter (that was another breath taker when the district called) 'j' has NEVER lived down what she has done and said. Very few people that have stayed with the school trust her. I have been through counsling to overcome this overwhelming sense deseption and lies.

You know how you expect this Mom to act, does she know what will be expected of her? Our school now does not feel they can trust 'j' (yeap she has a daughter that will graduate this year) or really want her in the building. She is a awsome volunteer, if she can just keep her mouth shut, let the teachers do their job and let the staff do their jobs we could be okay. Hang on ya'll! She has put her nose where it doesn't belong and caused more problems for the staff than nessasary. She asked me if I was going to keep my baby when I told everyone I was pregnant....

This isn't Harper Valley PTA and she's wearing a skirt that is too short. This is a Mom that has a lawsuit, this is a parent that has venom. This is someone that needs to be babysat or (honestly) find someonelse. I don't want teachers feeling uncomforable with her knowing she will sue if she "doesn't like them".

I'm really sorry, I'm a peace loving, born in '69, live and let live kinda gal, but this doesn't smell good. You really need to know here what the Principal wants and legally what you can do as who is to say she won't turn around and sue the PTO.....Your school district should have legal council you can talk to about this. Sorry I'm rocking the boat here but I would hate for this to go really really bad! :confused:

There is probably some person that can work with her. Take advantage. There may need to be a go between. Tell her what you just wrote her. That you are excited about your position and you love the working environment that is there. For every negative comment she makes you or others around her make a positive one. She'll get the hint or who ever is around her will learn to tune her out.

Thanks to all of you for your terrific responses. This is a very difficult situation to be in. The said parent already has a reputation as being " high maintenance". Quite frankly, I was hoping that her volunteer attitude would improve her perception with the faculty and admin. at school. Unfortunately, that was before we were aware of the full scale law-suit being leveled. My greatest concern is that PTO stands for "parent/teacher organization", not parent against teachers. Our school is new ( only 3 years old) and we have worked very hard to develop an excellent working relationship with the faculty and administration. It has been difficult to garner volunteers ( the typical 90/10 rule) and my concern is that other individuals will not want to work with this person because of circumstances. Also, because of litigation, admin. cannot be as forth coming in their views as they would probably like. Again, thank you to each of you for your opinions. New territory can be exciting and terrifing at the same time. There are difficult decisions every day....this is why we get paid the BIG BUCKS..ha, ha ha!!!!