This Princ. has been here for quite some time. She has been caught in several lies and still continues to tell them. The distrust that the parents have for her and her ability is enormous. I recently was approached by a few parents to help answer some questions they had about a particular incident. They wanted me to ask the Princ. She is not responding to my emails and it is becoming frustrating.

The parents do not wish to approach her themselves because they do not wish to appear as if they are "rocking the boat". Fortunately for me I keep one oar in the water at all times just for that occasion! [img]smile.gif[/img]

The Princ takes the me against them approach and beleives that she is correct 99.9% of the time. When she is proven wrong there is no apology, it is just ignored!

VERY Aggrevating!

I appreciate all your words of support. At this point I am sticking with it but I WILL NOT run for a second term!
(Although doing it just to irritate her has some reward!)

I am a new PTO President, although I do not have problems with my princ. I can only just imagine the frustration you are going threw. Take one day at a time and hopefully things will get better for you. You are obviously a motivated mom to have so many things going on in your life at this time. I was nominated into this position and yes I could have denied it, but I am glad I did not because I truely enjoy it. Don't be afraid to deligate other members and your executive committee to do their share. Maybe your vice pres, or treasurer or even your sec. can be your go between as far as the princ. is concerned. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Boy do I know that feeling! Although I really feel bad for your situation because I think we have a really supportive principal and staff and that makes a big diffence. My issues always come from other parents!! You know the usual deal differing points of view. You try to compromise and end up having everyone unhappy but for differnt reasons!

My best advice is:

Remember why your doing this. I know for me it was for my son, but soon after it was for all the children in the shcool (and now I think most of them know me as Mr. PTO!)

Try to find things that you would like to see the PTO do. I consider the PTO a school booster club so I have pushed for field trips,pencil packs, Teacher Appreciation Week activities, Others have pushed for Craft Night, Books for Bingo, etc.

Find ways to bring some of these topics to the table. We do this by trying to put 'hot' topics to be discussed in the PTO newsletter. And I always to try to have an agenda set up for each meeting of topics people want to discuss. Someone has a great idea? Put it on the agenda. Also we have 1hr. meetings and I try to save 5-10 minutes at least to turn it over to anyone who has something to bring up.

I know that none of these are solutions, just suggestions but from one parent who has been ready to walk away from it all to another, hang in there.

[ 11-24-2003, 06:05 AM: Message edited by: RJR ]

I am so sorry to hear of your predicament. My heart just goes out to you. PTO can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences, but it does come with its trials and tribulations. I think your group needs to stop offering events and programs and get back to basics. Decide what it is you can handle with the group you presently have and do it and begin to explore how to reach out to others and build. It sounds like people may be shying away from PTO because they have the same impression of the principal as you. They simply can't deal with (her?) and don't. Good luck!

I don't think a non'confrontational heart to heart is possible. I honestly believe that she enjoys not having a lot of parent involvement...its means less friction when she makes a final decision!

We are merely a fundraising machine and nothing else.

UGHHHHHH

It does sound like you have a lot on your plate. Usually when I hear complaints about the way something is organized (the line moving too slowly) I get that person to take it over. Afterall, if they are complaining, they must certainly know how to do it better. As far as your princ. goes, perhaps the two of you can have a non-confrontational heart to heart. It blows my mind that some princ's don't cooperate fully with their pto. Afterall, PTO equals more money and more parent involvement. More parent involvement equals higher test scores and a better school.