I have generally dealt with this the other way around, new Principal wants PTA out and a new PTO brought in. In the end, it has ended up being whatever that Principal wants, they get. The principal can make life very hard. One canceled all activities, stopped them from meeting at the school and wouldn't allow flyers. They dissolved their PTA after 6 months because they weren't accomplishing anything anyway and as it stood, they never would.
In many of these scenarios, I have been told that the new PTO is run through the school. The Principal has a hand in the money and how it's being spent and they have not become independent.
I know as a PTA, that cannot be the case. I also see from different topics that other PTOs incorporate, get their own numbers etc and again, the Principal doesn't control but I also see that in those cases, the Principal isn't trying to control them either.
Regardless of what he/she is trying to accomplish, it's not appropriate for her to ignore you.
As for whether it's appropriate to hold the vote without including absentee ballots, I have read elsewhere on this site that when dissolving a PTA, only the absolute requirements of the bylaws need to be followed and if your bylaws do not allow absentee ballots, then I would assume the same would go for dissolving a PTO.
Your school board or Super can't get this woman to meet with your group?
Don't they have pull over her?
I wouldn't give up, I'd gather a group and go over to her, since she won't meet with you. She may kick you all out but just keep trying.
As far as the money goes, can you gift it to your board of Ed. telling them how you want it spent (playground, books, maps, assemblies, field trips, etc.)
I just wanted to add one last thing...
We have STOOD OUR GROUND by contacting everyone. Having alot of meetings, contacting parents etc.
The basic issue now is the fact that we are so angry that this lady simply will not respond to oru questions or concerns... doesn't a principle have to answer parent letters? Request for a meeting? This is very difficult to be so ignored.
If we went the whole nine yards trying to get answers and nothing comes of any of our meetings and we still do not get a reply as to why we are being shut down and told they do not want our money...where do we turn now?
It has been quite some time since I sent in the issues we have been having at our school.
We are merging next year with another school/parent group/new principle. I mentioned the new principle is extremely controlling and wants our very active group to shut down. We have a time line of all the attempts we have made to this new principle asking to please come to a meeting so we can discuss the 'why' of this action. She will not respond to any of the PTO Board members. We have not had one word from her. We went to her boss, we went to the school board, the superintendent, etc. We want answers why she refuses to respond to our emails, letters, come to any meetings. Simply put, she sent a message via our principle saying that next year she wants a new group, she wants control by saying teachers will take part in heading up events etc. Parents cannot be in charge of anything. We have alot of money we rasied this year for next year's events, and money to go toward building a new playground at the new school. She does not want any of our money and has issued a statement via our principle that we are to end our PTO and get rid of our money by the end of May. No response to our questions of 'why'?? Can she tell us to get rid of this money? Is this considered fruad to our parents that donated to our fundraiser when we said it was for 'next year'? What are our options? She has let it be known that she is having a meeting for parents to come towards the end of this month to hear about PTO/PTA, vote on which they want, take names to vote on for board members and vote all in the same night using only the parents that show up. Is this right? How can we stop this and get at least absentee votes to be permitted. Many of our parents do not come out during the evening. Many of them work. What are some thoughts as to what we can do?
I'm not as familiar with the ins and outs,nor the law concerning PTO vs school rights. I see the problem here as PTA and PTO--and get ready, because if you don't tread carefully it could very ugly very quickly. PTAs and PTOs don't traditionally work "together," and legally can't blend. Their PTA problems probably stem from the control issues this person obviously seems to have. I resent the principle and parents thinking of the school as "hers," because it's yours' in the collective sense. She leads and has authority, but it is NOT "hers."
BUT, as a concerned PARENT, I would MOST defiinitely call and arrange ASAP a meeting with your BOE/superintendent and AS MANY parents as you can. I'm all for teachers'/principals' rights powers within the school, but they also need to remember they are employees and their position is based on the good will of the public. BE NICE, BE REASONABLE, BUTSTAND YOUR GROUND. Be prepared; play devil's advocate to be ready for the negative.
