Our principal plays no role either. He just comes and gives a report. Now, he is usually the one that comes up with funding requests so we avoid parents just coming up with their own list of demands of how money is to be spent. Our headmaster comes up with things and we get to vote on them.
Shelly

Have to agree with serendipity...our principal has no true title/office. Comes to all of our meetings/events so she knows what is going on at all times. I guess that is more common than not? She puts suggestions out there and does have the final say, like serendipity said they could pull the plug. I do think that our prinicpal tries to work with us as much as she can and still run the school. It gets tough at times but when I think of the support she has given us , i realize that I wouldnt trade it for anyone else. The realtionship you have with your principal and office staff can make or break you group=) Just realize you cant fight all battles...pick and choose.

Each School is different. Our Principal holds no official position in our PTO. He comes to every meeting though. Our Principal (perhaps we are belessed) never has any issues with anything we do, it is more just part of keeping him in the loop so that we never are doing anything he is unaware of.

He is a good source for bouncing ideas off of and sometimes gives us ideas that better serve what we are trying to accomplish. Sometimes he comes to us and asks us to provide certain things that he would like for the school or the children and we do our best to oblige him.

Mainly your Organization is seperate from the school and the board of ed. You are your own organization and are not under their direction, however because you function within their school building they can have some input as to how they would like you to operate. Of course it is best to establish a good working relationship with them. Ultimately they do have the right to not let your operate within their school.

We are trying to write some new bilaws this year and was curious about a topic. What role does the headmaster actually play in PTO? Is she an executive officer? Does she have the ultimate say so? Just curious about your responses. Thanks