crewchief you are AMAZING. you know your stuff. and always ready to share it to help others.
you deserve a STICKER. maybe your fast cars name should be A-PLUS.
No, no, no...... It is definitely not the role of the PTO to get in between the admin staff and parents. You are not professional mediators and should never be put (or put yourself) into such a position. Disgruntled parents should go to the principal's boss - the superintendent and/or the board of education.
Our bylaws address our role in this regard in two ways:
The PTO functions under the auspices and regulations of the Board of Education...
(note the key word under )
The PTO shall not seek to direct the administrative activities of the schools or to control its policies.
Even if your bylaws don't have similar wording, it's still good advice. You may not have gotten answers to your specific questions in the above posts but they're still full of very good advice. PTOFounder, Renee S and pals are smart people. And it sounds like yesyesyes has good advice too.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
can we agree it would be wrong for a principal to expel a student simply because his parents are outspoken???
if this, or something like it, happens isn't it the role of the pto to oppose the action????
pals got it spot on:
"...you should be working as a team, yes there will be times you may not agree but that is when you sit down, communicate and come up with the middle ground."
isnt that opne thing that school is all about anyway, being role models for the kids and showing them how to resolve conflicts peacefully and productively/constructively? be the example you wish to instill in your own kids. what other way is there to resolve conflict so all parties win? if there is a loser and a winner, both sides lose in the end.
I took over a pto that the principal controlled last yr. in part because the pres. and other board members(all new) didn't know what to do. (We had a lot of school restructuring so ptos lost some of their experienced people) I joined this one, as my school closed, and was voted in as pres. I came with the agenda,asked the principal before hand if anything she would like added, and I run the meetings. I put the pto back in the hands of the pto.
I suggest talking to your principal first. Ask Why! There may be issues you don't know about. Then go to the superintendent. Ask to be put on the agenda for the school board meeting and address your concerns there also. But I would do it as a parent, not pto. Leave the group out of it.
I agree with pals and pto founder. PTO is suppose to work with the school for the students, teachers... Sometimes you have to find a way to compromise.
Good luck!
[ 05-10-2006, 12:49 PM: Message edited by: Renee S ]
