We have 'Administration approval' built into our 'wish list' system.

It has several benefits.

1 -- the PTO does not 'deny' requests. We prioritize and postpone. The principal takes responsibility for any 'denied' requests.

2 -- the principal often has available funds for what the teachers are asking for, and they either don't know or are afraid to ask. They are not afraid to ask us. The principal takes care of that stuff.

3 -- reviewing the requests makes the principal aware of the types of things the staff is paying for out-of-pocket. She can find room for a lot of it in next year's budget so PTO money can go toward better things.

4 -- having to process the requests and get them to the principal in time for review before the board meeting keeps the president on his toes.

why DO schools need a supt and BOE.
good question.
around here, the purpose of the latter seems to be to vote on tax increases.
but when the public addresses school concerns to those same entities, often those concerns seem to fall on deaf ears. its the 'dumbing down of america' as some education books call the phenomena. keep students middle of the road, get everyone to be the same level, keep parents QUIET, make followers out of all of us, parents and kids alike.

Why do schools need a superintedent & a BOE?
We had a principal that would add his input when teachers wanted $$$$$. The teachers didn't like it but we, as a pto, tried to compromise on certain issues. The PTO had the final decission. If a certain grade or teacher wanted $$$ for whatever reasons, we had to give them all $$$ or it 'wouldn't be fair'. (that school has since closed due to cuts. we won't discuss that our boe gave the super. a pay raise)
I now am in a different school/pto where a teacher wants $$ the principal tells them the pto will pay for it w/o discussing it with the pto. I am trying to get that to change. (its going slowly) I understand where your principal is coming from & I agree with him to a certain point but its the PTO that should have the final say. Good luck.

[ 04-19-2006, 07:09 AM: Message edited by: Renee S ]

I have the greatest respect for teachers, but the fact is - you take any workplace with 50, 60, 80 workers and there are complex issues. Managerial/employee issues. Some people who are whiners, some not so efficient, some who don't follow the rules, etc. Lots of issues we dont' hear about.

We really have to keep that in perspective when dealing with the teachers and school officials. There are often good reasons for their policies.

For us, one year the Kindergarten teachers asked for something special that sounded pretty reasonable. But, it turns out the principal had just spent a disproportionate amount of his budget on something else for them. He was already dealing with some internal griping from the other grades. Had the PTO then spent MORE money on something extra for kindergarten, it would have just added fuel to the fire. In that case, it was just bad timing. But the principal had a right to ask us (privately) to consider other ideas.

With JHB, I think it's really to keep the teachers from nickle and diming the PTO to death! It's almost impossible to raise funds for playground improvement when you know you have to pay $200 for 6th graders this or help the high school honor students purchase their honor cords. Not complaining because they babysit at meetings for the money, but I kinda like the Principals knowing this is being asked. In some cases it raised questioned how the teachers were handling money.

Budget cuts?? A good way to solve that starts with cutting the salary of the highest paid! HHHMMMM wonder who that is!!HAHA

Budget cuts!!!!! I agree with the district paying for kitchen stuff, tv's,.... but it boils down to budget cuts. Therefore the pto can step in & buy these things. It is for the teachers to use for the children. We are getting ready to purchase a laminator & projectors for the teachers & a microphone system for the multi-purpose room (where our assemblies are). Like I said budget cuts & they seem to be yearly.