Hi again. In response to SAFin RI, about the PTA changing to PTO and that pricipal being brought in check with local by-laws, we have found out that our by-laws mean absolutely nothing. It's just wasted words on a piece of paper. We absolutely have no say as to what goes on. We've been told by the board of ed. that the principal is in charge period!! We've checked about parents rights and have found no solution. Our only hope at this point is that she gets accepted at another school that she has applied for, and that we get a new principal that we can actually work with and he/she with us. We are at a dead end! As for the writer who wrote about the staff and students under her control, let me tell you, we have lost so many good teachers over the years because of this principal. We have one that has been trying to transfer to other schools each year, and she will not let her out of her contract at this school. Others we have lost have finished their contracts and been able to leave. So at this point, we are waiting to see the outcome of the vacant prinicipal position she has applied for. If she goes then we will stay and see who our principal will be and hopefully be able to keep things as they are. If she stays then we are folding up and going to let her take care of finding new recruits.(grunts)

CrewChief,
I am staying positive. It is just a power grab on the Superintendents’ part. He is new and I think he is in over his head. I don't personally care if we are a PTA or a PTO I just don't want the Superintendent to have unlimited control over the funds we raise. The people who do the work should be able to have a say in how it is spent.
The moment my community starts to feel as if our group is just tax relief the community will shutdown. Then the kids will not receive any extras.
Every year we buy things for the school, give the teachers cash, books etc. I personally feel that it is nice to have our principal and our principle/superintendent as part of the group but the administration should not have control over it. Our strength is in our independence. If it is decided by the general membership to go from a PTA to a PTO the key factor will be I how strong the new bylaws are. If they are weak, participation will fall. As with every other parent teacher group across the country we can’t afford to lose any members. As it is the same 50 people seem as if they are doing all of the work. I’m not complaining I’m just stating the facts.
As far as alleviating some of the Superintendents’ stress in order to make him easier to work with I feel that it is our groups’ obligation to help in any way we can. If the school board were to cut field trips we should be in a position to step up to the plate and help if we feel we should. I would want the board to do everything they can first in order prevent us from becoming their auxiliary budgeting arm.
Ivolved.Parent

Hey Invovled - stay positive! You have many things working in your favor:

The president may be the leader of the team but she is still only one vote. And as often seems to be stated here, some presidents only vote to break a tie.

If you remain a PTA, you say the superintendent has a lot less control over the money. So, stay with the PTA. (I can't believe I just said that!) From what I've heard around here, it takes a huge amount of effort and even more real desire to disband a PTA group. It doesn't sound like your membership would support the move anyway.

Perhaps a middle ground can be reached. $60,000 annually?!?!?! Wow, that's a 3 year budget for my team. Maybe you can provide services for the families and also buy some much needed curriculum items. Even with our limited funds, we give $2,000 to the library, $100 to each teacher, fund Science and Art consumables, laminating film, playground equipment and so much else.

It sounds like your superintendent is reacting to a desperate situation. Perhaps if your group can alleviate some of that then he'll be easier to work with?

"...our Principle is also the superintendent of schools....The only person he could get to run was one poor lady who also works in his office. She was elected president."

Sounds more like the only person that he 'allowed' to run was the one in his office.

Sounds like more than control issues at play here....also'all in the family', small town politics, nepotism, conflict of interst big time, and who knows what else, all rolled in to one.

Good luck getting fair play and treatement. Stay involved. Thats the best you can do.

We are having some what of the same problem with our group. Only in our case the Middle School Principle is also the superintendent of schools. Our district is facing a short fall do to state politics. At our last meeting before our elections he came to the meeting and announced that he wanted to change from a PTA to a PTO. The reason for this was to make it easier for him to use the $60,000.00 we raised to buy books and desks. At the next meeting he tried to stack the board with members of his choice, our group allows nominations from the floor. The only person he could get to run was one poor lady who also works in his office. She was elected president. I feel it is just a control issue. He wants to use our fundraising power as tax relief. I personally think that the parents of our community will stop fund raising and we will have a new Superintendent in a few years. After all we are his ultimate boss; we have had superintendents removed before.

Your school district should have some sort of Parent's Rights publication/document. I don't know if it will have information regarding PTO's/A's, but it wouldn't hurt to check it out anyway--it sounds like her control issues are out of control!

Good luck!