oh, but she's tooooo sweet to our faces. It's a passive aggressive power suit type of tyranny. [img]smile.gif[/img] And alllll the teachers love her, and she's sooooooo good with the kids.

I'm going to hold off on the super unless things get worse.

We are a 501c3, and on her great recommendation we have our own accountant.

We just need to communicate our intent to be a part of the team in a diplomatic way. We're working on wording for our bylaws. Any suggestions there?

Like the idea about 'the members', but the principal is a member of the PTO as well (one vote, but still, a member).

You march into the supers office with a bunch of concerned parents (or ask for a meeting) state your issues, and hopefully the bully will get a talkin to by the only person she probably respects, her BOSS.

Principals who mismanage PTOs or are on power trips or are empty suits, these matters have to be brought to the attention of the super or life will probably get worse before it gets better.

She has already shown you she is not conciliatory or reasonbable, she probably has poor people skills and wont last long if other areas are managed similarly or other people ie teachers, are treated as you/the PTO have been treated.

I would find support among the parents and set a meeting with the super to review the matter.

You need to get the word out about your mission statement.. ie. Mission Statement: The mission for the Calahan St. Elementary PTA is to identify curriculum and programs deemed by the membership* in its sole discretion to be vital to affect the richest educational experience possible for our children; to maximize the role of the school itself in fulfilling these objectives; and to plan, organize and execute events and programs which generate the resources and mechanisms necessary to fulfill these objectives.

Dont know exaclty if your PTO is independant 501c3 from the school but here's no way that'ld happen, she nolonger be principal at our school...

and I've seen a bucnh of post about door lockers/parent blockers.... first its the parent sright 2 be in the school (need to contact District) second isnt it against firecodes/law to lock (and someone else posted chained the doors) where do you all live that these people havent been removed from their position/jailed for this carp??

I realize principals can make life heck 2 raise $$$, but there's no way a principal has final say as to where PTO funds are allocated

[ 07-15-2006, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

Thanks Deb! Great ideas!

This principal seems to be confused about what a PTO is/does. Do you have a way to get a nice message to the teachers...email, intranet, etc. that can't be blocked from her? If so, I would send out a little note that simply says that "because the gov. has kindly given all teachers a $100 gift card to use in their classrooms, the xyz pto has decided to use the money formerly allocated for this on..." whatever you have planned for it. As for a luncheon, I doubt everyone 'expects' it from the PTO.

If this principal thinks she needs fundraiser money from the PTO to pay for her wish lists, etc. maybe you should suggest her school taking over a particular fundraiser. What would happen if she sent in receipts for reimbursement and y'all didn't have enough money to cover it?

I would also consider adding to your by-laws how you want money disbursement handled and have it voted on at your first meeting.

Deb