Oh I agree so much!! I have a hard enough time keeping up with my household and to "run a school too" TOOO MUCH!
The rep that has been with us for two years "John" knows the chain of command and is a terrific help. Hopefully he will talk to the other guy, in the meantime I have a Mom with some questions that I will definatly tell he to call "John" first. The new guy has barely been involved in the school before this SO he does have much to learn.
Sounds like our school last year! As a small school (PreS-12th 170 students) it sometimes seems like the PTO, the Administration and the Board sit in each others pockets. We've worked together this year to make it clear who had what job/function and the channels of communication for problems and activities. I believe that the PTO should steer clear of governing the school and parents who have concerns need to work through the chains of command to clear them up...the teacher first, the principals, the superintendent, and last the board. My husband is the president of the board and always has an open door to parents with concerns, but I can guarentee he is more receptive to those who have followed the chain of command. Maybe this is where your parent rep is confused! I hope you could arrange a meeting and clear up who does what job...your life would be so much smoother. And then let your parents know!
...Just need to get this out...
Monday night at our school board meeting (held before our PTO mets) several issues were brought up to discuss with the board (the usual stuff, parking lot, high school kids kissing in the hall, fundraising,etc.) one of the parents asked the newly voted parent rep that sits onthe board "How can we contact you to discuss these issues to advoid wasting the board's time?" She alos offered and invitation to the PTO meeting (she is just a member mind you and the current and past Prez were at the meeting). He proceeded to tell her that the PTO would not be the forum for him to participate in and can't stay for our meeting. He then proceeded to tell us that he really should not be considered as teh voice of the parents of the school and if she has an issue to go to the PTO! WELL, Both the Prez and I starting laughing OUT LOUD and couldn't believe what he was saying! Besides that we reminded HIM that we, uuhhh, have no power and refer parents to take the proper channels. So the next morning I go to school to serve juice and snacks to our students taking the state testing and there is his wife (secretary at the school) thanking me for all the PTO does. I'm so glad I was chewing gum!!! 15 hours earlier her husband said the PTO doesn't matter and I was about to serve his daughter and son snack....The part I just can't get past is he has never taken an interest before and the other dad on the board is wonderful! He takes the time to talk to parents, answer questions or find an answer, there is a reason he is serving his second term right now. The Prez is looking for the other guy's bio from the election, she swears talked about representing the parent's of our school blah, blah , blah ...
I do feel better and will serve his kids tomorrow but I'm still wondering if he thinks what I'm doing "matters"?
