Yes, absolutely, Parents, Teachers, and anyone else who wants to know should be told exactly where every penny of PTO money is--and not have to ask first. Before I go off on a tirade about the importance of monthly financial reporting, maybe we should know what prompts your question?
We print the agenda for the school year on our pamplets that we give out on school registration day. We list all the things that have to be paid out. For example, PTO pays the art and music teacher, it paid for items voted on in a previous meeting also, like blinds for all the windows.
One thing i forgot is that if you are doing alot of fundraising parents may wonder unless they see some form of activity from your group. They want to know if they sell for you what you are doing with it, we will put right on the fundraising info what it is for, we are fortunate that 99% of our money goes to free family fun nights and the school store! It would mean more if once in a while they were told or showed.
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
If you are 501c you are suppose to show records to anyone who asks,at least that is what i believe. Putting that aside I do believe that a financial report should be given every month or every other month. If you are questioning where the money is going and your group isn't doing any events or buying anything...ask. At our school we distribute a financial report to all active volunteers and all staff. If anyone ever asks I would gladly sit down with others on hand and show them.
"When you stop learning you stop growing."