Its always better to work with the principal when possible because even if she doesnt nix a project she can make it miserable for everyone. Kill her with kindness. You should also demand a meeting and as a group you should state your concerns together.
I would think that if the BOE is changing meeting times, etc then you should notify the newspapers and the State Dept of Ed. The BOE has certain procedures they have to follow and the State level will make them enforced.
LONG EXPLANATION then SHORT QUESTION. Please read! We need HELP!!!
Last summer we moved to a new area (small town). Heard lots of positive comments about elementary school and have found them to be true - great teachers, accessible, caring, etc. However, parental involvement is almost nil. We've had two PTO meetings this year; I think 5 parents showed up at the first meeting. School Board has passed uniform policy without asking for parental input or even notifying parents that the subject was being considered. Parents are overwhelmingly opposed (they nixed the idea several years ago). The Board subsequently refused to allow parents to address the next Board meeting because the parents did not submit their request to speak in writing one week prior to the meeting. I spoke to current PTO president (who is resigning at end of year b/c she is enrolling her children at the local private school). She volunteered that the school principal "has to be caught on a good day" in order to get anything done (she's even throwing up roadblocks on innocent things like painting the playground equipment and cleaning up outdoor classroom). Current PTO president said that the School Board has changed the scheduled and published dates of their meetings without telling public so that parents cannot speak on controversial issues.
In light of recent Board actions and info from current PTO Pres, I wonder if parents aren't involved because administration doesn't want them involved and creates roadblocks to prevent their involvement.
QUESTION: How far can the principal go in running the PTO? How involved is she supposed to be? Where can the PTO draw the line and stand up and say, "Yes, we WILL do this?"
