Hi, I am a new PTO president this year and I am sorry yours is acting that way. I myself started a newsletter and an e-mail address for our PTO, which has my home phone # on them and I constantly ask other parents/staff for comments, suggestions, etc... As for voting on major issues, our by laws state that 2 board members, 4 parents and the principal HAVE to vote for or against something, and in order for a parent to vote they have to have attended 3 consecutive meetings. This is so someone can't drag a bunch of friends to one meeting and vote on a major topic. You could ask for a copy of your PTO by-laws.

I will hang in there. I am not for quitting. I know that parents that work together will get more accomplished than fighting. We are all doing this for our children and to help the teachers otu.

My suggestion is that you just see how things actually work before you try changing them. I find that most new parents come and want to make changes without even taking time to see how it is run. This is why most schools hold elections in May so new parents in the fall get a chance to get familiar with how it all runs before they try making changes. Our school has a PTO mailbox where parents and staff can drop in requests and suggestions, see if your school has one for you to offer your ideas up.

Yes, I am new with PTO and a lot of parents are, that showed up to the meeting. So you are saying that the members that show up to the meetings can suggest but not really vote on that topic? Only the officers will be doing most of the voting. I don't feel that is taking in the members votes.

Sorry, not really sure on how this is suppose to be.

I guess we will have to see. Yes, I did run for an office position. Unfotunately, I was not picked.

Everything major is voted on by the board of officers and is discussed at the general meeting at our school. This way people can't come in with an agenda and bring some friends and get it passed. If something voted on by the board is discussed at the meeting and other concerns are addressed, then it can be reapproached at the next board meeting. If the way they do things bothers you, then maybe you should consider running next year. This is not to say that parents that attend the general meetings are not making an impact because they do supply some great ideas, but because of the problem listed above, this is what works for our school and possibly yours too.

I'd say let it coast and see what happens. It sounds to me like you are new to the PTO yourself. In my old elementary school (my youngest is now in MS) there were no suprises with the elections. Names were posted, no one ran against anyone else so whoever was elected won. She brushed you off, so what? It is pretty common for officers to make some decisions without the whole group. If they don't then the meetings drag on forever. Also, it's common for the Treasurer and board to figure out a rough draft of a budget and then present that to the general group to look over, make changes and then vote on. It's like when you elect someone to a national office - they're not going to get in touch with their constiuents every time there is a vote on something. You elect them to represent you. Same with the PTO board. You elected them because you think they will represent you.

I would definately wait, volunteer to chair an event or committee and then maybe the President will take you more seriously. Without a substantial reason, "she ignored me" is going to come off sounding a little unreasonable.