We had something like that happen at our school last year. That principal is no longer employed in our district (thank God!) But it did make for a TERRIBLE year, so be prepared. Here is what we did= Made noise, lots of it. I am on a first name basis with the Superintendant. I have his email and home number and know him well- and it all started because of this principal. I am also on a first name basis with all the school board members. I refused to be pushed around, and I let her superiors know what she was doing.
Explain your position in writing, and send it to the principal. Keep a copy for when you go to see the Super. If that does not work, and you don't get any help then go to your school board. They all have a public comment period at their meetings. Just make sure you don't rant and rave. You have to have proof of what you are saying,too. Just be prepared because he will be pissed no matter what the board or Super does. Just the fact that you went over his head will make him loose it.
Why is he acting this way? Is this the result of something your group has done?
As the other poster stated according to the way your PTO is set up (as most are) the principal has no control over your organization other then you are allowed to operate within your school and thus you should have a good working relationship with him. Obviously the principal needs to approve of the dates and times that you have an assembly, program or trip.
Personally, I would make it abundantly clear that he would not be taking over the organization or you will disband it. He cannot disband it, he can only allow you not to operate within the school. I would try to work it out though and try to resolve whatever started this whole thing.
If that did not work out with him then my last ditch effort would be to go to the Superintendent. The Super is his boss. His or Her word is final. But you must realize that even if the Super backs you, you are still in for a rough road. That Principal will certainly throw up every roadblock he can at you.
Lastly, if it does not work out and you do disband, do not allow him to alter your bylaws.
He needs to make his own and form his own group. Let him file for his own tax id and non profit status. If he wants his own group in which he is king then he can form it from step 1.
Good Luck!
If you have your own by-laws and are a non-profit 901(c)(3) corp; your principal has nothing to say about what you are doing. You are owned by your members you can raise your money how you chose and distribute it how you chose within the guidelines of your mission and by-laws. The only thing that a principal can say is you can't use their facilities for your activites. I would suggest that your best recourse is to ask for a meeting with your principal and your executive board and explain to your principal that unless he or she is willing to take over all the duties of the PTO that you need to work cooperatively for the good of your children and their education. Another option is for you to go to your district superintendent and ask for guidance.
I beleive that if any PTO/PTA pulled it's support from any school they would have a rude awaking of what we do and how much we support our schools, students, teachers, and parents.
Hello. I am a proud member of our PTO and volunteer to our school. I think it is vital for the school to have volunteers. Here's the problem we are having:
Our Principal has made it clear that he will run the PTO or there will not be one. Infact yesterday, after being told by the officers that we would not allow him to run the PTO that the Members run the PTO, he announced to the teachers that he has disband the PTO and will not allow any futher activity until he re-writes our policy, and new officers are elected next year.
Is this legal? He wants to change the policy because it states that at no time can an officer, member, or any school staff make a ruling on how any activites will take place or how money will be spent. It states that the members must vote and the action(s) must be approved. He says he doesn't care what the policy says that he is not bound by it.
Now he is even getting personnel and has even bold face lied about the officers, and has tried to pin us against each other.
Please help, we need to know what to do, and quickly.
