I don't know where in Detroit you are, but in our district ( also in the Detroit area) all school accounts are through a main bank (comerica). Each school has an account number to deposit to and we request checks from the administration. It takes a liitle longer, and can be a hassle, but it takes the heat off of the PTO. We have access to all the money, but we have to go through a third party to get to it. It's worked for 6 years, so maybe your district could consider something similar?
your pto account should always be in the name of the "abc school" pto.Never in a persons name!! Your principal is right helping you and getting your district treasurer to help. If you can get it worked out, go to the bank together and explain what has happened. Close the old account and reopen the new with what fund you currently have. Then write a letter to the old treasurer demanding ALL RECORDS to be turned over immediately. Give a date for them to be dropped off to the pricipal. If they do not show up, then ask a local polioce officer if they would work with you to go to the persons house and collect the information. If they still do not turn over the papers then see about going to small claims court. If you know any law officers personally they can guide you. I would hate to see it come down to that but thid person is holding pto property. I think the demand letter will get them to turn it over if you state that the sheriff or police will be knocking on their door. Good Luck! You may want to work with your school secretary to see if she might have an empty drawer that PTO paper work can be locked in (including checkbook).
No, I didn't get control of the account. The understanding that I had was that the account was closed out. I'm still trying to talk to higher up's within the district to see what help they can offer me in getting to the bottom of this.
I want to thank everyone who replied to my post.
(Sorry I was not able to reply before now)
I did want to add that our principal has already contacted the district to have an audit done. I hate that it has come to this. Our district has been in trouble financially...money not going to the kids but lining people's pockets. In fact there was an article last year done about the mess that the district was in. The article even pointed out different schools were audits were done and our school PTO was listed as having an audit done years ago. HORRORS!!
Now you all can understand why i am fighting so hard to get things running in the right direction. I just read earlier about another president accused of stealing money. The sad thing is I wonder do these people realize that when they do this the only one who continues to suffer are our children.
Your bank should be willing to work with you as long as the account is in the organization's name (and not under an individual's name).
Take a copy of the meeting meetings (hopefully looking official) reporting the election and names of the new officers. Take a letter signed by your principal on school letterhead validating the name of the new officers.
The principal may not be a signor on the account, but he will likely have standing as a credible resource that the bank can use to help justify changing the account authorizations.
