The regulations here are the same for PTOs and PTAs. Either could certainly purchase paper for the school.
But -- by the same token -- either could choose not to. Your bylaws should determine how that decision would be made.
Some bylaws allow president or executive board to make decisions for purchases under $XX. If that's the case in your school, then it's important to know who your current president or current board is. If bylaws say new officers start on XX date, then new officers should start on that date. That's why you're in a quandary here.
If you do choose to buy on your own dime, future officers *may* choose to reimburse you, but by no means would they have to. Your bylaws likely have a description about how $$ decisions are to be made. You should follow them.
There are certainly groups that kind of slide close to the bylaws but wink-and-nod at times about following the bylaws. Financial decisions are not a place for that. Checks-and-balances are akey. Not just to prevent losses, but also to prevent the impression of cliques or fiefdoms run by one or a few.
Based on your description, I'd likely support the paper purchase, as well. But it's not solely your decision, and -- if the group disagrees -- it's the group's money, not yours.
PTAs seem to have more regualations than PTOs so I hope I am not giving you ill advice. If paper buying is the PTAs responsibilty and I find no paper with all the end of year tests and events an emergency you should have no problem getting reimbursed. I would have just went to the board members and then got a check, because that would what would be expected of me. I think you did the right thing. You will find yourself in these situations alot. You need to get reimbursed for things of importance, unless your rich you will go bankrupt if you are not careful.
I am the new PTA president at my daughter's school. According to the bylaws, I took office on May 4. Obviously, that presents some problems for those end-of-the-year plans, so the current president is just filling out her role until school ends in two weeks.
To make a long story short, our school is having a selective talent show (something I am opposed to anyway), and has just ordered tableware and ceterpieces, etc.
Yesterday, our school ran out of paper. OUT OF PAPER FOR ANY COPIER OR PRINTER. So I ask the pricipal why the PTA doesn't just go buy a bit more paper to get the teachers through till the end of the year, and he said that the current president told him that the school's paper allotment had been spent.
Here's my problem. If we are the PTA, and we have money left in our account (over $1,000 for a school of only 350 students)...why aren't we buying $60 of paper??????
Last night I went and bought some paper with my own money. I am bringing it in to the school this morning, and I am going to ask the new board over the summer to reimburse me. Is this stepping over line? According to the bylaws, the current president has "executive spending" decision power for purchases up to $100, and I tend to think no paper is an emergency.
Our principal is not PTA-friendly at this point, and this might be one reason why.
Thanks in advance for your input, opinion and advice!
