That is great to hear you have the support of your Admin! That right there is priceless! Our new DIrector has been including in his monthly letter in the newsletter getting involved in the school and checking out the PTO. This has helped and I can see as more and more staff and parents are actually approaching me "You're Tina, right?" Scared me at first (not the most outgoing person in high school or college) but it's been nice!

Once again, it'll take time. Rebuilding is talking some energy but I have a time. (okay my youngest is three, so I will be at our K-12 school for awhile)

Terrible comparision but would you go to New Orleans today? No, it's gonna take time and very good marketing! It can be done!

I'm sure this was all very debilitating for you. Especially since everyone else was working so hard to do the right thing. Hang in there and do let folks know that you've got safeguards in place that will keep any unfortunate issues from arising again. If things were being ordered without your permission, make sure the person receipting items has one POC to turn them over to so that you can personally check the boxes and make sure that things are bona fide purchases. Either way--even if it is one bad apple, the board as a whole will be looked at in question. That's the reality of things I'm afraid. So now you have the ability to start fresh and keep the spirit up. Best of luck to you...d

Dianna,

The handouts are a great idea, and I would do that- BUT I was on the PTO last year, as were the 2 other people now in charge this year. We didn't know what was going on at all, never suspected until overdue notices for our bills came into the school.

Anyway, it wasn't the PTO, it was ONE person. The PTO worked very hard. We spent months on a carnival and made a wonderful profit that all went *poof*

Also, the issue is now out of our hands, and we can't say anything legally. Also, it's a small school anyway, and people know who is missing this year.

We do plan on sending out notes with our fundraiser saying we've gone with local reliable companies and that they will be back when promised, etc....

MykidsMom,

Our principal is wonderful! She's done so many things to help us, given us the kleenex when we needed it, given us advise when we asked, and just been there when we wanted to complain. Our Superintendant has been helpful as well.

We just want to let the parents know that things will run smoother from now on- and we know the rumors of what happened are out.

We need to deal with these things It's a horrible situation, which I hope will never, ever happen again.

I guess by now--folks that have seen my posts know that I am a head on type person. If the last group was trouble...stand up and acknowledge that. Shadows cannot hide in the sun. If you can say "this ain't your last year's PTO" and really turn on the lights to say what you are doing, when and where...then folks can start to see that you are being honest. People and groups that have nothing to hide, hide nothing. If there are questions you know are out there, even if no one asks them directly, you answer them. At the first PTO meeting, as handouts at the pick up line and in your newspaper. Turn on the lights. And let that be your mantra
"Your 05/06 PTO Board--we're turning on the lights".
Be careful not to be liable if there were no legal issues, but if the point is
"the former president/board was suspected of embezzeling"...the "light" answer is--"We've had issues in the past that have called into question our ability to handle money appropriately. These are the safeguards we've implemented to ensure that type of question never comes up again". And then list them. Tell people you get it and you got it...and tell them the answer that shows that you are a different board. Let your slip show--cause everybody else sees your's panties...and get on with it. The only thing worse than having a bad PTO for one year, is having one for one year and a day....(where'd I get that from?)...
dianna

We are actually looking at having Survior shirts made!
Just last year the five year battle with our former Director finally came to a point the school district became involved. Involved??? you ask, YES a full on investigation via interviews with staff, former parents that contacted the district etc. The person started to try to tell us this was all untrue and a witch hunt when in reality it was about time. Everyother school I know is run by a team of professionals. Ours was ran by two....possibly three people and if you questioned it, you were asked to leave.
The PTO was the best kept secret. That's how this effected us. Events were a ngithmare to put together, to celebrate with the students ANYTHING was a joke, I hope you see. Did I mention her husband? Yeah, this is kidda funny know that they are gone, HE HAD SAY in everyday stuff! The PTO hosts a BBQ for the staff in the spring and it wasn't the Principals I dealt with...it was her husband! I WISH I WAS MAKING THIS UP!

Last night my boys are starting their classes for Pennace and I was asked if I caould hear an apology from one person who....I said our former principal. She left without a word. Nothing. Not even a pathic statement. I tease the other parents we are an issue away from being guests on Dr. Phil!

The one thing that we were not able to do were the Family Nights at the school and guess what my *NEW* Principal is excited about!! I'm getting to a point that to talk about it isn't sssoooo hard (I do have tears) but I know I am getting the better deal here as are my children.

As far as the fundraisers, I would really try ideas that are going to keep you from selling anything or handeling cash. There are so many resturants that will do a Family Night we even have a bowling alley that hosts a family night and we earn a kick-back. This is the time to use baby steps.
If you need to, take a year to re-coop. Take sometime to get things backin order (finding answers to so many lingering questions). It's not a bad thing and I'm hoping when your Principal knows what the PTO is facing he/she will support you in this. Our new Principal is a godsent. I honestly think he is scratching his head as much as I'm trying to make sense of what is next.


we can do this and will come back....

We're coming out of a really tough year with our PTO. Fundraisers went belly up (delivered LONG after they were supposed to), yearbook was never finished and refunded, basically everything we did went wrong. We thought we were just having a run of bad luck, but we found out it was our fearless leader.

(Insert the "I never thought it could happen to us here") Turns out, her hand was in the cookie jar (allegedly- eye roll).... We started this year with no money and a bad rep.

Any advice on how we can smooth the rough edges? We need to rebuild the trust our organization once had with the parents and the community.

Please share similiar stories. I'd love to commiserate with someone who has been there/done that/survived and flourished.


Thanks..........

[ 10-19-2005, 07:30 PM: Message edited by: BouncingBack ]