Unless I'm misunderstanding your proposal, I don't think this will work in February -- the principal has already "ruled" that the current officers will keep their positions through the end of the school year. The purpose of the February meeting is to determine PTA vs. PTO status for next year (although now that the president has "invested" $4000 in the PTO, it's pretty clear how this one is going to come out). This compromise came up after some major negotiations, and I don't think a move to oust the current officers will be viewed too kindly at this point.
However, I do think this is a great plan for the end of the year elections (starting in March) -- put together a slate of officers with a plan to make this pitiful organization into an excellent one. I will forward your suggestions to my fellow complainers (we've GOT to get a better way of referring to ourselves!), or maybe even direct them to this website.
I have to say, tonight I received an e-mail from our principal, saying that when the budget was approved, the contract for the attorneys fees was approved. I was disheartened and ready to hang it up completely. Your post has made me feel more optimistic, and I'm sure tomorrow I will be ready to fight again.
Thank you for your positive approach and for taking the time to put together such helpful suggestions!
Ask the principal if the complaining parents may give a very positive toned presentation in February. Ask for a how long each group may speak. Ask him if he can invite immediately the school board officials and superintendent to the meeting right away so they can get it on their busy calendars.
The reason you tell him you want them there is to witness the transformation and birth of an awsome organization. Hopefully this will be true. (If they are there, he'll have a harder time being partial too.)
I'd organize the complaining parents and anyone else that would not disrupt your progress into a series of meetings to prepare this presentation. Here's what the presentation in February would include.
A plan for the PTO of your dreams
You need a killer speech... as good as MLK's "I have a dream...." Pick carefully the most charismatic public speaker who will be part of this organization.
1) a set of bylaws that encourages participation and growth
2) a proposed slate of officers (names ready to go) for the PTO to take effect immediately
3) a list of qualiifications of those proposed officers
4) a set of policies, procedures, and forms
5) a list of supporters including how they would support this slate of officers if they were put in place
6) a request to put this plan to a majority vote of the parents present, including the officers of the renegade team, although, I'd need a more politically correct term for them.
7) Proposed Realistic Budget
7) Any forms you need to send in to complete the legalities of forming the
PTO, along with another copy ready to fill out if they don't like anything you put on the already filled out one. (you're talking about coming across as being the ultimate in flexibility and most lovable person in the world)
7) basically everything the other PTO resident wasted all that money on
Brainstorm in your group about the possible counter tactics that the other board may use. Put plans in place to overcome those tactics.
If you shine, more than her, maybe you have a shot of walking away with what you want.
Now, in the end, are you willing to serve and help the other folks if you lose?
Discuss how far you're group is willing to compromise. This is, after all, your child's school.
Seeking comment from beignets (and others) - Is what I've written out of line? I want drdeb to take a higher road, but still have a chance to improve her child's school.
search these boards under relational agression or bully and you will find stories not dissimillar to yours.
from what yuo describe sounds like a lot of juvenile, catty behavior, sort of middle school girl stuff.
its no wonder no one is interested to participate. you would think the prinicpal would see thru the antics and steer the group to a better path, or at least, not openly support such poor leadership.
good luck.
Yes, that is exactly it -- the president keeps doing these things behind the members' backs and getting rewarded for it. When anyone brings up that the bylaws and members' rights to participate have been violated, she complains to the principal and "her" board that she is doing the best she can and people are bullying her -- and they jump to her aid.
The group of parents that have called her on her behavior (women who didn't even know each other before all of this happened) are being labeled as a "lynch mob" who are only out to get the president. The atmosphere of the meetings and the whole organization is so negative that people come to one meeting and never come back. No one wants to be involved.
The whole situation is surreal. The woman has been president of the parent organization through elementary and middle school for a total of 7 years. When her term limit on the PTA expired, she simply turned the organization into a PTO (without a meeting or a vote) and kept her job (unelected). It is the most dysfunctional and lackluster organization you can imagine, and it is because of the leadership. And yet, she has convinced a group of supporters, including the principal, that she has been "carrying the organization on her back" (in his words) for all of these years, and now people are out to get her for no good reason. She is quite a manipulator, and, worst of all, she has the checkbook and no apparent limits on what she can do with it.
The whole thing is ugly, and nothing seems to be directed toward doing anything for the kids.
Well, I guess I have vented this morning -- thanks for being understanding. It's hard to believe this type of nonsense occurs in this kind of group. But reading this board, I guess it's not all that unusual.
What does a PTO Board consist of? How many members, and what are there titles. Please advise. I was just chosen to be the PTO liaison between the Board of Supervisors and the PTO/grant and Fundraiser officer. What do you think this means?
I know how frustrating this is for you. We have something similar at work, having rules that are supposed be followed before any new technology is implemented. Yet somehow one person managed to railroad a particular application through and commit the organization to huge expenses. With so much invested, the tool will now become the defacto standard for all of us - whether or not it fits our needs.
Maybe if it had been properly vetted, our organization would have selected this particular tool. But we weren't given that choice to really check it out. This one person managed to circumvent the process and yet still end up with what HE wanted. Now we are all stuck with this for years to come. (It's not a change that could be made lightly.)
Most of us try to play by the rules. It's especially frustrating when someone else ignores them and then essentially gets rewarded because they end up with exactly what THEY wanted.
