Hi Jewel-
Just wanted to let you know that you need to be registered and logged in, in order to edit a post. Beyond the ability to edit posts, it's a good thing to do because when you are registered, you get notified about special offers and giveaways for schools, and you can also keep tabs on topics that matter to you in your My PTO Today Page.

Hope this helps,
~Lisa



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Strangel = Strangle (why isn't there a way to edit posts??)

In general, one of the most effective ways to strangel non-compliance is to cut off funding. However, you as president do not have the authority to remove funding unilaterally. The board as a whole would need to decide to withhold funding or reimbursement until the chair complies with providing frequent and complete status updates.

It's best if this can be done pro-actively, rather than reactively, so that chairs of upcoming events understand the consequences of withholding information from the board.

Granted, there are more diplomatic approaches.......

Wow. Sounds like you need some structure to your group. I've got a couple strategies for you:

One: See if you can get the administration involved. Explain the situation to the principal or superintendent and get them on your side. Tell the committee chairs that because of the threat of an audit...or litigation in other states...or liability issues.. that you all must work together.

This is how our PTA's work in each school: we (building representatives) meet monthly with the principal to discuss the calendar, activities, etc and he/she must approve all flyers before they are distributed to kids. He/she has a say in the activities and must approve them first.

I don't necessarily like this idea, but having the principal as our "Fall Guy--or Put The Blame on Him Guy". For instance, we (the PTA) had come up with a great idea involving dogs but found out that there's a kid in the school with a major dog phobia so we couldn't do it. (This information would have otherwise been confidential-studetn was stil lnot named). But it saved us from problems.

Second: The district-wide individual school PTAs get together with our board every month. Each building has two buildign representatives who lead their individual PTAs and are responsible for making sure all the activities, etc at the school are actually done and attend the monthly meeting. Why not get someone higher up on your side to make sure that happens? Do you have a district PTA board of directors?

At this meeting, we are told of results of an audit, hear about district referendums, hear what is going on in each school, etc. We are given guidelines...

(This meeting is also a great time for the other PTAs to get together and share concerns, probelms, ideas etc)

Third: You get them to comply with your requests for information because you now require monthly reports. Use the could-be-audit-fear-of-liability-must-follow-state-rules excuse. How do they know that what they are doing is legal? Is there any accounting of the funds? Doesn't anybody approve anything? Don't they know there's tremendous liability on the PTA-and them as individuals?

Other than that, the status quo will remain as the attitude of "this is how we've always done it" continues. It happens in our district too.

Good luck.

I am the PTO President of a large elementary school. We have several very involved committee chairs and officers, but a handful of ones that returned from last year under a different President, that refuse to provide me status updates on their committees, will not attend any meetings, do not show up for any events, and never provide any feedback. The prior 2 Presidents were very cliquey and had a very different non-confrontational manner that I do.

I have tried unsuccessfully for over a year now to engage them, and also make myself and other officers available to them for questions or concerns.

How do I communicate to them that ultimately they are accountable to me as the President, and how to I get them to comply with my requests for information?

They run their committees very well, and with little involvement from me, and I do not want to micromanage them. However, I do feel I have a responsibility to know what is going on periodically on their committees and not always have them come to me in the 11th hour to fix things. Any advice on how I can come across in a productive manner to this select group of folks?