To mykidsmom, I agree that the superintendent's office should have guidelines but I know I was hesitant to escalate to that level. I know I should but the question is how far do I go? My kids are in this school for five more years and that's a long time to have the principal hating me. How will it affect my kids? This is the side of the PTO business that I never bargained for.
Question/thought---I know you all have by-laws set up to protect you but does your school district have any guidlines on this matter? They are ultimatly your Princpal's "boss" and may be interrested to know what is going on. Our school district is very clear to the PTOs about this matter and the principles know how the district feels. Just a thought....
I just went through a similar situation in reverse. Our principal added his name to the account and has been spending what he wants when he wants. I just met with him on Friday and took his checkbook away and had his name removed from the account. It wasn't pretty but had to be done because our bylaws clearly state that the treasurer writes the checks and the president can in her absence only. That's it. Also, bylaws state the Excutive Board approves expenses. So I used that as my backup and didn't give him a choice. So I would start with reading your bylaws. As for the tax exempt status, I found some good info on this site regarding the benefits of tax exempt status so I would search here as well and definately find all of the info that the auditor is requesting - then use it to prove your case. Also, bring it up at a meeting where you vote. Good luck. I know how it feels and it certainly takes the joy out of the start of the new school year. Stay strong.
Once again JHB has hit the target on the nose! This has been a HOT topic, as money can be, and with a little time and searching you will see you are not alone in your fustration.
May the force be with you!---Hang in there!
You may want to do a key word search and look at some of the older postings. There's been a lot of discussion on how much (if any)input/control a Principal should have. I think most of us feel pretty strongly that the PTO is a separate legal entity and should control its own funds. In our case, we have a great relationship with the principal, and he is one of the signatures on our account, sometimes serving as the second signature on checks. However - we control the checkbook, the account, and decide what we will and won't pay for. He comes to us with requests which we consider at a meeting and vote accordingly.
Other groups on this forum believe in TOTAL separation and would never even consider having the principal listed on the account.
However, I think most of us agree it up to the PTO to control the funds and decide how they are utilized.
I, too am a new member and the new president of our Parent Faculty Association. We are a small (153) student indepent school in New Jersey. We recently installed a new headmaster who has been lobbying tirelessly to have the PFA "turn over" the proceed of our fund raisers to the school. He has gone so far as to have the school's auditor send us a letter requesting evidence of our 503(C) status with the IRS, and is having our books audited. He has had this auditor suggest that if we are not registered as a 503(C), that we should turn our assets over to the school.
I would love to hear from anyone out there regarding how the finances are conducted in your organizations. Our headmaster seems to think that his request is not unusual. Thanks.
