It was very nice of the Kindergarten teacher to donate a portion of the money. But, it wasn't her money to donate. Didn't her class get a trip? If the money is earmarked for a certain class for a specific reason, then that is how it should be used. Or she should have to request to do something else with it and it should be voted upon by the general membership. Couldn't she have used the money to do something else that would benefit the Kindergarten students? Seems to me the poor Kindergarteners lost out.
Okay, to make a long story short. Our PTO provides $400.00 to each classroom for field trips. The money is earmarked in it's own account to cover all classes. Our two KDG. classes decided not to take one this year. Our three first grade classes have chosen to take another field trip to a bowling alley that is within walking distance of the school. The KDG. teacher chose to donate a portion of her field trip money to the first grades to pay for their trip. I along with the principal, VP, and Secretary had no problem with it. But now it seems we have upset the Treasurer...she is fighting this hard.
We have no more meetings until September so I had the Executive Board which includes the Principal vote on the matter and had everyone sign a letter that stated the issue and the outcome of the voting with a stipulation that the topic would be added under new business at our first membership meeting and we would ask the membership to make a decision as to whether or not we can allow teachers to donate field trip monies in the future. There is nothing in our by-laws either way, so as the President I chose to pose the question to the "right" people and vote.
I am at a loss here because our treasurer and I have been friends since 6th grade and I really didn't mean to cause a ruckus, but did feel a decision should be made and that because it was benefitting three classrooms it would be okay. I have been elected three times to be President and once to be VP and I feel that the people who voted all of us into office trust our judgement. So did I mess up or not...I'd love to hear your HONEST, even if brutal, opinion
