Did you announce the names of the newly elected officers after your May meeting? Is the principal on the nominating committee? Do you have a nominating committee? If not, this is probably something that needs to be addressed after you deal with the other mess. I think it's a big leap to claim that the principal, et. al. have committed mail fraud, but certainly, it seems that they are trying to have their own way regardless of the will of the people, so to speak.

I agree with another writer, than you should try to get all the parties in a room together. Perhaps this is all just a huge communcations snafu. If no, you have to remind the principal, and the others, that the PTO is a separate entity, that the principal is not the boss of the PTO, and that decisions on anything affecting the PTO must be made by the organization's board or executive committee. It would be best if you could avoid dragging the school board into this until you've at least tried to reason with the opposition. Otherwise, it's going to get very ugly very fast. I don't know what kind of support you have for public schools in your area, but a big public fight will not instill confidence in your constituency. GOOD LUCK!

OK...you win...you definitely have larger problems in your PTO than I have in mine! [img]smile.gif[/img]

The only thing I can suggest, is calling a REAL Executive Board Committee, and include everyone who is, or event thinks they are, part of the Executive Board, and lay everything out on the table. Maybe by talking it all out, things can get organzied. Hopefully, it is all just a big misunderstanding, lack of communication, sort of thing. The principal is clearly out of line, and should be reminded that the PTO is a committee, not one person. Use your By-laws and Roberts Rules to back you up on the election that was held in May. If your By-laws don't address some of the issues you are facing, then use your new awareness to add addendums to the By-laws which would address these issues in the future.

I hope another PTO-er can provide you with better advice than I have. Best of luck to you! Let us know how you make out.

I would appreciate any responses asap. We have made a request to go in front of the school board on Monday!!

I am the new elected sec. for our PTO. Some people (including the principal) did not want an election. They just wanted to pick (themselves) the pres., VP, Sec. etc. When elections were held at our May meeting they didn't show up and nominations were taken from the floor. Some of those floor nominations won by vote. (like me)

Some people got mad,(the ones that did not even bother attending the meeting to vote) and sent out a fraudulent mailing from the PTO saying there will be a PTO meeting scheduled for June 25th and the PRINCIPAL IS ON THE AGENDA TO GIVE A PRESENTATION OF A PROGRAM FOR OUR CHILDREN!! The principal is on the executive committee and the bylaws clearly state that the executive committe is the only committee to call a special meeting!! The pres. VP and secr. were never notified of a meeting and it also says we must have a 7 day notice to attend the meeting!!

IT'S CRAZY!! On top of that, in the false and unauthorized notice to all the parents they put the names of their people that they wanted to win as the "PTO OFFICERS TO BE APPROVED" WHEN WE CLEARLY WON AT THE ELECTION IN MAY!!

I feel the principal has committed fraudulent acts in being a part of a letter that went to all the parents calling for an illegal meeting, using our PTO name to make it look valid and is part of the program, put the announcement on the marquee, etc. THIS IS MAJOR BECAUSE AS SOON AS THEY SENT IT THROUGH THE MAIL, IT BECAME MAIL FRAUD, and from what I understand, it is a FELONY!

What should we do, and what should happen to the principal for doing this, or even being a part in this (with the power she has???)

And what should we tell all the parents and everyone when they show up?? HELP!! HELP!!