This fall I will begin my third term as Secretary and one of the strong points the Presidents I have worked with like about me is the time I can spent at school doing what "we" do. You bet I get teased,etc, but when it comes down to it I can be there and get done what they can't.
I am also confused about what your Principal wants to to here and I agree with everyone that a meeting is needed. I also like the idea of numbers (a couple friends with ya) but make sure he is understanding this is a informational meeting and you have questions. He might not even know (or realize) the fact your registered, etc.
I am in the same boat as you as far as being at home and the rest of the board has full time "gigs" [img]smile.gif[/img] , I see myself somedays as the liasion for some of these people and while you bet I get rassed but guess whose the one they call with a question....yeah, oh well.
Lots of items going on in this post, but I first want to say that every person in that school is important to the PTO! Working parent, SAH parent, teachers, staff and so on. We all contribute where we can and when we can and big or small that contribution is important. I also want to put in that the PTO (or whatever your organization is called) is very much like a business. This is not a bad thing. It allows your organization to run smooth, your finances to be accountable, and so on. Sometimes my position as president feels more like a job than any corporate position I've ever had! But the benefits are much greater! [img]smile.gif[/img] As for the principal...that needs to be addressed by your PTO and quick. Why the name change? What does he think will be different having this other group instead of your current group? Why would he go to one class and not to the whole school or better yet the existing group??? (That seems a bit suspect!) Many times on this board you have read that a good working relationship between the principal and PTO is important. A relationship is a two-way thing...where's the principal in this relationship. Set up a meeting with the principal, come armed with questions and possibly compromises, and GOOD LUCK! :cool:
I take the kids to school in the morning, then go to work. I get off between noon and 2 pm and pick up the kids from school and have them the rest of the day. So I work half days and am a stay at home dad half days. There isn't any question which "job" is easier. Hands down being at work is less stressfull and time consuming than keeping kids and volunteering with the PTA.
Sounds like you face a couple of challenges. Regarding your co-prezs, you are doing what your can to keep them updated. Keep your thick skin and smile. Some day they'll realize how fortunate they are to have an officer who can handle PTO matters during the day.
Regarding your Principal, I would ask him to describe what he hopes to accomplish with a name change. Maybe it's really just a change in focus, or he wants to take pressure off the "T"eachers to be involved, or maybe he comes from a school where the parent group was called a Parent Council and he doesn't realize the potential implications you can read into his "new idea". Maybe what he wants can be accomplished with a few changes in committee structure or bylaws. It's odd he proposed this only to the parents of one grade, but maybe he was trying to save paper on notes home. How about preparing a few questions and picking a PTO member who has the best rapport to meet with him?
I wonder what he feels the difference would be between a PTO and PAC besides the name change? Also, you need both kinds of parents on the board, ones that can be in the school during the day and ones that have management skills (or ones that have both!). I would think that the Pres would appreciate what you are able to do. Next year I will be going back to school (yes-at my age!) full time days (highschool math teacher)--anyway I will only accept an officer position if I can Co with someone who would be more able to get in the school during the day. If not will take a coordinator position that I can do from home. There's a ton of leg work involved. None of their ideas would be accomplished if they did not have someone physically there to carry out!
Hello,
I have been involved with the current PTO at the school my children attend since last year. As secretary of our PTO I have done alot of work. Not just with taking minutes of meetings but being very actively involved. I am first a parent. I have an excellent working relationship will all the staff, and teachers in our school.
However, I have not had the ability to have a good relationship with the current PTO presidents, they seem to think this is a business and they want to run it like one.
They both work full time and have very little time to spend in the school doing leg work. I have a more flexible schedule and do alot of work, yet I am condemned because of it. They feel that teachers go to me rather than them with questions regarding field trips, etc. Anytime I receive information I pass it on to the presidents for their approval or for them to handle.
The Principal of our school is new since January, and He is very active, which is great. He has good ideas and wants to be an active part of our PTO, however again we have personality conflits and he is in the middle.
He has just proposed a "new idea", he would like to change the now current PTO to a Parent Council. We as a PTO are registered in our State with the Secretary of State as a non profit organization, we also have bylaws, bylaws that should be amended due to the fact that they were written in 1984.
The principal chose to send his proposed idea out to third grade parents only and wants to move on his idea if he gets a good response.
How can I stop him besides going over his head to the Superintendent of our school system and the school committee. Does he have a right to change what has been exsistant.
I am not the only member or the current PTO Board that has this question. I planned on running for the President position after my two year term was up. The principal is aware of this fact.
I didn't know if anyone had any issues in the past like this. I was told that you cannot just get rid of a non-profit organization. Is that true?
