I agree with Tim. Working your relationship out with your Principal has got to be number one and yes, letting membership dwindle to zero as a last resort is better then working under a dictatorship. I would come prepared to your meeting with her with stories of PTO's that work. I guess I just love by-laws, because if something inappropriate happens you can always fall back on them. But, yeah, first things first.
1. Can a principal be a pain-in-the-rear to a parent group? Yes. Can a PTO work completley independently of a principal? Yes. The trick is that in order for that second part to be true, you have to be ready to hold your meetings at the public library, mail your newsletters and announcements by US mail (rather than backpack express), etc. It's far, far better to have a cooperative relationship.
2. Are bylaws the solution? No. Absolutely -- bylaws are a great step. But if your principal insists on doing his or her own thing and making orders, then your bylaws won't be a huge help. I'd work on developing strong bylaws in parallel with #3 below.
3. I think all of your efforts (new elections, etc.) should become secondary right now to fixing the relationship with your principal. There are very good reasons for letting a parent group operate independently. A few:
a. More involvement. In every single case I've seen, overbearing principals inevitably lead to less involvement. Good, active people juts don't stay if there's no real role for them. Less involvement = lower test scores, more discipline problems, a worse school.
b. Less fundraising $$. If your group withers, your principal will feel it in the pocketbook. Those great extras you provide will go down or go away.
You need to nicely, firmly make the case to your principal about why you need the freedom to operate on your own. You want to collaborate with him, but -- if he insists on running your group -- your group will become far less effective or disappear. Neither of you want that to happen.
Often principals acting this way do so out of fear. Perhaps there's a fear that missing PTO funds could be an embarrassment (demonstrate the checks and balances you'll put in place) or that "stuff" will happen in school that he/she doesn't approve of (make sure you emphasize that you're very willing to cooperate).
Push comes to shove, I would rather let involvement go to zero for a short time (a PTO strike, of sorts, though i wouldn't call it that) than go forward as you described.
A really vital, vibrant parent group is worth the effort.
Wow! boy, oh, boy is this the perfect example of why every group needs by-laws! Even if you elect the slate of officers that your nominating committee has chosen, if your Principal won't work with them, then your PTO will not be effective. This just seems so black and white. Your principal apparently thinks volunteers are employees. Besides quickly drawing up by-laws, which then should be posted for 30 days and voted on, I have no idea how you can resolve this. hmmm, perhaps if you told the people that the Principal wanted what the scoop is and asked them to refuse the nomination? good luck. hope someone else has a good idea!
The principal is really pushing this election...we had the nominating committee picked yesterday and she had them today sign off on who she wanted to run today and stoped all nominating. Our big problem is that we are not sure if she as a principal can say who is a PTO officer at the school or if the board of education can say she has that right to as she said today....if i dont like this years officers then I can just say there will be no PTO this year and thats that. The lady we want is a really well spoken lady & we think she could handle herself well with the principal.
ONE MORE QUESTION....THE PRINCIPAL WANTS HER NAME ON THE CHECKING ACCOUNT AND WANTS TO SIGN ALL CHECKS WITH THE PTO PRES AND TRES..PLUS SHE MUST APPROVE EVERYTHING BEFORE SPENDING IS DONE....CAN WE AS A PTO STOP THAT???? :eek:
Our nominating committee was just picked last night (MONDAY) at the PTO meeting - today the principle called them in for a meeting and ask about who they were thinking of nominating! They picked really wonderful PARENTS. The Principle told them right away NO...I want these PARENTS WITH THESE TEACHERS for officers!! Last year was the first year that the school was a PTO....THERE WERE NO BY-LAW MADE!! We have nothing to go by as far as what we can do and cant!!
At the PTO meeting yesterday the pto pres. told the nominating committee they had all week to work on nomination...less than 24 hrs later the principal stop all nomination made to the committee!!
Us parents know that they must take nominations off the floor at the next meeting, but this principal said if a certain parent runs for pres. she will refuse to let her take office even if she is VOTED in at the meeting that night....CAN A PRINCIPAL DO THAT??? There is nothing wrong with this person..she stands up for us parents and can stand her ground while doing it nicely!! SHE IS WHAT THIS SCHOOL NEEDS!
SURE HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP US OUT....WHAT CAN WE DO????
