I'd like to know how strict other PTOs are when asking teachers/the school to follow PTO policy when requesting funds or reimbursement. I sometimes find it hard to enforce the rules because our school secretary acts as if we are putting her or the teachers out by doing so. A few years ago pto decided to put her on the account as a third signer-in a crunch we know she is at school if the pres is not home etc. She has taken the roll as middle man with the teachers and they go to her (she requests a copy of "whats left in the budget"). Today I got a call asking to bring in a check for
200.00 for 3rd grade supplemental inst. materials-and the fool I am, I bundled up the baby and went right over-she said that I would need to make the check out to the teacher because the teach. paid for the merchandise- I made the comment that she should have filled out a request form so PTO would know what the funds are being spent on - our school secretary said that they would get me a copy of the invoice (which is nice considering I need it anyway) when I got to school they don't have the invoice yet and still wanted the check - now I'm put on the spot and decided I would put the check in the teach's mailbox but wanted to leave a note with it explaining the proper procedure for next time. That is when the school sec. got huffy as if she is queen of the school and said, "You know she is good for it." So, as it turns out I wrote a check for 200.00 and as of right now I have no clue what it is buying the school. Right now I could kick myself for doing it - but on the other hand we are a small school and it is hard enough to get the teachers involved without them thinking pto is all "full of themselves". It is ironic that the teachers all freak out when our kids don't follow classroom rules - and most of them can't seem to follow our rules. So, what do you all do - stick to your procedures or let things slide. As it is now - I'll probably get the invoice when I at school for other reasons - stick it in my coat pocket and lose it.