I agree that billing the school is a mistake.

I'm the fundraising chair and know how much stuff people assume they can eat, or snatch or just don't pay attn and throw stuff away. We store our stuff in a specific area in the storage room. Every box we mark with "DO NOT THROW AWAY PTO ITEMS" and since have not had a problem. Maybe from here on start marking your boxes. What happened sucks but I think you will alianate the custodians (which in my exp. is noooooooooooooot a good idea) You need them for fundraising events that are held after school hours. I say relax with it, back off the billing, and start marking your stuff. Now if stuff is thrown away even after being clearly marked not to touch or throw away then go after them.

At the end of each school year, our custodians start at the far end of the school and clean, strip, wax, etc. everything in their path. This happens every year. Every teacher must clean their room and store their classroom items in a certain way to make sure it isn't trashed. The office personnel, the nurse, the specials teachers, the cafeteria, EVERYONE. It isn't up to the custodians to sort it out. If it is left out, it goes in the trash. Sounds like what happened to your stuff. The first year I became president of our group, no one told me that the PTO office had to be 'readied' for the custodians. Fortunately I had noticed the rest of the school cleaning and storing and getting ready for the upcoming 'clean sweep'. When the old officers left at the end of last year, they had not stored, cleaned or readied the office for the custodians. I was very lucky that the custodial department at our school knows me so well. They called me the day after school let out and let me know that the PTO office was not properly prepared for them. We have that kind of relationship because I understand their job and they understand mine. If I had come back and all our stuff was gone, it would have been my responsibility because I knew better than to have not followed up behind the last regime.

If you bill the school, you will be making a big mistake. By not not assuming ( ) responsibility for a mistake, you are compounding that error. Buck up and move on.

My first instinct was what a sad situation but not one that you could seriously lay blame on the school for.
Then, I read your second post.
I believe the issue of responsibility lies in the personal items that you lost as well. If they were important to you then why would you have left them where dozens (understated I am sure) pass through daily? Your items are your RESPONSIBILITY. We teach our children that everyday. If you care about it, take care of it...
I worked at a restaurant many years ago, and I took off my rings to help with making the hamburgers and then left them on the shelf, wrapped in a paper towel. One of those rings belonged to my mother and was opal. The others were also fairly sentimental and worth something (not gold, silver but with gems)
They were thrown away because they were mistaken for garbage. Sure, I wondered how someone could mistake a very heavy jangly piece of paper towel for garbage but when all was said and done, the rings were my responsibility. I didn't ask anyone to look after them, I left them there by mistake. But it didn't change the fact that they were my responsibility.

Now, secondly, I have to ask you, why are you in your school's PTSO? What do you raise funds for? What is your purpose??
If any part of your answer is the children, then to bill the school wouldn't exactly benefit them would it? If they need to give you $180 out of their budget, where will they get the $180 to replace it? Seems like a lot of hassle and worry just to make a point.

I realize that a lot of hard work went into the labels and I realize that it upsets you. I've been there as you have seen many have. But what you do next is the big question now.
I assume that the trash had already been collected when you discovered this had happened, so now, you can't get them back. It is unfortunate but it happened and it's over. Like others have said, it's a learning experience. Perhaps if you don't have the room to store them at home and you don't have a place in the school where they can be held securely, that you put the word out that you need a corner somewhere to store them in. I'm certain that someone would be happy to put them in their garage, basement or elsewhere. If there is a concern over how the money is handled and that it's been handled inappropriately, then this would be a great time for your board to review your financial policies. There are excellent methods available all over the boards and everyone here would be happy to share with you guidelines, audit methods, etc.

It is time to let go of the anger over this though. It's not doing anything beneficial for anyone, especially yourself. Take a deep breath and start over, a little wiser. But to dwell on it, harbor anger over it, to bill the school and alienate the staff and the ever needed custodians, it's just not worth it.

Just my thoughts:

Your group is raising funds for your school. If you bill the school you are taking funds away. I would not bill the school - however if your budget is tight and every penny counts you may need to deduct the amount from your budget by amending it. Basically, you have $180.00 less to spend on the school. If your budget is not tight I would let it go but still express your displeasure with the principal - and find a way to secure your property.

I can understand your frustration - that's alot of work down the drain. But I guess I would look at it this way: the lost labels simply mean the PTO will have $180 less to spend on the school this year. To bill the school seems a bit unnecessary. Even if the school could reimburse the PTO, don't you simply turn around and spend the money on the school anyway? It's a huge bummer,for sure, but it's not worth a major rift with the staff in my opinion. Shake your head and wonder how they could be so stupid, but...well...move on.

Originally posted by mykidsmom:

Your fundrasier, your items, you left them at school.

Teacher's lounge, hallway, front lobby, main office, janitor closet....it's all school property. I have five children (two under the age of four) and they understand what is mom's. They understand it's for school.

Here chew on this, the PTO ordered and payed for a flag for the school that was flown over the US Capital. NO ONE CAN FIND IT!!!! A WHOLE YEAR GOES by, every month someone from school would call me regarding it....they found it, in a file cabinet, locked and the key was lost in a drawer...things happen.

Make the janitors save Box tops...

Isn't responsiblity a touchy word....or assume (when spelled incorrectly)..... Maybe the word needed here is accountablity.

[ 08-16-2004, 06:11 PM: Message edited by: mykidsmom ]