Our PTO works with our School Board. We have a PTO Representative who serves on both the PTO and the Board of Directors. It is a specific position for two terms. They are required to come to every PTO board meeting as well as every BOD meeting. It works out very well.
Thank you for you thoughts on this, at this point I am more concerned with the president not taking an active role in PTO. I did talk with her yesterday and she did make some comment about us maybe having a meeting sometime, she would let me know.... I like to jump right in and set goals and make plans, it's hard to work with someone that does not share that kind of enthusiasm. IF she is a board member and even though we do have every thing we do approved by them first, I don't think this will be a problem.
I don't see this as any sort of conflict of interest any more than any other job. Our school board has no involvement in our PTO so I don't know why having a school board member as an officer would be inappropriate. In fact, it might be very interesting to have the knowledge and insight of a school board member, if just to learn more about the inner-workings of the district.
I recently served on a board that had 2 school board members. One of them was already on the board when she became a PTO officer, the other was a PTO officer before she was elected to the school board. There was never a conflict of interest expressed by anyone, even the district administration.
Being in front of the public may actually spur her on to work harder for the PTO. If she uses "PTO President" on her list of accomplishments (and she most likely will) she'll want people to think kindly of her and the PTO. You might mention that to her and see if she gains some motivation by this.
