I think your whole board should be recalled by the other parents. You are all liable if you know that they have been embezzling funds. There is no other reason they would hide records of refuse to release them.
Our school also lost support with parents when our PTSO board didn't want to divulge what they did with our money. We demanded records and soon found out there were lots of abuses. My advice is to demand the records or call the police on them.
Gosh, you guys are terrific. What a great service to have this available.
Re this PTSO, it's all been so difficult. The superintendent got investigated by the grand jury a couple of years ago for taking ASB funds. Now everyone is running scared.
This issue was a shock to all of us. They took $100 bills and gave them to the teachers no questions asked. They didn't have to turn in receipts or spend it for their rooms. Just take the money home if you want. When we found out, we were furious. I don't begrudge teachers, but that wasn't the intent of our fundraising. You're right, they probably were supposed to declare it as income if they received it.
We tried to obtain the minutes to see who approved this, and no one would allow it. They are simply saying that no one can see anything.
Thanks for the explanation of the PTSO. I have been a Exec. Board Member of a PTA for 4 years now and not too familiar with PTO's, etc.
Do the members of this PTSO pay any dues? Or is every parent in the school a member for free? If there were dues paid to be a member then as a member I would think you have every right to demand a copy of the by-laws and the minutes. The by-laws are defiantely what you want to see so you know the rules of what they have to disclose, etc.
If this is a private organization and the parents are not members then I personally would start some sort of petition or something so that this organization could not operate another fundraiser.
If the Principal does not want to help then contact your Superintendent. I'm not sure if the chain of command is the same in all school districts but here the chain goes Principal, Vice-Superintendent or Superintendent then the School Board. If you have to, follow your chain of command and then contact a School Board Member and ask for this situation to be brought up at the next School Board Meeting. You have every right to request this be put on the School Board agenda if you do not get an answer at any other level.
I am Co-Chair at our schools PTO and we are a private organization, which I thought meant, you are not affiliated with the school.That just means money isn't part of the budget it is the organizations.
The members of the PTSO are the parents and they have every right to see the minutes. We actually have our minutes approved by our members (our parents) who are present at each monthly meeting.
I thing they are wrong and you need to keep pressing this issue. Go to the Superintendent, then and or the School Committee. This is really something they have no right doing. That money they gave to the teachers should have been voted on by the members before it was given. NO QUESTION!!
If the principal is refusing to cooperate, my next stop would be the superintendent's office and the school board. I would consider contacting the media as well, maybe as a letter to the editor. Parents have the right to know how their fundraising money is being used.
