Definitely ask to see your group's Bylaws. They exist to ensure your group is run in a proper manner and required by law. Why is there a new nominating committee now? Is it mentioned in the Bylaws? The Bylaws outline how your group should be managed. If they are not being followed, that's a problem. I would ask to see how the nominating committtee should work as well as outlined in the Bylaws. It seems funny to exclude any candidate from the election process. A nominating committee, as I understand it, should be tasked with finding candidates not eliminating them. The group members should be deciding by a vote who should hold the positions unless your Bylaws have been structured very differently. I would bring your concerns to the the Principal as well. Our Bylaws term you out at any one position after two years. I commend you for your determination. It is outrageous to turn any interested parent/guardian away who is interested in the process and finds the time to attend meetings. Good luck.
We have had drama with our PTO elections as well. I hate to see that, because it should be about what's best for the kids, and not about someone's status.
I would check into the bylaws of the organization. In our PTO, we must announce in advance when we are holding elections. We take nominations and vote in the same meeting, but it is open to everyone and everyone present at the meeting gets a vote. Generally, people don't throw their name in the hat, and it ends up being the 4 people who volunteer or get sucked in. But when there are more people interested, we take a vote.
We had someone who didn't show to that meeting last year, but was interested in a position. She didn't specify which one, just that she wanted to be on the board. Turns out that she wanted to be president, but she didn't make that clear to anyone. She was on the board, but not in the office that she wanted, so she quit. I just don't get that. I hate to hear stories of the PTO organization getting in the way of doing good for the school.
First, I am sorry that you are being shut out. I was PTN President for 5 years at my children's school and we went out of our way to make sure ALL parents were welcomed as the previous Boards gave us the reputation as being a clique. A nominating committee should only be for the purpose of keeping a list of parents that want to be on the Board, NOT interviewing for new Board members. At no point should a sitting Board be hand picking their members. That's what makes parents run from volunteering. I would refer to the by-laws and make sure it is clear on what the nominating committee is to do. Also, you might was to reference the Roberts Rule of Order Google it) that most PTN's use as a guide to determine the way your Board is run. But this is just very basic information. Make mention of this at a meeting that you want to see the bi-laws and the portion about voting for a new Board. As a parent that probably pays dues to the PTN, you have the right to ask for it and any other information pertaining the PTN. Sounds like that whole Board needs to be replaced. Good Luck!
I hate to hear stories like this. My school was the same way. The pto should have their bylaws or standing rules available for public viewing. Look at it. At my school we take all nonminations by paper for 30 days...then we have a xhance for people to nonminate from the floor. If there is only 1 person running for the spots...we just take a verbal "approve" from the meeting.....otherwise a ballot vote will occur. Our parents get to see the nomination forms to dexide who is best for the school!! Stick with it....schools need determinated, loyal parents like you!
