There are a lot of variatoins of existence for parent groups. Some are independent 501(c)(3) organizations. At the other extreme are groups that are basically school committees, usually under the control of the principal. In between is every imaginable combination with the principal having varing amounts of power from just being a stakeholder to really running things.
No structure is "wrong" unless it's not working well for those involved. Sometimes things are done a certain way simply "because that's the way we've always done it". Sometimes a new principal or new parents may disagree and try changing - for better or worse. And sometimes it works/sometimes it doesn't.
The nice part is that you have a lot of freedom in the way the parent group operates. The bad news is that if you were hoping for cookie cutter list of rules on how it's supposed to work, that doesn't exist because PTOs aren't part of any affilated group.
Continue to explore:
anything you can find out about the group, its bylaws, how it operated before
any policies the district may have on parent groups
was there ever a president of your group? can you contact that person? ask if bylaws were ever drafted? Does your PTO have an "official name" such as ______Elementary PTO? If so, call the IRS and ask if they have record of your group listed as a 501c3 organization. I'm not sure how it works in every state but here we can go on the Secretary of State website and search under charitable organizations by town...if you can do this - are you listed?
I do not have a clue. They will not give me any info to go on. We have only had 3 mtgs in 2 years. The Pres doesn't have time and the Treas is nowhere to be found. I don't know what to do. Please point me in the right direction. I'm going to the meeting just like I'm still VP, since we have not had an election. As far as I'm concerned, I'm still V P. I tried to send out letters last year to the parents of all students and they mysteriously got lost.
The PTO before this principal was strong. REAL STRONG. The prior principal loved the involvement.
Can the principal draw money out of the PTO account without letting anyone know? He withdrew money and said it was for teacher appreciation gifts.
Also, I went yesterday to see if I could put a table up for the PTO at open house next Thursday and he stated we were having a PTO meeting at 6pm that night. I stated that I was VP and the only officer involved and why didn't anyone contact me? He stated it was a new year and I was no longer involved.
I've tried for two years to do something with this PTO including an election last year and he would not allow it. What do I do?
