Newbie2009 and Jewel,

Thanks for your replies. Newbie, you had asked what my relationship is to our PTO VP. I was a fellow board member but had to resign a few months back mainly because of this person. I am still an active volunteer with PTO (just not in a board position) and, despite my personal feelings about her, try to keep it professional for the betterment of the school and PTO's goals. That said, this person's behavior and lack of respect for others who serve has helped create much dysfunction and frustration among the board. While she brings good ideas and energy to the table, she is very unorganized, not a team player, and is into "cliques." She also has a close friendship with our Asst Principal (you may have seen my earlier post about this) that several board members and parents have noticed and question. She seems to delight in sharing news of their outings and get togethers with others, which I just don't get. While the board hasn't had a problem moving forward on issues because of this relationship, it is still apparent it is the "white elephant in the room". From my point of view, our President and Principal are not as involved in addressing conflict as they should be, and between the relationship with the asst principal and the newly revealed criminal record, it will be interesting to see if they address either issue.

Jewel, thankfully our VP is not the only signer on the account. The fact that she has not been removed as a signer is what has me concerned. All of our volunteers are required to complete criminal background checks, but hers for whatever reason, did not come back flagged. If it did, I did not hear about it and I was the Volunteer Coordinator. It's possible our Principal addressed the matter privately with her, but again, why risk compromising the integrity of your PTO and not just ask her to resign? Or at best alert the President and Treasurer and remove her as a signer? I'm sure our Principal's sympathies are with her because she has a sick child, and maybe I'm just a wicked witch by feeling this way, but I just feel this person has gotten away with horrible behavior for too long and is playing on people's symathies to get away with it.

I'm sorry for writing so much, but it does feel good to get it off my chest. I'm glad I did my part in sharing the criminal background with the President. He agreed it was the right thing to do and now I guess the ball is in his court.

Thanks again for your replies, it's always great to get another point of view.

Is this person the only account signer? Or, do your by-laws stipulate a checks-and-balances system whereby every check has to be counter-signed by another member of the board?

If your board currently does not require a co-sign, I recommend that you spend your energies changing that procedure "for the good of the current board and future boards". That, alone, should alleviate your concerns and could be a good defense for the PTO if any parent uncovers the board member's criminal history. If your board already has that protective measure, I would let this issue go as your board already had fail-safes in place. The president is already aware of the situation, so if any parent should discover it and create a stink, the president can't say she wasn't given ample warning.

Then, when electing board members in the future, I suggest that the board screen them more closely (maybe through a written application form) about their civil and criminal history. Civil because you don't want a sue-happy board member either.

AlamoCityMom, first determine what your relationship is with this person, what her relationship is with others (and the status of yours), and if she can be removed before you put your neck on the line. Also determine how much of a hassle you're willing to go through. It's a tough decisions. I have raised issues of accounting discrepancies and business meetings in private residences in the best interest of our group, and I have been met with attacks and now an attempt to remove me, or at best, make me look like the ass.
Good luck!

I recently learned our VP has a criminal record dating back years for passing worthless checks. She was arrested on an outstanding warrant earlier this year, bonded out right away and was sentenced shortly thereafter. (Pay what you owe or serve time)

She has not shared any of this information with anyone and is a signer on our account. The business that went after her shared the information with me because they know she is a volunteer within our school. I relayed the information to our President, but I don't know how or if he will proceed.

To make matters worse, I have also learned our Principal was made aware of the situation not long after the arrest and has done nothing because the PTO VP's child is battling a serious illness and she doesn't want to add any more stress on the mother's shoulders.

While I agree to a point with her decision to protect our VP, the other part of me is fuming because I feel she has compromised the integrity of the PTO Board. At best I feel she should have shared the information with her PTO President and Treasurer, making immediate changes to the authorized signers on the school account. Perhaps asking the VP to resign so she could focus on her child's health and allowing the board to finish the year with it's best foot forward?

The criminal record is public, and it's only a matter of time before another concerned parent comes across the same information and points it out.

Any advice or feedback would be welcome. Has anyone else out there been in a similiar situation?

Thanks!