This is why we have background checks on everyone working or volunteering in our school.

The tough spot that the org has been put into is the appointing of officers. As a membership, why couldn't you request an election be held (it is the beginning of a new school year) I mean crazier things have been happening for awhile!

I hate to suggest this idea but, what would you Dept. of Education have to say about your Super allowing a parent with a crimial past run the parent group and volunteer? Just thinking out loud and know that our school would be contacted and asked what's going on! I think that would be the same if you called the district office and asked to speak to someone about a possible legal problem. SOmetimes it's amazing what the people that work for your school district know compaired to what the Superintendent thinks he knows....sorry to onry?

Worse comes to worse...petition her removal.

I don't see how they plan on keeping her on a short leash. How can you have limited access to kids when you are on PTO? Between meetings, luaus, carnivals, santa secret shop, holiday parties, field day, teacher appreciation, testing monitors and everything else--she is going to be more involved with the kids than most parents are. Doesn't the principal have better things to do than make sure this woman is limited in her contact with children. Her past history would make me as a board member question the basis of any decision she makes. She has a history of no respect for the law, so what makes them think she will respect school rules and PTO bylaws? How could you trust her with any money or check books, when you can't even trust her with the kids?
Make sure your facts are really facts and then fight like hell. This is more about protecting the children first and foremost. Even though they school and super don't want to get involved, they have a legal obligation to protect our children, and HAVE to be involved.

These are really two separate issues, as described well by many above.

Who is allowed on campus, who is allowe din leadership roles/volunteering roles with kids at school -- those are absolutely school board/admin policy decisions. If the facts as presented are accurate, then the Super is is dead wrong.

Yes, the parent group is a separate entity, but the school -- for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the school's ability to control who can be in school and what activities can be held at school, etc. -- certainly can have significant influence on the group.

The second issue (getting your group back on track and following bylaws, etc.) isa completely separate issue and frankly much less importnat than this first, where a Super and an adminwill give a person (who was apparently unfit to be a substitute) unfettered access to the kids through the parent group leadership role.

Sounds like perhaps there is another side to this story.

Tim

writer mom -- maybe the super's wife is the head of the local paper and they dont fear anything of that nature at all.

surely there is a political reason for the seeming blind eye or deaf ear theyre giving the situation.

our kids deserve better. politics or no politics. they should be proiroty nr 1 but alas the real world works in mysterious ways.

Yes, exactly - there are two seperate problems and both of them need immediate attention.

A proven criminal record (not hearsay) of crimes against children should have this woman banned from any school activities outside of parenting her own children.

An 'illegal' PTSO board should do the right thing, appoint an impartial nominations committee and earn their spots on the board or wholly support the elected officers.

In both instances the principal needs to take an active role in the happenings in his school and facilitate the necessary changes.

[ 08-29-2006, 07:57 PM: Message edited by: CrewChief ]

If these allegations are true, I don't care if she has paid her dues, she has a pattern of violent behavior, which is much more disturbing to me than one single, isolated incident. I would not want my child around her, ever, and I would not participate in any parent group that she was leading. Whether your group is a separate entity or not, I have a feeling that the BOE and principal could be liable in a lawsuit because they know about her pattern of violent behavior and did not step in. For pete's sake, they won't let her work around children and yet won't intervene in this situation--irresponsible!

Now, the other part of your problem. I think the issue of no elections and bylaws not being followed needs to be addressed, and I would do it at their first meeting, bringing with me, of course, as many concerned parents as I could find. If the group refused to do things as they should be done, I would not participate in their group and either wait out their reign, or if enough parents felt the same way, set up a proper parent group...which, as I re-read responses, is pretty much what CrewChief said [img]smile.gif[/img]

Work your way up the food chain until you get answers and action: principal, superintendant, school board, and if all else fails, this is one heck of a story for the media.