As a teachers aide, are you in the teachers' union? In our schools, aides have that option; some do some don't. If you are, the union can help you with your work issues.

PS i have read elsewhere on these posts that the IRS doesnt give a cowpie about PTOA fraud issues, its small potatoes or potatos to them and not even worth their time. dont know if its true, but worth considering.

who should care most about potential money mismanagement is the CONTRIBUTORS, or parent body.

are they informed, do they care to get informed, or are they apathetic about how their money is being managed and maximizing benefit to the shcool and its children.

and if you are getting any flack for asking questions of any nature, that should be public knowledge anyway, theres probably a reason, AND you know you are asking the right questions, because
Truth fears no questions (Unknown)
and
Those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing(Dr Phil)

"Yes, there are teachers who are in agreement with me, but are leary of their own jobs."

i have found a great difference in teachers who are tenured (not afraid to state their mind and do what is right, say what is right) and those who are not yet tenured (walk on eggshells til that time comes)

sad , but true.

All things being equal, and assuming this is the entire story, I agree that what these moms/parents have done with this group is unexceptable. If they were sneaky, and did this rewrite, etc. w/out public notice, there needs to be some sort of recourse by they parents at your school. However, if they are in fact 501c3 (or are in the process of applying), they are an independent entity and not "part" of they school, the school board has no legal authority. That being said, that does not mean that this group can go unchecked. The Super & SB can bar the group from the school & from conducting any type of business whatsoever at the school. Also, as a public charity, if they are in fact 501c3, their records and meeting are supposed to be open.(As an aside, I've never heard of any type of group that does not present a Treasurer's Report at every meeting!) If they are not 501c3, than they do fall under the school's authority & you may have a little more oomph behind you. As for your removal, they may have the authority to do this. It depends on what is in the bylaws, if they were properly approved. However, even if they have provisions for removal of a member, you are owed due process. You can not just be summarily ejected w/out the opportunity to "plead your case", so to speak. (I have done a lot of research on this in the past few weeks, as we are in the process of forming a new group & writing our bylaws.) Also, doesn't the IRS REQUIRE a yearly audit? At the very least, the tax records are public info, right? PTO, PTA, PTXYZ- they have a responsibity & obligation to provide you w/the records you requested & you have a right to see them. I say don't sit down & take this. As far as your JOB goes, while you may be made to feel uncomfortable, I don't think legally they can fire you for this- re: "Whistle Blowers' Act".

This situation sounds all too familiar. Our past pres. worked at the school- made for walking on egg shells at times. The pres. she replaced
(a teacher Pres) was questioned for misuse of funds as well. Never fully pursued, but there were thousands of dollars in question. This was my first taste of PTO & I didn't know how to support the new pres. in her questions on misuse of funds. This message board would have helped me then!

Thanks 4 your helpful suggestions. I have gotten feed-back from friends and family to just walk away from this issue. ALL OF YOU give me the courage to press on, even at the possible threat to my job.

Yes, I work at my kids school as a classroom aide as well. It certainly has not been easy to walk the hallways with these PTO Bullies whom 2 of them have said that I can be kicked out/voted out of the PTO?? I rather doubt that as I am just a mom who asked just once in an open PTO meeting for a written break down of what was taken in and spent last year. My folllow up was a certified letter to every board member as well as the principal.

Yes, there are teachers who are in agreement with me, but are leary of their own jobs. I have to be somewhat careful to whom I speak with as their can be more on the job trouble if the principal thinks that I am stirring up trouble by involving those I work with. I know that I have to make a move forward as my letter that was sent to the board via certified mail for a request for an audit of the books, review of out dated by-laws, has gone on deaf ears after giving them a 60 day deadline that has come and gone.

I must take this to the next level over the principal and go to the superintendant of schools. I would like to have this resolved before open house, fundraisers begin, etc.

I will let you all know what comes of this next step.