PTOs that are mismanaged to teh point you describe, should not be supported by parents, financially or otherwise. that will take care of the problem itslef. why do parents keep supoorting such an organziaiton you describe? mindboggling.
They had bylaws when they were PTA but never changed them when they became PTO. They really don't think it's a problem they don't have them. Does anyone know of a website that explains 501(c)3. I looked on the IRS website but I couldn't understand some of it. They've pretty much convinced the few members we did have that the new officers are just a bunch of control freaks. I think if we would have went in with our eyes closed and left everything the way it was we would have had no problems. But when we started talking by-laws and audits that's when it got crazy. I just can't believe there's no one to contact when things like this happen that can investigate it will it's going on. Why would anyone even want by-laws when you can just go in start a PTO and take half the money without any worry, how many PTO's are running like this, how many officers are lining their pockets with fundraising money, there's no one to do anything so probably a lot. This just makes me sad and angry that people can do this and there's no one to just call to get help right then.
If this group is in fact 501c3, there have to be bylaws. The IRS won't approve a group without them. Perhaps contact thee IRS to see about getting a copy of them & go from there. These women/men have to be held accountable. All of their records are public information, so if you keep persuing this, eventually they will have to give them up. Do you think there is something fishy going on with the books? Are there any other parents that are concerned?
If you are not getting any kind of help from the educational food chain (principal, superindentent, BOE) and really want to persue this, you can call your attorney general. An audit done in the manner this one was done is not a true audit and could be a sign of criminal activity.
If you are not prepared to take that kind of action, I would agree with those who suggested disbanding the group. If the only participating members are the old officers, you aren't going to get much if any good work done this year. I hope also that you are letting parents know about all of this. Some won't care, but there must be at least a few who won't want to fundraise for a group operating in this manner.
There, I believe is one of the advantages of being PTA-the national organization I believe (not certain because our group is PTO)has in place sources to go to when things go haywire like this.
If your school board won't get involved, then you really are in a bad way. An audit done by the people who controlled the finances last year? Oh yeah, that's a reliable audit. Audits should be done by an independent person or group-no board members.
If you have no bylaws and no one shows up to vote except the old board, then maybe it's time to just dissolve the group. I hate saying that, but until and unless you can get bylaws and financial controls in place, get control of the books and checking account, and get a board and membership in place that can out vote the former board, you're stuck.
Why doesn't anyone else show up at meetings? Were they driven away by the past board and/or the controversy going on this year?
We have all new board members, I'm President. The outgoing board members have fought us on everything. They don't want by-laws (never had them before we don't need them now)we drafted a set of bylaws, set up a committee and guess who shows up....only the outgoing officers, they voted on not having them.. they don't want an audit (never done one we don't need one now) we just recently got a copy of our minutes from the last meeting, which was the election one, and one person that was elected isn't even on it. They just ignored the fact she was elected. They kept the outgoing treasurer as treasurer. The super final told them yesterday we had to do an audit, they did it! It's not even an audit! They just looked at the books and told him everything balanced and he accepted it. I still have not seen the books. The school board said they were not getting involved. Our secretary, reporter and vice-president finally resigned. I told them I was not going to be a part of this PTO since they weren't following IRS rules. We're 501(c)3 with no bylaws and no audit. It's like we're the new officers but the outgoing officers are still running it. This is not right! There should be some kind of PTO police.
