I think you've already got some good advice from the others, and I think KC touched on the primary issue of "approving what goes home in backpacks" rather than her attempt to approve what you as an organization publish.
Could you propose a compromise? Instead of her reviewing the newsletter, can you get her to agree to a list of guidelines for what can/cannot be included in the newsletter? This approach, plus the fact that the Principal reviews it, might set her mind at rest PLUS it gives her a tool to use with the other schools. Note, if you go this route, I'd suggest YOU offer to draft the first set of guidelines. More work for you, but maybe less surprises.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>After she read it she contacted our principal and said she needed to approve our newsletters before we distribute them to parents.<hr></blockquote>
Have you made sure that she is aware that the principal is reviewing them? Our district has guidelines regarding what can and cannot be sent home in student backpacks, and that is part of why we must get the principal's approval.
The national PTA ships us a box of flyers several times a year. I remember well that last year the October issue, full of Halloween ideas, arrived on Nov 1. I was intrigued enough that I jotted down the UPS shipping code and checked their web site -- it was shipped on Oct 27. PTA gets somebody like Betty Crocker to sponser the thing, and it has a nice ad for them. That ad makes it an item that we cannot send home in the backpack.
It sounds like the super is a micro-manager. If you make sure she realizes that it is being reviewed, you might be able to get her to step back. Especially if you point out that it does take her valuable time to do it, and the delay could affect time-sensitive information.
And if she insists on staying in the loop? Tell your principal "GOOD NEWS! You don't have to review the newsletter anymore."
Hi,
I don't send out a newsletter. But, I have sent out the minutes of the PTO meeting and nothing was said.
Of course I let the principal look them over.
That does sound like a hassel to get everyone to look at it before you print.
Copymom
:eek:
I'm being oversensitive, I know! I guess I just see it as micromanaging. It seems like the supt. should trust her building administrators to make those kind of calls.
I know from experience, we may - as a PTO - be considered a separate entity, but we still have ties to the school and the district. If the new Superintendant doesn't like what you've got in your newsletter, ask for specifics - any ideas or issues they may think you need to cover. Keep in mind, that some of these kids may have relatives in other schools in the district. What one may perceive as "a wonderful newsletter", another may think is "a piece of cr**". Something I learned over the years (my fourth year as PTO President and eighth year as a pto member), is that we are not going to please everyone. Take it with stride. If they can't give you better suggestions, go in with what you'd like to do and ask her opinion.
This school year I started a monthly newsletter for our parent group. It's been really well received by both staff and parents. I always have the principal review it before I "go to press" and he's been great about sharing his input.
Our district has a new superintendent and I've been really working on building a good relationship with her. We've invited her to our meetings (she's coming next month) and sent her a welcome basket when she came on board. This month I thought I'd start sending her a copy of our newsletter.
After she read it she contacted our principal and said she needed to approve our newsletters before we distribute them to parents. She didn't give a reason why, but I can't think of anything in the newsletter that would have made her concerned. The principal said it's not personal - the district has gotten more Big Brotherish since she was hired.
I'm going to comply, because I don't want to make waves, and because I'm not concerned that there will ever be a problem with our content. However, I think she's kind of overstepping her bounds. Our group is a separate entity from the school, and the newsletter represents our group, not the school district. The content is solely about our group's activities and programs - nothing about the school itself or curriculum or anything like that.
It just surprises me a bit, especially since the principal approves it. It seems like his okay should be enough.
