I would again like to thank everyone. We had our first meeting last night, had 12 members join. I called today about the checking account and as it turns out there was an old account with a PTA group that is a few years old and it has over $700 in it. Good news!! So, I have called the bank and found out everything I need to do to change it to a PTO and to change check signers. Yes, I jumped to conclusion before I should, but there was some bad history to lead to it. Now to get everthing going. Again Thanks you all your support.

I am also the new PTO Treasurer for this year. In the past, our principal and secretary were signing checks and not letting parents do anything. I got wind that they paid over $600 to cater an inservice lunch that was never mentioned at a meeting and called the legal department for our school district who told me that there was no reason that the principal was signing checks or for our funds to go into the same place as the schools and she called the principal and set her straight on this. Now the 3 parents who weren't turned off by past events are trying to rebuild. We opened our own account and work off of the standard accounting procedures I learned in high school. Remarkably, all is going well. Keep your head up. It will all work out.

Nicole - Since yours is a new PTO, you probably didn't receive any treasurer files. If you would like a copy of our PTO's treasurer manual, email me at gcforhanATjunoDOTcom. Might help to see what another PTO considers important procedures.

I would like to Thank everyone who have replied. I have read each one and have a lot of things to look into. Our PTO does not have a budget as of yet. I know that Treasurer is a lot of work. I have been in Girl Scouts for 6 years, 5 of those years I have been Troop Cookie Mom and 4 of those years I was Service Unit Cookie Manager. I am a Accounts Payable Clerk and enjoy doing this kind of work. And I like that I can be a part of my girls life by volutaring my time to do things I enjoy doing. I am going to try and get thourgh this and hope things get better.

Do you have a budget? We write checks against a budget, which is voted on by all, at the beginning of the year. Every parent, not just exec board, has the right to come to that meeting. If a check request comes in and it's over budget or doesn't fit with an item already layed out in the budget; that person (teacher or board member) has to come to a meeting and the group has to vote on it. We have exec board meeting and work to get everyone there (4 times a year). But we also have PTO meetings (once a month during school year) where the entire parent population comes and makes decisions.

This is our 4th year as a school and every year our budget gets better and better. Then we don't have so many extra votes. I'm the Pres. and I meet with the treasurer and two signature sign checks about every 2 weeks. At the monthly PTO meeting the treasurer has a report prepared where everyone can see how the money is spent and how their budget is progressing through the year. Even if school has some control over the checking account. I think you should have two signature requirement and they should be accountable for how the money is spent. We are also audited every so often so our records are complete and straight. In our group, the treasurer is the second busiest person involved in the management of the PTO. I can't imagine not having more input. Make sure you are prepared for the work if you really want to take this all on. We have 2 stay at home moms, 2 part timers and our treasurer works full time, but she works from home. Our board of over 30 committee chairs are a blend of working status moms and dads.

Been there, done that with the controlling principal. I learned the hard way that it's better to just make the most of it and let them have their way on a lot of the issues. We had our own separate tax number and account, but we had a teacher as the treasurer because it's just easier that way. You can always get a hold of them when you need a check. Now at my new school, we have a seperate person. The principal is very nice and realizes that PTO is a separate entity. She gets involved only when necessary. And it works out great! I wish every PTO had a principal like that. Now if I could only get some people to serve on my board.... :eek: