I don't know about purchasing things like copiers to the school. Who is responsible for it if it breaks and needs costly repairs? What happens with toner and parts etc?

I don't think that's a PTO related supply that is directly educational to the students. And that's what the PTO's are for. To aid in the education of the children. Not buy copiers. It's tough, but I'd make sure you're even allowed to purchase such equipment. Good luck.

Our teachers rarely ask for anything from the PTO. I did have a few request like for our Sing, Spell program and for garbage cans. If I thought someone else could pay for them I went to the principal. The garbage can deal, she was not pleased with. She said that was not the responsibility of the PTO. So she called the bus garage. Still no garbage cans last I heard and that was 3 years ago. I wished I had of looked into that one a little more. So there's actually more than meets the eye. Perhaps a committee for those requests forms wouldn't be a bad idea and have your principal involved. He or she may know some shortcuts around it. Also a committee may pool resources and find grants for certian requests.

I agree a PTO SHOULD not purchase photocopiers, unless there is a desperate situation. I think it is the responsibility of the district or the SBDM. That was another problem I had. The ones whining about the PTO purchasing those things were the ones who never attended a meeting. So I didn't feel to bad to tell them what I thought about the subject. Also in our district we have a contract with the tech people for these machines, which sounds more like a monopoly. It is very complicated and not an issue I think a parent group should be involved in.

What do you do when teachers request supplies from your PTO/A? At our school, we fulfill requests for "Supplemental supplies" that a teacher may need; however, at times they request items that the district should be supplying. We are considering having ANY supply request go through the principal's office first before it comes to us. Naturally, the school has a supplies budget already for that current year, so the money is there for the requisition of further supplies. An example would be a photocopier. The district should provide this for the school, not the PTO. What do you think?