I am having some trouble understanding how this can happen. Unless the PTO is set up as an arm of the school itself (for example, teh PTO uses the schools bank account or the Principal appoints the board members), then the PTO is an INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION that is not under the control of the school.
If you as a PTO want to have a fundraiser, you can find a way to make it happen. Yes, you need to operate within the rules of the school/disctrict, and yes and antagoinistic Principal can make life very difficult, but it is still doable.
I don't understand how a Principal can just say that the school will take over the PTOs fundraisers. (I also can't fathom how a Princ could think that is a good idea but that's another topic).
I would make sure the Executive Board and a few of the key parents agree, but then I would sit down with the Principal to express your concerns and talk it all out. Maybe there is a wid card you don't know about but the whole thing sounds fishy to me.
I just find it hard to believe that a Principal who truly cares for the school and the students would knowingly want to kill the golden goose.
It is not understandable how a principal thinks a posture like that will not completely undermine the will of the good parents making the group work. She is setting up the org for failure, that is sure, but at the end of the day, she is doing something else: ruining her own reputation/relations with parents.
Is she maybe close to retirement? Doesnt care about parent relations? I never understand how principals can take actions that in the end, hurt the very ones they are supposed to be fostering, the CHILDREN.
Maybe she has an agenda, OR a valid reason for the actions. Or maybe, just maybe,,,,,,there IS something you dont know. The advice to go talk with her off grounds and just chat to find out whats under it all, is probably the single best thing you can do as a first step. It is NEVER wise to assume anything, ref her possible motives or reasons for decisions. We all operate from our own perspective and often jump to conclusions without knowing all the details or the facts. Get the facts from her, the WHY of why is doing what she wants to do, and then you can go from there. If she wants the PTO to fold , there is little to be done. You cant maintain a working relationship when the first step is a big bad one like it sounds from what has been posted.
I fear this day. Our annual budget is a mear $3-5K a year but with the changes that is happening like letting go of the fundraiser cordinator to provide a better "social services" for our school, I'm hoping the PTO does not become the fundraiser machine the school needs. But in the next breath we are overlooked for so many projects with teachers being asked to head and provide volunteers for events the PTO should be helping with!
It's not the Director (Superintendent--we have 3 Principals) but his Assistant! Yes the pretty gal at the desk has SO much say it's scary BUT THAT's a different post!
YOu know I wonder if there is a bigger issue here she isn't sharing or isn't getting out. You know? Does she feel left out? Does she have a family? I don't know, a girl watches a few Dr. Phil shows and wonders "Was she loved by her Mother?" sorry.
Don't let her take everything without a fight but not with the boxing gloves just yet. Away from the school, met over coffee (or lunch etc) and just talk. Sometimes I think we forget they are just as human as we are...I think they lose touch also with the bread and butter of their job! We can be their best or worst customer!
We went through this a couple times, and it wasn't a case of controlling principal but just hard financial times.
In our elementary school, only 2 sales fundraisers are allowed per year. When I started with that PTO 8 years ago, the PTO 'owned' both. Later, the district auditor said it would be better for the school to have one and the PTO one. Then about 3 years ago, the district had the schools take ownership of the fundraisers and asked the parent group to focus more on volunteering, school spirit, and activities. They stated they wouldn't expect/ask the PTO to fund things as they had in the past, and the district stuck to that. The PTO still sponsors several activities, a few of which raise some funds, most break even. (School supply kits, T-shirts, Spring Fling, Breakfast with Santa).
In middle school, different organizations (including the PTO) were given the opportunity to sponsor a school dance. It was great, because the sponsor got all ticket sales ($1000-$1500) plus concession sales. But as budgets have tightened the principal has taken ticket sales for the school, and organizations can only do the concessions/pictures piece.
Among other budget issues we are seeing in our schools, is that the principal used to get a nice chunk of money from vending machine sales that he could apply to "extras". As the more restrictive food policies have been implemented, he no longer has those funds and has to find them elsewhere.
Maybe I'm reading what you've written wrong, but it doesn't sound like she wants to control your money but get rid of your group all together.
I can't speak for everyone, but without fundraising, most of us can't operate.
Did you happen to ask her what role she would like your group to play since she is taking away one of your major responsibilities?
When our principal thows things at me that I can't quite figure out, I just ask her how she wants me to accomplish that. Sometimes it makes her mad, but when she puts me in a position of utter bewilderment, I have to try to make her work through her thought process (and reality) with me.
I would also talk to other PTOs in your district to see what is going on with them and make sure this isn't a district thing.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
