"The bottom line is that the teachers are his employees and the students his responsibility"

I second that, plus, the BUILDING and therefore all appropriations, even if non durables, are also his repsonsibilty for approving. Its part of most school policies, at least.

The dilemma is, the teacher are staff and the group is not. But just becuase the group *may* be indpendent, doesnt give them liberty to 'donate' anything to teachers w/o approval/agreement from head of school, that is for use in the school or to be distributed to kids as the case may be.

When I was involved in an elmentary PTO (that was a 501c3), the principal was involved in approving all teacher requests from the PTO.

He wasn't trying to be overly controlling, but there are a lot of valid reasons for that process: school district policies, plans of future purchases, equity among teachers/grades, personalities and internal issues.

The bottom line is that the teachers are his employees and the students his responsibility. I can definitely see why he'd want to be consulted.

Wow-we kind of "make" all requests go through the principal for several reasons. She is the educator that can tell us what is needed and what is not, she can see where the dollars are being spent, she can tell a teacher "hey, I have some money tucked away for just something like this". It also allows her to ensure that no one teacher is taking advantage (even unintentionally) and allows us let the teachers know that there is an educator involved.

Also--just found out that adopt a classroom has dropped its minimum donation for adoption. That means you can allocate and "adopt" a classroom and all their purchases go through the program for full accountability to you and your PTO. For more information or to sign up go to adoptaclassroom.com. We are doing a fundraiser now to specifically adopt our classes that effect all children like art, PE, music etc.
It has worked wonderfully for us!!!

Hope that perspective helps
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Perhaps the principal is getting complaints from teachers. Despite your best efforts, there may be teachers who feel slighted by the current system or feel that other teachers take advantage, leaving less for others. I'd suggest you talk with the principal to see what is driving his decision. However, if an amendment is already in place, I hope there have already been serious discussions.

I believe a principal has a lot of say over what goes on in his building and what impacts his staff. You should have the majority say over your group's operations but keep in mind that your work affects his work. And once your membership votes to ammend their constitution you effectively hand that control over to the principal.

One way around the random requests is to allocate a set amount per teacher. If you decide that every teacher will receive, say, $100 each then they know that's all they have. If they don't use it they can respectfully decline the offer or find a way to share their portion with their coworkers.

A quick glance at your question made me think of it more of a principal controlling over teachers not your PTO money. (and I don't mean it in a negative sense.)

Our PTO does as you have in the past; however, there are plenty who run it as your principal wants it to be done.

He may have had this process at a previous school and he liked it or maybe at sometime in the past there was an issue elsewhere with what teachers were requesting/receiving.

He may have heard staff loungue conversations which concern him (at previous school or at yours) and this is an area he can control what he deems a negative situation in the making.

I can think of items which the PTO may deem as allowable on a request, but maybe the principal doesn't really want that happening in the school. You know, where one teacher has a great idea and uses PTO funds to have a great program/project and then the parents of students in other teachers in that grade are having a fit because their son/daughter isn't getting the same thing.

Unless you find that he doesn't want to allow you to spend any of your money on teacher requests, I don't see a problem with this type of process.

OTOH: maybe he's got an ulterior motive and wants to stop the teacher requests to leave money for something he wants.

[ 11-09-2006, 11:46 AM: Message edited by: PerusingwithCoffee ]

I should also mention that we are a separate entity with our own separate bank account and our Treasurer is a long time faculty member of the school who is always available to reach.