Is your PTO a separate entity (ie have own Employee Identification Number), or are you using the church's? If you're using the church's, I think you're out of luck. I'm not sure what your priest is like, but even the most understanding person would have a hard time not being offended. You could ask him to make it that two signatures are required with one being the pres or treasurer and couch it in terms of wanting to keep the money separate from church accounts-- be honest and say the members are worried that the funds being raised specifically for the school/kids are going to be used in the church coffers and they have a problem with that--but you'd have to be careful. You could also create your own "separate" PTO, and explain to the priest you feel going separate is safer for the church should something happen where a lawsuit arises.
If you're separate from the church, you can do pretty much what you want as far as signatures go, but again, you'd have to be a terrific diplomat to not create hard feelings.
hmmm....your situation is sort of exclusive to a private school, like ours. Our PTO money is under the "management" of the school and the principal signs off on our checks but no one can approve a check except a Parents' Club officer. Does that make sense? We have a "form" that I have to sign off on (with a receipt attached)and then that form goes to the business manager who actually prints out the checks and then the principal signs the checks. So...the principal can't just decide he wants to write a check for something. Perhaps you need some sort of system like this where YOU or your VP or treasurer have to sign off on an expense.
Good luck
Shelly
We are a PTO at a Catholic school that is being controlled financially by the pastor. Our savings accounts were forced into Diocesen control. He has his signature on all the accounts. How do we remove him from our accounts, get these accounts separate, and not alienate him, because we want him involved, just not in control.
