Our PTO requires 2 signatures on any check or deposit. This might be a good idea for your PTO. Our treasurer just happens to be the VP of our bank, so she keeps the checkbook in the safe at the bank. How can the school keep money in thier account that doesn't belong to them? I am new at all of this, I started the year as the VP, then thankfully our Pres resigned without any notice at a PTO meeting and dropped everything in my lap. It's been an interesting year, but I'm learning.

Hi, our school does things a bit differently. I am the President of the PTO, but we have no treasurer, mainly because of all the cases of embezzelment with PTO/PTA's. The bookkeeper of our school maintains our PTO account. Any money we make, I give to her to deposit, and when we need money, she cuts us a check signed by the principal. Works for us, and I don't have to worry about " where is the money?"

The problem with auditing the books-- no one knows were the books are! I agree, this needs to be done yesterday but gotta have the books first!

Serendipity, I think the BOE can do more especially if a conserned parent and othe PTO Board members are going to the BOE and asking for their help. Being in the situation with a interum Principal, I think the BOE can step in and ask for an investigation of the PTO business. What may also help (HEY H.A.) if the former Principal would be willing to "testify" or submit in writting a letter of concern to the Board. THAT could be THE one thing that would get their attention. I don't want the Board to dispan the PTO but they do that the clout to step in and say "We've heard some things and would like to see the books."

One measure of caution H.A., your tie with the Board could be a consern. This is when you need to decide how much more involved you can be with out your involvment being looked upon as an issue/conflict of intrest. You know your husband better than anyone but the fact that your husband is a board member could be cause for consern for some. It wouldn't be the first time I'm wrong, I'd just hate for this to become about you instead of the real issue.


oh yeah....someone ANYONE needs to get that checkbook or better CALL THE BANK!!!!

I may be beating a dead horse here, but check your state's corporations codes (laws) for non-profit coporations. This can help you when you review your bylaws to make sure you are following your state's codes.

You also should audit your books ASAP. An audit should have been done as soon as the treasurer resigned.

Ask other board members who are not authorized to sign checks if they would be interested in forming an audit committee so that the burden doesn't fall on one person. Remember, anyone who is authorized to sign checks cannot be on the audit committee.

The control your Super and BOE does have over the organization is that they can put them out of the building. While they are a seperate organization they are given permission by the BOE to operate within the school. They can tell her she needs to get a treasurer and shape up the group ASAP or they cannot operate within the school. The school can then just turn around and allow a new organization to form to take its place.

You mention your bylaws being vague and not saying much. This needs to be fixed ASAP. Bylaws protect organizations from people like her from deciding that they can just do whatever they want. Many posters here can give you copies of their bylaws so you can see what they should look like. What always shocks me most in these cases is the other board members who seem to just sit idly by and allow one member to do whatever they please. Honestly they should have never allowed this to happen. The minute she took the checkbook and said we don't need a treasurer I like to keep busy, they should have been screaming holy hell.

Obviously you are on the right track and have support from some of the higher ups. There is a major problem here and red flags should be flying up in everyones mind. Good Luck & let us know how it works out.

thanks to everyone for their responses. A little added information: 1. the former treasurer remarried and left the school and then resigned; she [former treas.] basically just handed the checkbook to the pres. and no one has seen it since. 2. Our principal of the last 9 years resigned before Christmas and we have an temp until SBDM hires a new one, probably not until the summer. The outgoing principal implored me to 'do something' at her retirement reception. 3. My husband is on the local school board and has been in contact with the super.; she is in favor of some type of action but she [the super] doesn't know how much control she and the board has over the PTO.

I have tried to suggest that we have a vote to elect a new treasurer - but she [pres] keeps saying 'she likes to stay busy' - she's been having some personal situations [recent divorce, move, new job, financial etc.] which raise several 'red flags'.

The super has offered to speak directly with the Pres. but I am hesitant to make a confrontational situation IF the Pres will see the need for changes and 'get with the program'.

Any suggestions are most welcome!!
PS - I'm meeting with the 2 other board members to see if they are 'on board' and to make sure we have our 'ducks in a row'.

Blessings!
H.A.Hogue