Definitely ask for support from your school principal. Money should not be sitting in your account. That money needs to be spent, and I'm sure your principal might have a few ideas!

There is a TON of things your money could be doing for the students and school RIGHT NOW! New books for the library, starting the Accelerated Reader program if you don't already have it, new computers for the classrooms, pay for field trips and assemblies, and more!

Like Critter, we have to carry over a MINIMUM of $2,000. That's just for start-up expenses for the next school year.

Hope this helps!

Thanks so much for the info! I found out this morning that I may have to write new bylaws because it has been so long since we've had any! Luckily, I believe I have the support or the staff (only 5 teachers at the school!) and hopefully, the principal/superintendent. I know I would have the support of our exec. board, but I am one of the few that speak out, although I have others that may do so with support. As a teacher, I feel very disaoppointed that my own children come home and ask me what happens to all the money they raise (especially since they have raised the most in their class several times). I think it's sad that I have to tell them that the money is sitting at the bank and I don't know what it will be used for and I'm secretary of the parent's club! KMAMOM: I'm sorry that your principal and teachers are taking advantage of your generosity. I always write a letter letting my PTA what we need and why. It's always for the betterment of the students, not myself. Thanks again and if you have any other good ideas, please let me know! I'll keep you posted. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Are you sure you aren't in my school? Oh, wait, you couldn't possibly be -- you said you had tons of money sitting in an account!

I'm with Critter--find the bylaws (if you have them) and see what's quorum. At least you have something in writing to argue with.

Our school's problem is the opposite--lots of fundraising, lots of spending, but the students don't seem to be benefiting very much--"the school" (read: the principal) and teachers seem to be making out the best.

We also have the alpha-female bullies--I was told at the last meeting that I'm wasting everyone's time asking questions, and that if I'm not with their program I'm actually working against the children . Participation is fair--BUT it's "always the same people" because they've successfully managed to alienate the entire parent population, though according to them everyone else just sucks.

I too feel I'm at the end of my attempts to better things--which I feel badly about because my older child is enrolled at the school. But you can only do so much, and banging my head against the wall is getting tiresome.

So--my advice--ask yourself how much this really means to you. If you can, have support from principal and/or staff and feel it's worth the fight--Go For It! I can tell you from experience that if part of the problem is the principal or staff you've got a long row to hoe ahead of you. You can still get to work with awesome benefits to reap at the end, but just remember you'll find picking out and disacrding the "rocks" can be backbreaking work if you're not prepared.

Good Luck, and keep us posted!

You need to find your bylaws. If you can't, write some quick! You can get some good ideas here.

Our bylaws specify a minimum of 15 members for quorum. Membership in our PTO is defined as any parent or teacher (we don't have dues).

There's no rule about how far down your $ must be spent. That's completely up to your group, and should be specified in your bylaws. Our bylaws stipulate that we must leave a MINIMUM of $2,000 in the account at the end of the fiscal year, but there's no maximum specified.

More parents like you need to speak up. If 4 people can control your group's money, there's no group. Are you up for the challenge for the betterment of your school??!! As Secretary, it's entirely appropriate that you raise the issue of bylaws...and meeting minutes...and agendas...and voting rules...and parliamentary procedure...and a PTO newsletter...all the tools of good organization and communication seem to fall under the typical responsibility of the secretary. Hang in there!

[ 01-25-2006, 08:30 AM: Message edited by: Critter ]

Thank goodness for this site! I'm a teacher, school board member, and parent's club secretary at my daughters' school. I teach in a different district. Several parents want to be involved and have their ideas or feelings heard, but because of a few "bullies", they feel unable to speak their mind. We have tons of money sitting in an account, funds are not spent on what they are earmarked for and just sit in an account gathering interest (which amounts to barely anything). Our last meeting was attended by 4 parents, 2 of which were the president and co-vice president. Several topics were discussed and a few things were changed, voted on and passed WITH ONLY 4 PEOPLE PRESENT. I have no clue where our by-laws are, but I'm getting to a point where I don't know if I want to be involved anymore. It's so bad money-wise, that community members don't want to have anything to do with fundraisers because the money is horded rather than spent directly for the students. A few questions: How many parents are needed for a quorum? Do these parents have to be the PTO board members? How far down must fundraised money be spent down to at the end of each year? How do we include ALL parents and keep people from feeling excluded because of a few bullies? Any help would be wonderful and a load off of many parents' minds. Any ideas posted here would be great. Thanks so much!

[ 01-25-2006, 07:20 AM: Message edited by: Rockne ]