Thanks for all the feedback. I will look into the information you suggested.
It has been difficult getting involved with our PTO. There are a couple of moms who went to the school when they were young and now they determine how things are run. They do not embrace new ideas and do not welcome newcomers. The principal supports them and as he told me early on "I don't like people who stir the pot". I know it is a tough position but when parent after parent feels like he is not listening to them, it gets hard to get anyone who wants to participate.
We had a couple of moms who were willing to run the PTO this year. That is when the teachers decided that they did not need a PTO, and that they would handle their fundraiser and funds themselves. The new teachers are at a loss and are not comfortable with this arrangement.
I help in my kids' classroom and also work so it is hard for me to pursue this battle when I am clearly not wanted. It is unfortunate but seems to happen a lot.
Thanks for all the feedback. I will look into the information you suggested.
It has been difficult getting involved with our PTO. There are a couple of moms who went to the school when they were young and now they determine how things are run. They do not embrace new ideas and do not welcome newcomers. The principal supports them and as he told me early on "I don't like people who stir the pot". I know it is a tough position but when parent after parent feels like he is not listening to them, it gets hard to get anyone who wants to participate.
We had a couple of moms who were willing to run the PTO this year. That is when the teachers decided that they did not need a PTO, and that they would handle their fundraiser and funds themselves. The new teachers are at a loss and are not comfortable with this arrangement.
I help in my kids' classroom and also work so it is hard for me to pursue this battle when I am clearly not wanted. It is unfortunate but seems to happen a lot. Any other insight would be great.
If there is not PTO, then there should not be any use of the OLD PTO tax ID number. That is fraud. They are using the PTO number to not have to report the interest of the bank account. They are also using the PTO number and not having any responsibilities to being accountable for the use of the funds collected.
I would not allow them to use a PTO Tax ID number. That number should have been deactivated when the PTO disbanded.
Good point, Critter. I missed the sentence about using the PTO's tax ID number. No way would I let that happen. You as the PTO are responsible for how that number is used. I can't imagine having any valid controls with each class having its own bank account. And just consider what it would take to audit each account - which should be a routine practice with any account. Ugh!
If there is no PTO, why is there a PTO tax id ("non-profit") number? If there's no central organization providing guidance and oversight of these accounts, why not just let the teachers use their own personal bank accounts? I know that's sounds really crazy, but from what you've described, it sounds just as crazy as using a basically bogus tax id number to open a bunch of accounts handled independently from one another. Both approaches seem to have high risk of misuse or loss.
How much money does each class raise? What problems have existed in the past that have made your teachers think this is the best solution? I don't know about legality, but it sounds like administrative overkill for each class to manage their own individual checking account.
