I am late responding to this thread but at our school we do consider it a conflict of interest and if you are on the PTO board or school board you can not serve on the other in a board position. Neither can spouses. So if your husband is on the school board you can't be on the PTO board. May be kind of harsh but it sure keeps things from getting muddied up.
We have two School Board members acting as President for two school PTA's in our district. They've done it for years because nobody stepped up for the higher grade levels. At times I did question it but they do both jobs and never have I heard anything bad.
I don't really see a conflict from the PTO's point of view, but I think the school board might see one. It might open the board member, and therefore the entire board, to perceptions of favoritism toward your school. On the other hand, I would hate to discourage anyone from serving in either job!
If I were in your shoes I'd ask the school board for an opinion. If they don't see a conflict, I think I'd probably be OK with it -- but then, I haven't heard the arguments from the people at your school who are concerned about it, and those arguments might change my mind.
Maybe not a conflict of interest, because we are all involved for the same reason.
BUT
I have a Vice that has been on the school board for the past 2 years and it has caused me nothing but greif. The parents on the school board don't want to come to PTO meetings so they want to take care of PTO biz with her at the school board meetings.
It has put her, I and our PTO funds at odds several times.
Those are 2 HUGE jobs that I dont think that anyone should have to take one at once
Not knowing the structure/responsibilities of your PTO versus the school board, it's hard to say if a true conflict of interest would exist should a board member also serve as the PTO president.
Tto the naysayers (who I assume rarely if ever volunteer to chair activities), I would say, "If you feel a serious conflict would ensue, find a second candidate to run for PTO President then."
We are a PTA and we ahve about 15 regular members who attend all of our monthly meetings, and there are only a couple out of them who run and chair events at our schools. One member is very actice, runs lots of activities and is always involved. She is running for President this year and I support her. However, she is also a school board member and there are others that feel this will be a conflict of interst. what are your thoughts on this?
