Former board returning,
Think the idea of printing out the sample meeting agenda is a good one. Anonymous- just make sure to present it an non-accusatory way. : )

Couple of thoughts:

Maybe you could mention in an upbeat way that you found out site and that they might want to check it out... going at it from a casual way, rather than a you need to get your act together approach.

Some articles you might want to point them to:

www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...ing-a-long-term-plan
www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...nd-reach-group-goals
www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...-planning-a-priority

As for the area that you are responsible for... it sounds like you should spend minimal time before you next meeting and come up with a bullets list of options and maybe a pro and con bullet or two for each. You need to preserve your own sanity while you are helping out the school!

Keep us posted!

~Lisa

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Dear Help,
Yikes! I can feel your pain through your message. Sounds like y'all need some orginization. A PTO board should always have a budget before school even begins. Our principal is involved in our decisions. The board goes to her with our suggestions she adds hers and we go to the parents and staff and vote.
Our board tries to meet at least once a month for lunch or at another board membrs home. Everyone must attend it just helps with bringing each other closes and avoids clicks within the board. Wich to me is just horrible when a PTO seperates the group. Parents can sense the division and therefore they don't volunteer and talk amongst themselves.
During our board meetings we discuss upcoming events and distribute responsibilities. Then at PTO meeting with parents we ask for volunteers and approval for tasks.
If y'all are completely off the track you may need to ask your principal to help out our you may need to print some of these by laws from this website or show samples of other PTO agenda's.
Good Luck!

We had our meeting & it was okay.... lots needless conversation and very informal. Still no budget, but we have over $20,000 actual cash and of that over $10,000 doesn't have any plan for it (yet). From what I've been told this is not normal to have that large of an amount of money at the beginning of the year. Not to mention the lack of a budget to say why we are holding on to it. PLUS they are planning to do two fundraisers during the Fall Semester. WHAT???

I asked what my budget would be for the area that I am responsible for tonight. I was told there really isn't one and it changes each year (although this is a major area). The Pres. said that they just decide on things as they come up or when funds are requested. Basically, spend all my time researching and planning what I want to do in my area, and they might approve money for it if they like it or maybe not. What????

The President had requested that two board members present things to the board that she (herself) wanted.... then when they presented them, she totally decided against them. She basically threw these ladies under the bus..... and they spent lots of time and headache researching these items she had requested.

Many of us have told her things need to change & have even offered to help her. She said that the principal doesn't want parents (or non board members) to see the financial statements (such as they are), either. I'm not sure if this is true - but it makes me nervous about talking to her. Plus the fact that anytime we suggest changes (or want to follow normal PTO procedures), the president says the principal doesn't like the idea. From what I can tell, the principal thinks the newer board members are the problem because we have new ideas and want guidelines to follow. She seems to like the way things are now..... although $10k is just sitting there waiting to be used for our kids!!!!

HELP????

Anonymous & Linda-
So sorry to hear this!

Question: what is your role on the board?

Here are some thoughts on your questions:

Do we have board meetings & a general meeting or just one?

Typically you have both. The purpose of the board meeting is to sort out details and get organized for the general meeting. Your goal should be to have your general meeting last no more than an hour. You want the general meeting to be friendly and welcoming with the hopes of encouraging new people to get involved.

Who all is able to vote (members or just board members) at either or both meetings, in most of your bylaws?

At a board meeting, only the board can vote. At a general meeting anyone who attends the meetings can vote, unless your bylaws state otherwise. Check your bylaws to see how your "membership" is defined.

How do you force a president (and other board members) to start following the rules to get stuff done for our school (besides standing up and screaming in a meeting, because encouraging her & nice conversations haven't helped)?

Yikes. That's a tough one. I guess the bottom line is you can't "force" anyone to do anything. You may have tried some of these suggestions but I am going to throw them out there...
-- Have you gotten together with other like-minded officers or parents to try to put goals on paper or a mission statement and share it with the president?
-- Has anyone expressed concerns to the principal? It sounds like the lack of organization is going to impact the school and the kids... would think this would matter to the principal. Going in with constructive information (rather than an us vs. them approach) and a concrete and positive list of suggestions may shake things up a bit.

Some articles that you may find helpful (if you haven't already read them ; ) :
www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...ith-difficult-people
www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...ersonality-conflicts
www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...g-with-disagreements
www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/arti...roversy-to-consensus

Any PTO or PTA officer out there that have found ways to overcome these types of obstacles... we'd love to hear from you!

~Lisa

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OMG!!!!!!! Was I sleep-writing and did I post this about my schools PTO? YES!!! I think I did.

I got more involved in our PTO last year and was excited about being a board member - after 1 year of service, I'm questioning my decision. Here's what's happening:

At the board meetings, there's not always an agenda, no one goes over previous minutes, no one sends out or gives out minutes (at any point) after any meeting, agenda is usually vague and is only announced sometimes by e-mail usually it's a surprise, board members talk about every little detail of everything to each other, instead of letting committees & chairpersons do their work they all want to be involved in every detail (and do it at the meeting), no one is sure who can make motions (although bylaws say all members can) or vote, NO BUDGET is ever discussed, the treasurer give her report but it's nothing more than what's come in & what's going out, president tells us what teachers have requested funds, lots of funds are in the PTO account marked for a certain group (PE & library for example) but they want money from our general fund to buy stuff instead, $15k was carried over from last year with no plans for the beginning of the year, never a call to order, we have fundraisers but they money doesn't go towards anything specific just into the general fund to SIT there, and the list goes on....

We have monthly Board Meetings & only board members come and not much ever seems to be accomplished there. Mostly the president decides what she wants to do in between meetings & tells the other board what to do.
We have general meetings before the monthly PTO programs, but the president just says a few things like (we are starting a fundraising next month or yearbooks will be in next week, etc.). What should be going on then?

I've recently suggested updating our bylaws, but I don't see that changing much because they still seem pretty vague. I have mentioned Roberts Rules (that are mentioned in our bylaws) but none of the board (including the president) has any interest in adhering to them. They are paying taxes, etc. - but the PTO is just not doing anything.

Not much really got done last year - and I'm about to just quit because I don't really want to be apart of a PTO when no one is doing what they are suppose to. I've enlisted a few other parents to get involved this year & the president seemed interested in getting things going on the right track at the end of last year. However, she's totally dropped the ball now and although our first board meeting is tomorrow - she doesn't even have a functioning agenda together for it.

Here are some of my questions:
Do we have board meetings & a general meeting or just one?
Who all is able to vote (members or just board members) at either or both meetings, in most of your bylaws?
How do you force a president (and other board members) to start following the rules to get stuff done for our school (besides standing up and screaming in a meeting, because encouraging her & nice conversations haven't helped)?
In most PTOs, are chair-people or coordinators considered board members or just the Executive board members considered board members?

HOW CAN I GET THE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS TO DO THEIR JOB and FOLLOW THE RULES? I guess they're not doing anything illegal, but the PTO isn't functioning well or helping our school with her current way of doing things?