Just thought I would let you know what happened with this maintenance request at our 2/21 Board Meeting (and thank you for your responses). Basically when the Treasurer and I brought up exactly what all of you had said (those were are feelings too) the Principal said there wasn't any money left in the Budget to do this. When asked about next year's budget, she said it had already been allotted. Then she said she could cut some academic material from the budget and pay for maintenance and have the teachers come to us (PTO) for that money (which they already do). We felt like we were being shoved in a corner and in the end voted to pay for the maintenance request. Ah, the up's and down's of Board Meetings!
i also do not agree with the PTA or PTO buying mainiatnace equipment for a school..remember this should be covered under the school budget that are paid with the community's taxes..If the superintendent is not relizing that he/she does not having the equipment neecded to provide clean schools she/he needs to reevaluate the budget to make sure that stuff is provided. As a PTO and PTA group and leader you should be bring this to the attention at school board mtgs and to the parents to go to the school board mtgs and inquire this is not being taken care of.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING!! The benefit for the students would be a cleaner school (or that's what part of the argument will be from some Board Members). Our school is clean, but providing the carts will make the maintenance workers' job more efficient. The other half of the Board will argue this has nothing to do with academics and is totally a school-budget responsibility. Should be an interesting meeting tomorrow night. Thanks again!
This sounds like the kind of item that we would refer back to the principal for purchase by the school.
Now that I've said that, I may need to backtrack. The school has a centrally controlled clock system, but the controller is broken and a replacement part is unavailable. We offered to buy the part, and it was then we found out why the school had not replaced it. The only way a teacher can set their clock is to unplug it from the wall, wait until the displayed time is correct, and then plug it back in. Now isn't that a great environment to teach a kid how to tell time?
When we found out why the district had not repaired the clocks, we offered to provide clocks. A member is friends with the manager of a local Wal-Mart, and he agreed to provide us a very good deal. However, another member contacted our school board rep, and basically shamed him into flexing some political clout to get us new clocks.
So, make that a qualified no. If it were to have a specific benefit for the kids, then we might consider it.
Would really like any response to my question...have an Executive Board Meeting this Thursday night (2/21) and Treasurer will present this financial request. Shall I assume no one ever has since no one has responded? Thanks in advance for any and all answers!!
Have any of your PTO funds ever gone to the Maintenance Department at your school for various needed items, i.e., push-carts for supplies. Total request is approximately $300.00. Just curious...thanks!
