This is a public school, K-5. We only have a handful of parents who will volunteer and unfortunately it is always the same people. These people have either been on the board previously or are on the board now. The problem is that the past president has always been involved with everything that goes on and basically you do it her way or you don't do it. I was offered the presidency last year when no one would run, but I had a full time job at the time, baseball, soccer and scouts. So I said I would be secretary. They found a woman who had volunteered a few times, but had never been to a meeting mind you, to be president. After watching the way she was running things, I decided to run for president this year because things were not going well. She said it was too hard for her and she wasn't doing this next year anyhow.She basically asked the past president how to run things and whatever she said she did. Well, this year my position at the school was no longer needed and baseball and soccer was over and my husband took over scouts. He is doing the baseball thing this year too, so I basically am an at-home mom now. I have worked hard on our PTO and have put up with the back-stabbing and for some reason the past president hates me, just to be able to be president because no one wanted it and I wanted to do good things for the kids. These three people, past president, president and treasurer, meet every morning in the office and decide things that I find out about at meetings. I don't think that is right. The past president talked this lady into running again. She planted herself on the election committee without my knowledge, I checked all my minutes and we never voted on it. She took over most of the committees I was in charge of and the president just handed them over. She had the only membership list we had, handwritten mind you, typed it up for the principal, when he asked for it, and omitted many names. While she had this list she called people on the list and told them not to vote for me. He said he can't do anything until a parent she talked to came forward, but they are all afraid of her as she is a large woman. Our election "booth" consisted of a table and a box. The parents had no privacy when voting and with the past president and the current president there I thought they were a little persuaded. Especially when the current president was saying things such as "Hi my name is *&^%%$%, I do hope you will vote for me" and plops herself down across the table. I, mind you stayed in the cub scout room helping them. The principal says he did things correctly, but in my opinion if there is a shred of a doubt as to whether someone is bias in an election, they should not be on the nominating or election committee, especially when the person running for vice-president and I ask him to take her off. Your right this is childish behavior, and I am sick of it. Everyone keeps telling me stick in there, there is always next year. But, I can not deal with the way I am treated. I wanted to change things, but it looks like everything is going to stay the same.

I just have to ask .... I have read several posts in regard to this "election" and am always left wondering, what type of school is this? Are your parents happy to volunteer? Is your board productive? This all sounds crazy? I can't imagine two people actually "banging down the PTSO door" to be president....it takes a lot of recruiting and work to keep four people on our board and we have never had more than one person for each position...it makes me wonder? Why is there so much anger and animosity? I really don't get this...I am on my PTSO board because I love making the school better for the children (all children) and wouldn't waste my energy on a board that had all this fighting and lying and incredible "childish" behavior going on....please give us some details...K thru6? Jr high? high school? private school? :confused:

Scooby - I think you should just have all the people who have not voted fill out a ballot and turn it in. Have them all keep a copy, too. Even George W. got a recount!

What do your bylaws say about elections? Does your district have a guideline for anything relative to parent groups?

If these don't work - kill them with kindness, be sappy sweet and as helpful as you can. Do what you can for the teachers as an advocate and whatever you do don't miss a single meeting this coming year. Be vocal but pleasant, offer to help when YOUR schedule permits and keep your promises. Don't try to sabotage or undermine - people will see the true you if you don't stoop to the level of the ones who are trying to make you look bad. Watch their budgets and expenditures like a hawk. Don't be argumentative and if anything looks amiss have someone else be your mouthpiece so that they can't say you were just waiting for an opportunity to pounce. Have someone else raise the issue. I'm not an advocate of hiding behind someone else's apron, but you have to appear to be above reproach right now.

If anyone is willing to make a statement to you in writing about what the other people said to you and/or about you - I agree with whoever said you should go to the police and if you have an attorney look into defamation of character or slander options. I wouldn't necessarily follow through 100% because if the re-vote doesn't go through these people are still in charge and could make your life miserable, but I would certainly look into my options.

Good luck. You are a good person and this shouldn't be happening to you. Know that we support you and you're welcome out here in the 'burbs of Chicago any old time!

Also in this election, the past president from three years ago had her butt planted at the voting table, staring at people when they voted. She was the one that called people and told them not to vote for me. I know that I and my husband felt like we were being stared at as we voted and I was told that by 2 other people. After the meeting, the president and treasurer planted their butts on chairs across the hallway when voters came in. I do believe she even asked them if they were gonna vote for her. I know she asked people after they voted if they voted for her. In my opinion no one but the principal should have been in that hallway. They claim that the past president is the election committee, but no where in our minutes was she ever voted in as that. There was no privacy to vote, and as you did so you had people staring at you. In case you all don't know, the past president has had a problem with me and in my opinion with her sitting there,intimidated the people as they came in. Also, only 6 out of 16 teachers voted. I know quite a few have children in day care and my friend's grandma is dying. They could not stick around until the principal got back to vote. I think they should have voted either today or yesterday during the day. There were many parents who wanted to vote and had to work. One showed up late, a friend of mine, by 5 minutes and they would not let her vote. I only lost by 8 votes and I know that I could have gotten that by just the teachers alone. They have not appreciated the stuff that has gone on this year. I was also asked about absentee ballots or even the parents coming in during the day to vote, well he wouldn't even think of that. I mean, if they turn it directly in to him who is hurt?? We only had 31 out of 95 members vote. That is not even two thirds. How do I go about talking him into a re-vote or even to just let the parents and teachers who couldn't vote to vote??

Once upon a time there was an election in Denver area that didn't go very well so the good parents of this PTO dusted off their copies of Robert's Rules of Order and demanded a recall of the election. They were also fortunate enough to have the School Board (basically the Principal and four of her good buddies - if you will) mediate and oversee the election. The parents did recieve some satisfaction but it was a group of parents that raised some cain.....our by-laws were useless to us in this situation and yes we did take the following year to improve them but in the mean time thank God for Robert....I like him!
As far as the tire situation, I would talk to the local police, this person has damaged yours and Scooby's character and what can it hurt? We had a parent take another to court for calling him a name I'm sure Tim wouldn't really want me to share-- let's just say the name fit the person but it shouldn't have been spoken! Anyway that person ended up taking an anger managment class and honesly we tease him about it to this day!!

I wish you luck and hope this can be resoved!

Well this is something that i think is not right and i hope someone on here can help. I am a PTO parent that is mad. Here is how are election went. You pay a Dollar and dont get a recept or a member card. You play along with there stupid name calling a two facedness all year then it is election time and low an behold some of are names are missing from the list. An employee that is also on the PTO as a parent is a head of 75% of the committees in this school holds a full time position. She get the list rewrites it and then calls the familys on the list. And tells them not to vote for scooby doo. She and I have been friend for 3 years. They were calling these familys and telling the lies like that she flattened the other nominees tires. Now how many of you have had times where you tirs seem to be going flat at the same time? And they had the odasity to say that I did it while i was walking in to Vote. These are the same clowns that are adults working for our children. The teacher were expected to stay till 5:00 pm if not they could vote after school, yet he did not get to the school till quarter to 4 with the ballets. Now if i were a teacher and i worked all day i would not wont to stay that long. Some of the teachers are sick and one of them has a dieing family member in the hospital, yet if they were not there waiting for him then they did not get to vote. Now this is crazy I would like to know if any of you know of a notion phone number that we can call to get things changed if you can help us I would be really happy to hear from you .
Thnks alot Tigger 2