I really appreciate the insight and suggestions. I have currently (casually) formed a group of concerned parents that plan to meet in a location outside of the school to discuss individual concerns. We hope to log these concerns and have a unified front for our meeting with the Supervisor. I have a relationship with a lot of the teachers that stand behind our views, but fear the principal will make their carreers a living nightmare if they speak out. I have asked for an unsigned letter from the teachers that I know I can trust to take to the Supervisor. They are still worried that even though the letter is unsigned, the entire staff will pay for the "betrayal". Trust is a big issue in this matter. I do not want someone going to the principal and telling our intentions before we can form a unified group. We would like to go to the Supervisor with PTO treasurer reports, but can not get those reports. Since every parent and or teacher from last year's PTO group refuses to return this year, we had only a handful to run the entire program. We were unable to get a treasurer other than the school bookkeeper. When we ask for a statement, we have to go through the principal. The statement is not computer generated. It is simply typed up with the information approved by the principal. We have thousands of dollars unaccounted for. When we ask about those funds we are told that we are not privy to them and that it would be too time consuming to generate. I believe my next step would be to have the meeting with the concerned parents, get all of our concerns on paper, attend the meeting with the Supervisor with as many parents and teachers that will stand up for what they believe, go armed with as many letters as possible and take it from there. I am really concerned about the treatment of my children in the school after the fact. I really do not care how she treats me. I will come in every day and kill her with kindness. That is how I was raised. I will smile and say "hello" even when she pretends not to see me in the hallway. I will keep everyone informed of the outcome to maybe help another school with an "Iron Fisted Principal". Thanks again for the suggestions.

Hi,
I can totally understand where you are coming from. We have a new proncipal last year she didn't cahnge anything. This year she has changed everything including PTO stuff. That's where a few of us stood up and told her know. I know what you mean about the witch hunt. I think our principal thought she was going to a old fashion hanging. But, it didn't change her mind.
And without the other parents coming foreward also the board was not willing to make her change anything. I can tell you I truly believe that it will all happen once agian next year. And maybe then the parents will go foreward.
Incourage them to speak up. It your school and your childs school not the principals.
May God Be With You!!

I have a few suggestions.

First, write down every question you have and be prepared for your meeting. Don't make the meeting casual; you are there to get answers and this could be your only "official" shot at it.

Meet with your treasurer and create an estimated budget with detailed expenses. This expenses should include all your pto sponsored programs, and what ever else you would like your organization to accomplish for the students. If possible, compare this to how money has been spent in the past. Present the benefits of your goals.

Update your PTO's official goals and by-laws. Present them and state how they will benefit the children. Be a voice for the school community by gathering letters from parents stating their support for parental and teacher involvement in the school and your PTO. These letters don't have to be detailed or nasty; Kindly ask parents to politely state their opinions. You need to be careful here - like you said it's not a witchhunt and parents should use a little dignity. I wouldn't recommnend a petition; that's just too political. Copy these letters and RESPECTFULLY provide copies to the principal and her supervisor.

You might want to also let your school board know of your intentions. With their support, you would have a very convincing partner.

Good luck!

My family is new to my daughter's school this year. We came into a very ugly situation. This is the current principal's third year and she has ran off every volunteer at the school. All of the wonderful volunteers that helped make the school what it is today refuse to come back this year to the PTO and/or any school function. Being new to the school, I could not let the school run with no parent/student/teacher input. I joined the board in a lower officer position. We managed to get thru the year and recruit a few volunteers to help bring family events and new fundraisers. I have been voted the PTO president for upcoming school year 2003-2004. All year long I have clashed with the principal on subject after subject. She controls the PTO with an iron fist and demands the final decision on EVERY topic. She spends all PTO fundraiser funds how she sees fit with no consultation from the parents/teachers/students. She has implimented a new policy for next year that gives her complete "say so" in where every student is placed with out information, suggestion, or opinion from the teaching staff and/or parents. Under the "I will place them by need" forum, when she could not tell you the name of my child, what grade she was going into, or what any of her "needs" might be. How can she place a name that she has no contact with? I think the teacher that has had a day to day contact with my daughter for the past 180 days is more qualified to place her and at the very least should have some say so in where she is placed. During the school year, we have asked for teacher representation at our meetings. The PTO was informed that the Principal was the teacher representation (by the principal). Through my daily dealings with the teaching staff, I have found that the teachers do not come because they will be treated poorly if they do not share the opinion of the principal and if they speak out on any subject that she thinks they should not. They are not even coming as parents, when the subjects effect their children that are enrolled in the school. When the principal was asked where the parents/teachers/students go with concerns, we were informed that everything has to filter through her first because she is the principal and it is her school. I was under the impression that I paid her salary along with every other parent at that school. Another subject that can not get closure is the money subject. This year alone we have had several fundraisers that raised almost $20,000.00, we received $10,000.00 for being a Palmetto School, we received $30,000.00 from the state lottery, and countless other donations from private partners in education. We have no say so in that money, and can not get a statement saying where the money was spent. When we ask, we get her account (from her head and completely incomplete). I feel that I, and one other mother, have made a stand that every other parent/teacher in the school wants to stand behind. However, they are afraid of what might happen to them and/or their children. We need help. I've recently gone over this principal's head to her supervisor. That supervisor wants a meeting, but I'm not sure how to conduct that meeting without sounding like I'm on a witch hunt. Help, Help, Help!!!