Hi Confused...first of all, don't assume that organizing as a PTA will solve your dilemma. Many (most?) PTO's are responsible for their own money and keep their own accounts. For example, our PTO is a separate legal entity from the school, we have our own tax identification, are incorporated in our state and are recognized as a tax-exmept non-profit organization by the IRS. Not all that unusual these days, and not that hard to do,either.

But, your situation is very different...If there is a group of very strong like-minded parents in your school who are willing to take on "PTO independence" as a crusade, you might be able to affect some change. You probably would need to be very careful, very professional, and very prepared to sell your idea to the school board and your school's administration. Your administrators may fear that if the parents have control of the PTO money, the school will no longer benefit to the extent it has in the past. That's up to your crusaders to reassure the school. They'll want to know WHY the situation needs to be changed. HOW can the parents do it better? etc. etc. And along the way, you'll probably make some enemies. Choose your battles carefully. Maybe there's some small improvements that can be made as a compromise so you don't alienate anyone. Good luck.

We are lucky enough to have a treasurer position n our PTG (with its own back account as well). We fill out the forms, and usually with two days, she will send a check.

Check your by-laws to see if there is any mention of who has check signing authority. This might help speed up the process of getting you money.

Also, for the problem of the account. Make sure you keep an accurate ledger of the deposits and withdrawls into and out of that account.

It might be a good thing that a parent doesn't have control over that account seeing that it is a pool from the district.

[ 10-19-2003, 03:52 PM: Message edited by: HockeyMomto2 ]

First and for most I hope you are making copies of everything you are turing in to the Secretary, if not you really need to start!
We keep a ledger of all our transactions and a copy of everthing we turn in EVERYTHING!!!
Our account is also held by the school, now it works for us and our principal does her own fundraisers (another topic to post). We have tried to "break away" but then I hear about PTOs looseing money with no recourse and we are reminded this is why our account is set up this way.
I would definetly honestly see if someone in your school's accounting dept or finace people should have the checkbook NOT the Secretary for the school while with is resolved. If there is no real way of ever knowing what where your account stands at any time then it's time to meet with some school people and see if there can be a resoulution to this. THEN put it in writing! By-laws, contract, on the walls, on someone's forehead this is nessasary.

Just remember this is a concern, not an issue. Keep the angry mob and torches at home and you know how much you would love to blow up at the neighbor kid for breaking your window but instead you talk to Mom and Dad and are able to argee to something....HEY! It could happen...no flying money jokes okay [img]smile.gif[/img] .

Our account has MAYBE $2000 max at anytime so to be incorporated is crazy. Also we are considered a committee of the school board and report as a committee. Someday this may all change when our principal and founder retires but until then this is the way it is for my PTO. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 10-18-2003, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: mykidsmom ]

I don't know what to do. Our school has PTO. Anytime we need money for T-shirts, Parties, Teacher Gifts etc... we have to fill out papers, submit them to the school secretary, and wait, and wait, and wait.. to see if we can get a check, PO, or petty cash. However, if the school secretary wants something fast from PTO she seems to get her money very quickly. Many members would like to switch to PTA to see if we can change this. I am not sure what to do. The principal does not want to change the system. She obviously has alot of control over money this way. I don't want to have a PTA with an angry principal. Before you ask, all PTO's in our district are run through the school system. The crazy thing I have found out recently is we all deposit our money into the same activities account though the district. We have a special number we have to put on our slips that designates the money to our PTO. If someone screws up we could loose alot of money. What might our options be????

Truly Confused!!!