I think the PTO has accountability to an extent in all of it's activities. However, just as in the misuse of any product, culpability lies with the user as well.

Ladder manufacturers shouldn't have to pay for some dope who decides to climb on his roof using a metal ladder in the middle of a thunderstorm.

People who eat at McDonald's every day (Big Mac Meal, Supersized with a Coke) are going to get fat, if they don't die of a heart attack first.

Folks who don't want their contact information misused shouldn't put it in a phone book. Sorry, but if you hand out your email address then you're basically saying "email me!"

maybe the same entity that has the authority to decide it was misused, has the authority to decide on what remedy for the misuse? with due process of course.

Who is responsible if a PTO produced tool, the directory, is misused? How can the PTO create something and then not take responsibility for it?

our directory purpose is mainly for the pto to know to where to send thier info-emails during the year. much PTO info is dissemintated by emial (eventhough half of all parents dont have an email listed in the directory).
my kids use it more than i do, to contact thier freinds by phone or email or letter (bday invites. its very useful. if all people use common sense, no one would need a disclaimer in the directory, and frankly, if people misuse it, then i personally wouldnt be putting my name in there and just hand out the contact details to people directly. you cant control how people use the directory, but you can control your entry into it. and you cant run to the pto for each and every problem in your life that is school related, sometimes you have to find your own way to solve your problem. dont find fault, find a solution.

It's funny. All I want from a school directory is an easy place to find phone numbers when my kids want to have friends over. Oh, and it's also nice to know the spouses first name when calling to respond to birthday parties or asking for donations to class parties. Yet from what I am hearing in these posts, many parents have other ideas.

I have done the directory for many years and never had parent's use it for improperly or for solicitation.

skyelem - "...some parents sending out e-mails to people they did not know trashing decisions the principal had made. The whole thing got crazy, PTA members quiting, lots of parents upset." it sounds like a matter between the offended (principal in the event yuo describe) and the offender (parents) why on earth would a pta member quit over THAT???? the pta is not responsible for th actions of the parents at the school. each person takes ownership for their own actions, as a responsible adult. there is no way the pta could be held accountable, or even bothered, by an email that was sent to teh princiapl. just mindboggleing, but then, as always , the devil is in the details, and the details are not always explained (nor are they sometimes relevant).the nice thing about these blogs is (there are MANY nice things actually) is that you see the perspective of persons who are totally disengaged from the matter, have NO emotions or connection to any of the parties, and that sometimes makes for a good , fresh , view of things, or jsut a crystal for an idea of who to consider the matter from another view point. one common thread in all these threads is, EMOTION (at least, when person problems are discussed) and take away the emotoion from the "facts" as they are described in these postings, is very refreshing indeed to the many good inputs. anywya, hope all things worked out and everyone got over thier upset-ness !