This is the story--The PTO has done ok in the past several years in fundraising and events. Could do better...As usual getting volunteers always tough mainly due to the horrible attitude of several officers now and in the past. Nobody wants to deal or help them. Their children will be leaving the elementary school this year. Unfortunately our school has been on a work to rule which is similar to a strike only the teachers are there but WILL NOT do anything more than what is in the contract. SO this means no field trips ,field day etc...
Any funds that have been raised in the past including this year the tresurer says she will spend on this 5th grade class and will hand over an empty or nearly empty checkbook to the next tresurer. Should this be done? How can I stop it?

What do your bylaws state? Who is ultimately "in charge" of deciding spending -- your Executive Board, the group's Board, the principal (which shouldn't be the case IMHO)?

Just because the teachers won't do anything doesn't mean that the parents can't. A Field Day is still possible after school if you can't get class time. Or some other afterschool activity that brings the parents and the students together.

You need to act fast to find the answers in your bylaws. And be in constant communication with your Board and the parents (whether they are members of your group or not). The more PARENTS know about what is happening to their school's PARENT group, the better.

Keep us updated please and good luck!

I am going to try to get a copy of the BY LAWS--I don't know how much the current PTO follows them. The current PTO decides on the spending. THEY are very in control and have been at least the 5 years I have been in the school. We have a smalish elementary school gr 1-5 ~ 225 students. Some of the fifth grade parents are trying to organize a few events w/o the teachers such as field day. We have only $3000 in the fund and the current PTO wants to spend it all. Since the PTO decided on NO SPRING fund raiser I was informed there would NOT be enough money at the end of this year to purchase the agenda's that are given out at the beginning of each year. A GREAT tool for students parents teachers and special need students! How can such a thing be decided by only 2-4 officers or board members! Not sure how involved the principal is. He attends the meetings, and is a GREAT principal. I don'y know how much of this he is aware of. I plan on talking with him this week. Our meeting is also this week, but will only observe since the PTO president will not be there. I am trying to learn from these message boards.......so any input will be appreciated!

Did the PTO have a budget in place at the beginning of the year?