What do you do when an acquaintance assumes she will be co-president with you on next years PTO board? I know this lady through her sister and now that the word is out that I am the top nominee for PTO president, she is assuming that she will be co-president. We are a very small school and there has never been co-presidents as the need just is not there. I got a call from her today and much to my surprise she has been telling people, including the principal, that she and I are going to be co-presidents (the election hasn't even taken place yet). I keep telling her that there can't be co-presidents, but she does not listen so I am afraid my chances of being elected next fall are going to be slim. I am new to town and have worked very hard at getting involved in the school and consider my nomination to be an honor and just don't want my chances to yanked out from under me because of this lady and her complaining reputation. Should I give the principal a heads up or is that sounding like I am already going to be a bad choice??? Help!

I think you are right to avoid this scenario - especially since it's not a situation you willing embraced.

Some here on the Boards have seen very successful co-presidents. My experience was the opposite. It was at an agressive time in our growth, right after an embezzlement. We were implementing strict procedures, filing for 501(c)(3), formalizing processes and moving forward with all programs. No one was too thrilled to be pres so a friend and I agreed to do it together.

We were both intelligent, dedicated moms. Good business backgrounds. What could go wrong? Split the work; half the effort.

Ugh! It was a disaster. There were two many decisions where someone needed to act on the fly. (Not the big voting issues, just endless day to day decisions.) It was impossible to decide everything together so one or the other was often left out of the loop. The friction increased until it almost cost our friendship.

It's not a scenario I'd enter into lightly again.

Absolutely talk to the principal. Recommend this person for another role. (Not VP, sounds like she'd drive you crazy. Something she can "own".)

Good luck.

I was ready to comment, but JHB sums it up so nicely from her personal experience. Any group, including a PTO, benefits from having one leader at the top: one person who takes the heat and responsibility. One person who has the final say, makes decisions, and deals with the results. If there's enough work for two people to share, then there's two jobs. Our PTO allows sharing of subordinate offices like vice president and secretary, but our bylaws clearly state there can be "one and only one president".

Tried it. Hated it and never talked to the person again. Very sad but true.

Also, no one likes to play with the gal that talks about things they know nothing about...

Been there, done that....HORRIBLE experience....I would not recommend it for a small school at all.

Big or small school! Somehow everyone knows everyone and they ALL talk!