I would like anyone's input on this one!
What can a PTO do if the principal and the staff are very uncooperative?? Our principal has basically told us that she wants nothing to do with our PTO. Most of our staff is unwilling to bend and very unsupportive of our ideas. Please help! Thank you!

What I would do is speak to the boss of the principal and explain your situation it's sad as to why she doesn't want to cooperate.
Can you elaborate a little more of the history. The principal must be caring for her students. We must all work together as a team, principal, pto, staff. I know that the staff at our school this year doesn't want to help that much due to last year's board. We had only 10 teachers join PTO out of a staff of 32.

Last spring, a group of parents in our area formed a PTA and met much resistance from our principal and School District. After meeting with them several times with various proposals, we agreed to disban our PTA and form a PTO. I would sugest meeting with your School District with a proposal of ideas and a plan for the school year. With several parents in tow it, I would hope they would not shy away from Parent Involvment.
We found we could have more freedom as a PTO vs PTA, but either way, Parent Involvment is key.

I'm not going to give you a response that will be popular (and those that know me may be surprised) Leave the principal alone then. Keep that person in the loop, meeting notes/minutes; issues you may need help with; special events; etc. but please don't force them to be involved! I have seen that ugly side of this mistake a former prez made several years ago and she really regrets everything she tried to do to great tht person more involved.
As far as staff, I have killed ours with kindness. I have done my best to go that extra mile yet have NEVER asked for anything in return! I keep them informed of events and even give then personnal invitations/reminders of potlucks etc but I never expect anything in return. BUT in the past months, more teachers have warmed up to our PTO and have just started to attend meetings. Baby steps....A LOT of baby steps.

I really don't want to not give you any hope just maybe respect their wishes for now but still keep the door open. Like my Dad said when I moved to college "I'm going to miss you but you know where the spare key is." Keep the spare key handy and when they do come thank them for coming, personnaly AND written!

I have to agree with mykidsmom. I also have gone out of my way to be extra nice to the staff. This is the first year as PTA PRES> for me and I was very nervous about dealing with the teachers. I had heard alot of negative things about how the teachers act towards the PTA, well I try to go the extra mile for them and I have been very fortunate the teaachers have all been very supportive. There are even a few that have volunteered to chair a ocouple of events that we have going on this year. Good Luck and rememberr to always greet your teachers with a smile!

We are having the same problem. Our principle asked us to hold our PTO meeting out side on the picnic tabels (by the way,I have a new born baby)so she would not have to let us have a key or open the building. We have no teachers that will come to our meetings. At our open house we asked the teachers to give us 5 min. of their time and give us some idea as to their needs so we can focus were to spend this years money and they all hid. We are at a loss as to what to do. Our parents are the same way. At any given PTO meeting we have 3 to 4 parents show up. Our fall carnival is in 2 weeks and to date we have 6 workers signed up. It is so sad. You almost want to give up but if you do it only hurts the kids.