PTO Today

Does anyone know or have been in the situation of a possible PTO member wanting to step up to serve on the board but no one likes this person or respects this person and the PTO would go to "hell in a handbasket" to put it mildly!

There would be no board or volunteers for that matter if she ran for a board position.

Are there any suggestions that we could add in our bylaws to protect our PTO and who runs for positions. The only requirement in our bylaws right now is that they have to have held a another office of vice president, secretary, treasurer for at least one year or serve as a committee chairperson for two years.

Does anyone have in there bylaws anything about the school superintendent or principal having a right or refusal to say I won't work with this person if she is elected?

Just trying to protect what we have worked hard to establish and wanted to see if anyone out there has suggestions.

Thanks for your time...

Boy--here's the hard part--re read your post and imagine someone else is writing this about YOU.

There isn't a way to pose bylaws, that are fair and reasonable...that will keep out folks that others don't like. That "like" thing can mean myriad things--too much make up, too short a skirt; too many complaints; too may kids that don't "behave"...etc; and really harkens back to high school cliques. The reality is that if someone cares enough to run for and pull her share of work for the PTO...it is up to the board to ensure they stay within the spectrum of the group that benefits the majority of the group. That's hard. That takes a TON of leadership and that is what you have to endorse to be a part of a non biased PTO.

Now of course, if there are issues that involve abuse, inappropriate behaviour as described by your bylaws or the school board (drunkeness, abuse etc) then you can decline a parent (or your principal at that point should) but because someone is icky as defined by the larger group that is an active part of the PTO...well that just ain't democracy. Now if they vote, and don't VOTE for her...that IS democracy. And even if she is the only one on the ballot--you can vote 'NO' for her assuming the position and keep her from it (it will remain vacant), but she still gets to have folks vote.

Maybe others have a different opinion..but I suspect the best answer is, if she runs, according to your bylaws and procedures, and she is elected, your BOARD gets to become a group of leaders to ensure the GROUP stays focused on their overall goals. Sorry--no simple answers.

d

I'm with dlf, you can't refuse to let someone run or not run for an office based on their popularity. If she is that disliked, no one will vote for her and it's all taken care of. If you want to cover yourself in your bylaws do as dlf suggest and make sure that there is a clause that states that if someone is running uncontested they must still receive a majority(some set percentage of the total votes cast such as 51%) of votes to take office.

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