PTO Today

?- to seasoned PTO board members!
#1: It's not full stated in our bylaw that this can not be done. And I think that it is unethical, but ring in on this.
**We were a small PTO (about 5 members 3 board members for 600 kids!! I know) and this year we are being redistricted and adding new people to our board family. YARA!! I was very excited to hear that more parents were wanting to be on the board. The Pres and other exec were coming from a different school, great! We need order to this PTO. The Original President is staying on, GOOD! But the VP position was being held by a 5Th graders mom. She does not currently (2008-09 year) have a child with in the school. She will next year(2009-10year) a child will be in K. The by laws only state that anyone with the PTO membership can be a board member. But ethical should she hold the VP position if there is no child with this school year?
But I think VP should go to the Pres from the other school, Right! I don't want to upset my friends but,>>>>?!
#2 does anyone know the PTO law to say that this is unlawful? There is no amendment.

Hi Moms---there really are not 'PTO Laws". We are governed by our own bylaws just as you are governed by yours. Then of course many groups fall back on Robert's Rules of Order to fill in the gaps (although I suspect that won't help you in this particular respect).
My suggestions would be to review your own bylaws and determine what the requirements are for membership as it is pertinent to a child being in the school. If it does not address that issue and only states a PTO member in good standing then there really is nothing against your groups rules that would keep this mom from being a VP.
I would be very careful about playing the "ethical" card. There may be many reasons this woman is interested in staying - the social aspect, the community of friends she's developed or maybe she just wants to make sure things stay on track till her k students enrolls. To indicate that her desire is unethical in some way makes a statement of character that is NOT warranted in this case. By the same token...if you believe this is something that should be changed in your bylaws; now is the time to address it as a bylaw issue and not as an individual issue. Perhaps waiting till next year; when no one will look picked upon by this particular change.
I would say drive on. You have a VP that wants to do the work and your bylaws say she is perfectly allowed to do this.

Hope this perspective helps.
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See that is the problem. She wants the postion so she can have PRES next year. And as being dedicated yes when it suits. For example she missed our first meeting, in which we decided the new board members positions. Because she forgot out it. Sorry if that comes off rude. I thank you for your response. I was looking for someone eles point of view outside the circle. As for our PTO Bylaws I was told what I need to know. I have asked to read them several times and been put off (since Last April). O well We will see.
Thanks Again

Our by-laws require officers to have a child in the school. Our by-laws do not have any restriction on who can be president; it sounds like yours require president to have been an officer the previous year?

I thought you said you decided the new board positions at the meeting she missed. In which case, didn't she just miss out?

Your by-laws ought to be public. Ours are posted on our web site.

In our by-las it states that you have to be a PTO member to run for a position as well as have chaired 1 committee and come to 3 or more PTO meetings to run-- but our rule of thumb- is that you are a PTO member as long as you have a child in our school and are the parent or guardian of that student-- and the T- is for Staff, teacher or professional in our building-- so if she doesn't fit into that category, which she doesn't-- than she shouldn't be allowed to run for a position-- you really need to see what your by-laws state.