PTO Today

Hey - can I vent on this board?

This is as good a place as any!!! Go right ahead.....

About parent group stuff... yes.

Tim

well, here I go then.
I have been heavily involved with PTO for several years. Theres a bad vibe about PTO at our school.. there has been for quite some time. The teachers don't like volunteers in the building. I have heard it from the horses mouth. There was a big change over in board members last year, and it was hard for me to let go.(since I was on the board) Things got complicated. Our past board raised 44,000.00 in a 2 year span. We started with nothing. We had a crew that was strong. The turn over was not the smoothest to say the least... Now I'm just part of the membership and attend when I feel like it. The new board allowed 40,000.00 to be spent in one school year.. I'm feeling resentment!

What are they spending the 40 grand on???

Good question.

First, congratulations on a stellar beginning. From nothing to $44,000 in two years means a lot of hard work was done. Good for you!

Second, what was the plan for the funds? That's a lot of money for a parent group to hang on to so I'm assuming you had long terms goals for it. If so, your meeting minutes should have a record of the funds being allocated. I should say that I'm not a big fan of large carryover amounts without very good reason. I personally believe that the funds that are raised should be spent either that same school year or the next one unless, of course, there's a large ticket item you're saving for.

Third, you mention a somewhat hostile change over in board members. What was the reason for the hostility? Did the new people do anything counter to your bylaws or approved motions? Really, it's water over the dam if the funds have already been spent (ie GONE and not just reallocated).

40,000 was spent on constant requests from teachers. We have a budgeted amount of 28,000 a year. (Our PTO serves 800 students)
Once the teachers realized after the first meeting that they would approve every request... it went down hill from there.

The carryover was meant for an upcoming playground project... however that carryover was not formalized. The PTO this year in my opinion was not organized and did not raise funds.
So, in actuality... the board not only let the 40,000 slip away, but they also spent the budget of 28,000 as well.
I'm having a hard time saying that's water under the bridge only because our previous board and it's conservative spending would not have let our budget deplete so carelessly.
Needless to say- it's spent-gone. Now how will they fund raise again to maintain the 28,000 for this year?

OK, I can understand your frustration. This must be how the Democrats and Republicans feel when they take turns in the White House - spending the beginning of each term undoing each other's work before getting on with their own agenda!

It's not a complete loss. The funds were spent responsibly, if not for their original intent. "Teacher Requests" shouldn't be seen as a negative thing. I doubt they're out buying Armani suits or Coach briefcases. They are probably (most assuredly) improving their classrooms.

I'm also guessing that if your previous group managed to raise enough funds to cover a $28,000 budget [i]and[/i] carryover $22,000 then you have a very supportive community who will see the budget through again this year.

Lesson learned - formalize everything. Approved motions on the record would have made it clear to everyone what those funds were for. Teachers may not have been so eager to request if they'd known the funds were earmarked.

Mostly, though..... Now that you've vented please go back to being a positive supporter of the PTO. It sounds like you were a tremendous assest to the team and still have plenty to offer!

sorry... it as a downer on PTO. Thanks for summing it up. The money went to something possitive- yes. No Armani suits.

Well, I'm sorry that things have soured for you on the 'home front' but I'm glad to see you hanging around here. You sound like you have a lot of experience in the parent group realm and will be a great help here on the boards. There are many people who pop in here with questions and your knowledge will be an asset to the boards!