Which school in Houston County are you in? I was PTO president last year at our school in the same county. we have no election because we have little parent participation, we nominate PTO officers and as a board vote. We ask for nominations from parents and teachers. If you go to our school I'll be glad to put you on the board. Please email me if you want
I agree with MitzyMom, we had the same problem 5 years ago and I put my foot in the door just like it was explained. Sit down with him or her explain. Remember be open minded. And it has been wonderful to see the organization become organized and that I had the skills to help and organize it and of course with the help of many other parents that wanted to see organization as well. I say go for it we're all in it for the kids. So my kids and the other children can have a great time at fun activities and a great learning opportunities.
Either way, I see a lot of work mending relations. I think, if I were you, that I would have a sit down with the Principal. I would bring along a PTO member from a sucessfully run local school PTO. A PTA rep will also work. If you can show the Principal what good can come from a PTO arrangement, what levels of creativeness, helpfulness, time savings, extra events, etc. would come from a partnership between the school and your proposed organization. I would not go forward with the "we want to make changes" or the "we want to control the money" or any other "we wants". I would go get my foot in the door with a lot of "here, let us help you's" and "what can we do to make this easier for you's", as well as "we're so glad you've let us help this time, we would be happy to help every time's". Once you get your foot in the door, get those bylaws up and running, file for your own nonprofit status, open a checking account and get ready to rock and roll. The key is to show this principal that he needs you to make his/her life easier.
I live in Houston County, Georgia. I have a child in elementary school, and in September I went to the first PTO meeting of the year. I paid $1, and went to the cafeteria. Our school does only fund raisers, and I am not sure who is deciding where the money goes/principal is my guess. He basically ran the first meeting, I have not voted for any of them in office(president) and I plan to see the by laws. There are no forms, or anything. The problem is that some of us parents would like to be actively involved in the decision making or volunteering. As it is now several of us feel that it is the school vs. us. We are not a partnership,and at times we are made to feel like crap. The principal will side with his staff before us. So the PTO is basically a joke, money raising and that is it. In this case would pushing for a PTA be better?
