I think I was just taken aback at first (jaw dropped and all)....but the time I got my wits about me, he was engaging the discussion. Thanks for all of the advice, I have one more year....it won't happen again. I just feel badly for the ladies coming up, I don't want them to be ambushed, it's not a good feeling.

I'm glad you found the information helpful! It's certainly helped me keep things on track!!! There are people who think they've earned their spot on the special list and others who believe they were born on it! Sadly, rules have little effect on them and there's no guarantee that they won't do it again. But at least they'll know they're breaking the rule next time and it will also give you a tool to use when redirecting the conversation.

In response to unregistered's comments:

Since they addressed the principal and not you, seems it was for the principal to handle (and avoid the public exchange) and say , id be hapy to meet with you in my office to discuss , since this isnt something for current venue.

if he chose to take it up in public, thats his affair, not yours.

I disagree only in that as the presiding officer it is your job to direct the meeting. At that point I'd have interrupted and said very clearly that this is not a PTO issue and an appointment should be made with the principal if they'd like to discuss it further.

Additionally, it is not only his affair as these folks not only ambushed him but also all other members in attendance. They forced these people to stay late to hear out a discussion that was not on the agenda. I think the presiding officer owes every member in attendance the courtesy of keeping on topic and keeping things moving along. Wasting their time is, in my opinion, disrespectful.

Thanks CC, I really did feel ambushed. They knew better than to address personal issues at the meeting. What really burned me was that they have also asked the principal to go the extra mile for their kids in the past. Then they do this? He is very supportive and has our back at all times. I was embarassed. I took both quotes you offered and typed them up, hopefully that will clarify things in the future.

I agree with LUV that you are on the right track. I'm sorry that your 'friends' ambushed you like this and used something that you work so hard at as a vehicle to attack the principal. Your suspicions were correct and they did you a geat disservice to lie to you and then continue with their agenda. They knew exactly what they were doing when they showed up.

My last group's bylaws were very secific about what issues coud be discussed by the PTO:

The PTO shall not seek to direct the administrative activities of the schools or to control its policies.

I reinfoced it with an item in my policies and procedures list:

While the Asst Principal and two teacher reps attend every meeting, please do not use meeting time or the times immediately before and after to discuss non-PTO issues with them. If you would like to talk with them personally, please make an appointment with them on another day.

I had a friend do a similar thing to me once. I walked right up to her after the meeting and said, "Hey, friend, next time you plan to ambush my meeting, give me the courtesy of a heads up next time." She swore she didn't know about it but her comments during the meeting indicated otherwise.

since they addressed the principal and not you, seems it was for the principal to handle (and avoid the public exchange) and say , id be hapy to meet with you in my office to discuss , since this isnt something for current venue.

if he chose to take it up in public, thats his affair, not yours.

maybe you need to let him nicely know that in future, if non pto matters come up, could he pls not address them at your meetings.

seems it would be a reasonalble request to make. dont make more of it than is necessary.....it could just be a one off thing. also, the principal could put a note in the newsletter to remind people when to come to him, and when to address things in public . sort of a freiendly reminder. the people probably werent being devious, just thought it was too much trouble to make a date with the principal, and if you have a captive audience of the principal at a pto meeting, its easy to voice concerns there that one maybe should handle in private in the front office. it happens ALL the time.

Nic, it sounds to me like you are on the right track. It also sounded like their intention was to ambush the principal in front of others in order to make him look bad. Very rude!

We've had situations where someone has tried to bring up topics during meetings that really are issues that the PTO should not be involved with and we've always just steered them toward the point that they should make an appointment to discuss the issue with the principal.