Wow! It is like you were talking about my meeting. My VP usually speaks up and says to the complainer "we would be happy for you to take over coordinating _______." and that ends that for the moment until she is on to her next thing (she brings a pile of things to complain about). I was debating if I should take her aside and ask if we have done something to offend her - she is that bitter. Bottom line is you must continue to politly shut her down. If she is allowed to ramble on endlessly, people will stop coming to the meetings and you don't want that.

We have this parent who at "every" meeting since her kids have been in the school so for the last two years she has to complain or tell us how to fix something. And sometimes is not so nice about very abrupt about things.

It has come to the point where at meeting I purposely have to take her questions at the end because she takes over the show. Then the parents who have concerns never ask their questions because she takes so long. At the last meeeting she had a few ideas and then I said we would look into it which seemed to work.

I understand she wants to be involved, but it seems she is always so negative about stuff that no one wants to even be near her.

How do you handle parents like this? I have been very cordial and professional with her,listening to her and acknowledging her concerns and giving her information when needed. But its getting to be aggrivating at every meeting. Even when she approaches me in the hall she never has a casual conversation or says anything positive.