Principal

When the PA/PTA and the administration share the same goals, the PA/PTA’s chances of success are greatest when the two work cooperatively and maintain ongoing, two-way communication.

CR A-660 outlines certain responsibilities principals have for communicating with their PA/PTAs, including:

• The principal must meet at least quarterly with the PA/PTA executive board.
• The principal should consult parents whenever possible regarding each stage of planning initiatives for the school, and PA/PTAs must receive information in a manner that allows them to comment on all matters affecting their schools (except in emergency situations requiring immediate action).
• The PA/PTA has the right to receive the following types of information from school officials (among others): student achievement data; testing schedules; information on the school budget and fundraising; and summaries of the safety plan, discipline code, and attendance plan.
• The principal must render a decision on whether to approve any materials the PA/PTA wishes to distribute or post no more than 24 hours after receiving the material. The principal may review PA/PTA materials for suitability and appropriateness but can not censor or edit the materials.
• The principal must provide assistance to the PA/PTA in distributing material to its membership
• The principal must not interfere with PA/PTA internal affairs, including the election of officers and the allocation of funds.

The regulation also outlines certain responsibilities PA/PTAs have for communicating with their principals, such as:

• PA/PTAs must provide their principals with information on the timing of the annual PA/PTA elections, a copy of the PA/PTA’s bylaws, reports of funds raised by and spent on fundraising activities, financial reports, etc.
• PA/PTAs must obtain approval from the principal for any materials to be posted and/or distributed (the principal is only to ensure that nothing is “unsuitable or inappropriate”).
• PA/PTAs must obtain approval from the principal for various things, such as: fundraising activities held during school hours or on school property; hiring staff to conduct after-school or weekend activities; and donating funds to hire supplemental staff.