Who is being unreasonable (if anyone)

[PTAnightmare20]

Both PTA members are governors, chair of PTA is also chair of Govs.

In short, a member of the PTA was asked for emergency funds by the school to support a family in crisis, committee member expressed that she didn't know if the funds could be used that way but an emergency meeting would need called ASAP as it needs a full committee to agree before it could happen. School stated they thought they might have other options and would get back to committee member. Committee member told another committee member (the other person in this scenario) who texted and emailed everyone to discuss.

In the meantime school contacted chair and explained the situation in more detail owing to the chairs others responsibilities, explained they wanted £500 to purchase things which needed to be bought in the next hour. Chair felt this was a lot of money and instead went shopping for the items herself with the PTA card which is in their name as chair of the committee. Items came to under £400.

Chair took items into school and saw the other committee member and explained what they had done. Committee member was not happy, said they had no right to touch funds without prior committee approval. chair expressed that card was in their name and they couldn't see a family in such crisis with money sitting there and they had donated items to the raffle which amounted to a few hundred pounds so if they felt so strongly then just think they did it themselves. Committee member feels it was very wrong to take the funds without seeking committee approval in any circumstances and also feels that the request isn't what the constitution and association was set up to do.

There has been fallout from it, but without trying to make it too long, that's the situation.

Who is right? Is chair right because no family should be felt with nothing, there was money there, they are chair after all and have funded things for the PTA.

Or

Is committee member right that the chair had no right to touch funds without prior committee approval and it doesn't matter what the funds are for.

We are aware some PTAs do have funds set aside for emergencies that can be sought quickly and while this wasn't in place at the time it is likely that it will be put in the place in the future.

To be honest I'm scared of the ramifications. I want to, but I also have children at the school. Including children with significant additional needs. With the head and chair ganging up to get their own way it's worrying but I do need to get my big girl panties on and do it because with their history and seemingly lack of awareness I have to.

Gosh. What a horrible situation for you.

Schools have failed OFSTEDs because of poor governance. Perhaps the school is banking on no one calling them out on it?

What’s the other teaching staff like?

I’d go straight to OFSTED.

OP you have your own children to think of. Resign by email outlining your concerns and your refusal to stand over the behaviour. That way of the shit hits the fan you have proof you didn't collude with her and that you resigned once you knew.

Ive been chair of govs and chair if pta!!! Chair is in the wrong and as chair should know full well the need to follow procedures to the letter.
Does the pta constitution even allow for funds to be spend for that purpose, they wouldn't in my school.

You need to report this.

"In the meantime school contacted chair and explained the situation in more detail owing to the chairs others responsibilities"

To me, this is where the school were completely out of line. They were speaking to the Chair in their capacity as PTA chair. Telling the PTA chair the details about an individual family would surely be a huge breach of confidentiality?

I'm by no means an expert but I'm not even sure that they would be allowed to give that level of detail to them in their capacity as school governor either. Don't they usually have to avoid giving governors information about individual or identifiable pupils?

I think this goes much further than the misuse of PTA funds.

How do I protect my kids through this? I literally moved for this school, it's exceptionally hard to find an appropriate school when you have children with additional needs. Previous school saw my child in instant isolation and left day after day shredding paper in the head teachers office for the majority of the day. Hence why I was so involved with this school.

i haven't even done anything and but the way other staff treat me has changed, I get daily verbal feedback from vice chair who is also my child's teacher, she has since avoided me. I'm so confused, no idea what is being said.

My parents say just walk away and leave them deal with it because i have to protect my children. I'm so confused. I don't understand why they are doing this.way are the school dragging themselves into this?

I’d report to Ofsted etc and would move my children and let other parents know that money they donated for all the children to benefit from has been given to a family. It goes against what PTAs are there for. I’d be furious, I donate so the children can have extras the budget does not cover not to cover someone else’s expenses.

That going to be a fun thing to explain to the independent auditor.

What an awful situation
Surely if you report to ofsted you can do so anonymously?
You seem to be being punished already so you may as well hang for a sheep...

I was at a Friends mtg last night... we don't raise money with specific objectives, we do contribute to the hardship fund. But we TALK about it. Agree school was very unreasonable.

@PTAnightmare20 not rtft but can you raise these concerns with the clerk of governors that oversees your governing body? I’m very surprised that your clerk has allowed minuted actions to go undone? Until recently I was a parent Governor and our clerk was very hot on ensuring all action were done. The clerk is there to ensure that the governing body are operating correctly and legally.
Surely the pta and Governors should be separate entities, especially as there is now a conflict of interest

Spending several hundred pounds on one family is not the purpose of the PTA. If the family was in hardship, it may have been possible to get donated items rather than spending any money on them. And what about families that are struggling quietly that noone knows about? They've probably donated to the PTA and are potentially supporting a family that has fewer struggles but louder voices.

The chair has massively overstepped the mark. I think setting a £50 limit on the chair's discretional spending is a good idea, with larger purchases needing committee approval. I've no idea how PTAs work, but can you propose a vote of no confidence or something?