Questions Raised About Hoquiam Elementary PTO Finances

According to information provided by PTO members, questions were raised about why financial reports detailing receipts and expenditures have not been provided for approximately two years. The officers reportedly did not answer those questions at the meeting.

Questions about the finances of the Hoquiam Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) were raised at the organization’s most recent meeting, including concerns about missing treasurer reports, an unknown current bank balance, and a reported $12,000 debt involving a school fundraising vendor.

According to information provided by PTO members, questions were raised about why financial reports detailing receipts and expenditures have not been provided for approximately two years. The officers reportedly did not answer those questions at the meeting.

The lack of financial reporting has left members questioning how much money the organization currently has and how funds raised through school fundraisers have been spent.

When the current officers took over, the last known bank balance was reportedly approximately $35,000. Members say they have been unable to establish the current balance or obtain a complete accounting of the organization’s financial activity since then.

Fundraising activities have continued, but questions remain about whether itemized reports documenting revenue and expenditures have been prepared or made available to members.

Questions have also been raised about a reported $12,000 bill from World’s Finest Chocolate, a fundraising vendor. According to information provided, the bill was referred to collections, and collection-related correspondence was sent to the Hoquiam School District.

How the debt was incurred, whether it remains outstanding, and who is responsible for paying it have not been established from the information currently available.

The reported debt has prompted further questions about the PTO’s financial oversight, including how fundraising orders and payments were handled and whether members were informed about the organization’s financial obligations.

Additional concerns involve the PTO’s leadership structure. According to information provided, one officer has served as both treasurer and secretary while also serving on the Hoquiam School Board.

Members have questioned whether these overlapping responsibilities create concerns about accountability, financial oversight, or potential conflicts of interest.

District Policy 1610 and Washington’s conflict-of-interest law, RCW 42.23, have been raised in connection with the situation. Whether either provision applies depends on the specific circumstances and the duties involved. The reported arrangement does not, by itself, establish that a law or district policy has been violated.

It remains unclear whether the school district has reviewed the concerns or taken any formal action.

PTO members say previous requests for financial records have been refused or left unanswered. They are reportedly preparing a formal records request and gathering statements from people familiar with the organization’s financial practices.

Among the questions members are seeking to resolve:

• What is the PTO’s current bank balance?

• What happened to the approximately $35,000 reportedly held when the current officers took over?

• Why have treasurer reports reportedly not been provided for approximately two years?

• Are complete records available showing fundraising revenue and expenditures?

• What led to the reported $12,000 debt, and what is its current status?

• What financial oversight procedures are in place, and have they been followed?

• Have the concerns about the officers’ overlapping roles been reviewed?

For parents and community members who support school fundraising efforts, these questions concern the transparency and accountability of an organization entrusted with managing funds raised for school-related activities.

The officers’ reported lack of response at the meeting leaves those questions unresolved. The PTO officers and school district should be given an opportunity to respond and provide relevant documentation before conclusions are drawn.

The financial figures and allegations described in this report have not been independently verified. Further documentation and responses from the parties involved are needed to establish a complete picture of the PTO’s finances and oversight.