Thirty-Third District PTA Complaint Policy & Process
At the Thirty‑Third District PTA, we believe in fairness, transparency, and respect. If you believe that something isn’t right — whether it’s about finances, treatment, or conduct — we want you to know you have a clear, safe way to raise your concerns.
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If your PTA unit is within a Council, please start by referring your concern to your Council leadership. For Out‑of‑Council units, you're encouraged to submit your concern directly to the District via the Complaint Form.
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This page explains how to file a complaint, what types of issues we review, and what you can expect during the process.
Complaint Policy & Procedures
Purpose & Principles
Thirty‑Third District PTA ("District PTA") is committed to the highest standards of ethical, moral, and legal conduct. We value honesty, integrity, and respect in all our actions. This policy is designed to:
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Provide a clear and accessible way for members to report concerns in good faith.
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Ensure complaints are handled fairly, impartially, and confidentially.
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Protect all individuals involved, including safeguards against retaliation.
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Maintain trust and accountability within our PTA community.
Types of Complaints
This policy addresses two main categories of improper conduct:
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Financial Improprieties, including but not limited to:
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Fraud, deliberate misstatements, or errors in financial records.
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Weaknesses or lack of internal financial controls.
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Misrepresentations regarding financial status or reporting, as required by PTA bylaws, AIM/PTA Insurance, state & federal nonprofit regulations.
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Improper or Unfair Member Conduct, including:
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Discrimination, harassment, or mistreatment on the basis of personal characteristics (ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, etc.).
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Other unfair or disparate treatment not consistent with PTA’s Professional Governance Standards.
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Filing a Complaint
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If you believe there has been a violation as defined under Types of Complaints, try first to resolve it informally, directly with the person(s) involved, if possible.
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If that is not possible, or doesn’t resolve the matter: submit a written complaint using the District PTA Complaint Form.
Things to include in your complaint:
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Your name and contact information
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The names of the person(s) involved, including their PTA unit and roles (if known)
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A clear summary of what happened, with facts and dates
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Any steps already taken to resolve the issue, and why they did not work
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What you would consider a fair resolution
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Confirmation that you’ve reviewed both the California State PTA Professional Governance Standards and the Thirty‑Third District PTA Complaint Policy & Procedures.
Timeframes & Procedure
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Submission Deadline: Complaints should be filed within 60 days of discovering the issue.
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Acknowledgment: Once your complaint is submitted, the Committee will acknowledge receipt within 2 business days.
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Initial Review: The Committee will first assess if the complaint falls under “improper conduct” as defined in this policy. If not, you will be notified and no further action will be taken.
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Investigation: If it does, the Committee will investigate — speak with involved parties, request relevant documents, etc.
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Recommendation & Decision: After investigating, the Committee will recommend what actions (if any) should be taken, and submit that recommendation to the District PTA Board of Directors. The Board’s decision is final.
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Record‑Keeping:
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A log of complaints, investigations, recommendations, and outcomes will be kept.
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The Executive Vice President will maintain these records (summaries) for three years.
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Protections & Responsibilities
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Good Faith Reporting: Complaints must be made truthfully and in good faith. False accusations are a violation of this policy.
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No Retaliation: District PTA prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes a complaint, participates in an investigation, or opposes improper conduct.