We live in a rural community so there aren't other PTOs in the area. I guess what I'm looking for are specific examples of areas to avoid funding. Have any of you learned through experience that it doesn't work to fund things such as teacher salaries or other "long term" projects? If yes, what are they?

Also, we are trying to figure out what wording would be best in our bylaws. We have seen other bylaws which discuss looking at each project from the standpoint of responsibility. For example, paying for a teacher's salary is the responsibility of the school district so the PTO should not fund this. Someone else told me that although they do not have it in writing in their bylaws, as a general rule they steer clear of projects which would require funding from year to year since they never know what their finances will look like the following year. Does anyone have similar wording in their bylaws that they wouldn't mind sharing?

We really want to avoid future difficulties as our district has many funding needs that our beginning core group does not want to become involved in. Thank you in advance for any advice you have to offer.

I'm not sure about sample bylaws but if you have other PTO's in your area ask for theirs.
Also we have in our bylaws what we are allowed to do and what we are not.
Hope that helps.
Also get a copy of Robert's Rule.

We are starting a new PTO and are in the process of writing bylaws. We have heard that there are funding areas which are best to avoid such as paying a teacher's salary or paying for building maintenance. We are wondering about other PTOs experiences, which areas tend to be problem areas, and how to address this right away to avoid future problems with decision making. Are there any sample bylaws that state criteria for choosing which projects a PTO will/will not fund? Any advice you have to offer would be greatly appreciated.