Sharon,
I am also in the same boat. Since it has been a month since your post, do you have any tips on how to get started? Anything you did or wished you would have done? Anything to make it easier and better understood?

Sharon,

I am in the very same position. I am the President of a new school's PTO and have not a clue were to start or what that even means. Any help I can get, I would appreciate. Since, I will be right behind you in the process, let's try and figure this out togehter. What do you say? I assume the By Laws are the 1st Priority?

Sharon, what an enviable position to be in! My best wishes to you and your team as you start your parent group.

About bylaws - they're basically your governing rules so you'll include anything that you expect to be followed year in and year out. Check out the Bonus Tools section of this site for some good ideas.

Start with a basic structure and then flesh it out:

Article I
Name and Mission
Section 1 – Name
Section 2 – Mission
The mission of this organization shall be:

Article II
Policies
Section 1
The PTO shall
Section 2
The PTO shall not

Article III
Membership
Section 1 – Definition
Section 2 – Candidacy

Article IV Meetings
Section 1

Article V
Officers and Elections
Section 1 – Definition
Section 2 – Eligibility
Section 3 - Term Length
Section 4 - Term Restrictions
Section 5 – Removal
Section 6 - Candidate Slate
Section 7 - Candidate Consent
Section 8 - Slate Presentation
Section 9 – Election
Section 10 – President
Section 11 - Vice-President
Section 12 – Secretary
Section 13 – Treasurer

Article VI
PTO Board
Section 1 – Definition
Section 2 - Teacher Representatives
Section 3 - Standing Committees
Section 4 – Principal
Section 5 - Voting Privileges
Section 6 – Duties
Section 7 – Meetings
Section 8 – Vacancy

Article VII
Conduct of Business
Section 1 – Quorum
Section 2 – Voting
Section 3 - Order of Business
Section 4 - Governing Rules
Note: I'm leaving this part in because I think it's an important clause. It covers the 'gray' areas.
The rules contained in the current edition issue of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all issues of this organization not covered by these Bylaws.

Article VIII
Finances
Section 1 - Raised Funds
Section 2 - Operating Funds
Section 3 - Check Policy
Section 4 – Audit

Article IX Amendments
Section 1
Section 2

We are starting a new PTO at our school. We do not have any idea what kinds of things should go in our bi-laws. Help! Thank you!