Dede Pew;129995 wrote: Hi,

The one thing I keep getting as an excuse to stay with the PTA is insurance but it seems to me that the insurance you get through the PTA isn't worth the paper it's written on. Am I wrong? I've been told that we need more than the minimum 25 members to get PTA insurance. We are going to try a Co -PTA - PTO for this year.

The PTA insurance typically is worth the paper it is written on, but -- that said -- it's still not a reason to stay PTA. PTOs have fine insurance options (with the same coverages), as well.

I'd recommend against having both a PTA or PTO. It will just confuse your general parent population further.

Tim

Hi,

I am the Community Liaison at an elementary school where the PTA has been slowly dying for several years. This is due in part to a change in our population. When my kids first started going to the elementary school where I now work, we had a very strong PTA, but I'm talking 15 years ago. The PTA does not seem to be able to keep up with the changes in population that most of us are facing now. We have families who were never really asked to be part of the decision making group in the PTA of the past but are now being recruited because there is no one else. Does the PTA think these families are stupid? We are desperatly trying to change things. The one thing I keep getting as an excuse to stay with the PTA is insurance but it seems to me that the insurance you get through the PTA isn't worth the paper it's written on. Am I wrong? I've been told that we need more than the minimum 25 members to get PTA insurance. We are going to try a Co -PTA - PTO for this year.

Yes, your PTO president is incorrect.

As far as I know, there is no New Jersey state government agency that tracks PTO bylaw changes, no.

Tim

Tim.. this does help.. Our PTO president stated that we were unable to change by-laws without incurring a fee [$70.00 for one line] and since we switched from a PTA to PTO last year we have to wait 5 years before changing our by laws or we would be getting checks against us by someone [whom she did not specify] and that we could be kicked out of the organization if there were too many checks against us.. I gather this is not correct..

Does the PTO have to register with the State [of NJ] and does the State keep track of when by laws are changed?? thanks

PTOMOMMIE;129177 wrote: Hi..

I wanted to know whether there are any legal raminfications when leaving a PTA?

Additionally, is there a waiting time to change Bi Laws when you first become a PTO?

Do fees have to be paid to any State or federal orgainization when there is a change your of the Bi Laws?

Is there any State or Federal agency/organization which records or tracks the Bi law changes ?

Can a school be removed from the PTO organization because they change their Bi-laws within the first 5 years of beginning as as that organization?

thanks,

Hi PTOmommie --

I think you'll do well to take some time and read some of the PTO v PTA frequently asked questions that we have on this site. Link = www.ptotoday.com/ptovpta.html

The often-misunderstood detail is that you are not actually changing your PTA into a PTO. So, for example, you're not amedning your PTA bylaws into PTO bylaws. Rather, you're doing two completely separate things. 1. You're winding down/disbanding a PTA. Instructions for that for the most part are in your PTA bylaws. 2. You're starting an entirely new organiztion, your new PTO.

The PTO can have its own bylaws, the rules for changing/amending those bylaws will actually be in those new bylaws (does that make sense?), and your rules/systems (provided you're not breaking any laws) are up to you guys.

You can change your bylaws as often as you like with no fees. There is no "PTO organization" to be drummed out of, as each PTO is independent.

Hope that helps.

Tim

Hi..

I wanted to know whether there are any legal raminfications when leaving a PTA?

Additionally, is there a waiting time to change Bi Laws when you first become a PTO?

Do fees have to be paid to any State or federal orgainization when there is a change your of the Bi Laws?

Is there any State or Federal agency/organization which records or tracks the Bi law changes ?

Can a school be removed from the PTO organization because they change their Bi-laws within the first 5 years of beginning as as that organization?

thanks,