Hi LeeAnn --

We've seen this before, but it's usually solved with some education.

A lot of district folks and principals don't realize that the vast majority of parent groups in nevada and nationwide are indpendent groupsa and doing great. There's a ton on this site that you can share. Seems you need to find the right folks and help them learn.

I'm happy to help, too, if they'd like to discuss with anyone.

They're right that there is no formal PTO membership organization (though our PTO Today Plus service -- ptotoday.com/plus -- mirrors many similar benefits to a membership organization).

Quick note: that "all teachers must be considered as members" bylaw actually wouldn't fly as a PTA (where membership is based strictly on who pays dues) but actually could be used as a PTO. One typical PTO membership definition is something like: "all parents and guardians and teachers of students at XYZ school and all staff members of XYZ school are considered members of the XYZ PTO." But PTA bylaws would not allow that language.

Tim

I just had a meeting with the principal and District Cheif officer, we are a PTO, our principal want us to change to a PTA, we have already told her no. Our bylaws protects us from have principal and teachers from trying to take over our parent group, we also have teachers that feels the same way. They told me that the District has a guideline we must follow to write our bylaws, and they must include all teachers as members, never mind if they total the whole population. Now these will give them full control of our PTO. We are facing crap. The principal threaten to take our bylaws down to the District to have them changed. I told we have a PTOtoday where she can get the answers about the difference between PTA and PTO. She stated that there is no Organization that is recognized as PTO can some one please help me with the answer to these and tell me how I can get information about PTO and how it works as a organization. This District only recognize PTAs

You don't have to have your 501C3 before totally disbanding your PTA status. Just move on and consider that as a sign that it's time. Walk away from the PTA status and begin your PTO. You can work as a PTO without the 501C3. Our school had for years. They only had the state tax exemption. We are in the process of applying now.

Yeah, I don't see any problem there at all.

I assume you paid your PTA dues this past school year? If yes, the above sounds like complete bunk.

You guys did things well and properly. Move on and keep doing great things for kids.

Tim

Tell 'em too bad so sad.

Your now a PTO and no longer affiliated with PTA.

If any $$$ is legitamitely owed PTA send 'em a check with a 'Thank you' and Goodbye


Previous years and organizations have NO bearing what so ever on your new separate organization

SOunds like more PTA bullypulpit BS to me

First time to the message board and I am looking for some advice. We started the lengthy conversion from PTA to PTO last fall. We have run the 2 organizations simutaneously until the process was complete. We now have bylaws,have spent our PTA account down and have been incorporated and the only thing that we lack before voting to disbar the PTA is our 501C3. Now the problem. Our by laws were due to be updated for the PTA in March. We weren't aware and suddenly got a letter from PTA saying that our tax exempt status was cancelled for the entire past school year. Is that legal? We have been very careful to keep the accounts seperate and the only time we used our tax exempt status when purchasing items was from the PTA account. I would understand from March since that was when it was deliquent but for the entire school year. I don't want the hassle of updating by laws for an organization that we are getting ready to disband but I don't want any issues with tax exempt status. Is this a threat tactic? Our PTA is known to be very difficult to work with and they know that we have started the conversion process and are very unhappy that they are losing our dues.
Thoughts?