That's interesting. We are thinking we need to change from being PTA to a PTO group. We are challenged in the area of funding salaries for things like art, music, pe, librarian, tech clerk, and the PTA guidlines discourage that. According to the PTA guidlines, the PTA is not supposed to pay salaries. Budget cuts over the years had made for some interesting exchanges of money to get those hours funded, but it's come to the point where we need a better tool to accomplish it. It seems that the money for these extras isn't going to come back out of the districts pockets anytime in the foreseeable future. I would be interested in hearing what others who use PTO instead of PTA. I will search the site and try to find the info out myself.

To answer the question in part---

PTA has always been strong at our school, and we've functioned used a board, and following the bylaws, etc. for as long as anybody can remember. On the bright side, if you have guidelines put in place by the group that you are accountable, then you have some leverage when the principal comes to you and asked if the PTA can fund 30K in salaries...but maybe you don't have that problem in your school district/school.

I have been looking into our local PTA because I think the PTO in our school is not working. We are currently not 501c3 and have no Bylaws. I would consider talking to everyone about getting that status, but it doesn't seem like many others really care about having those kinds of things in place. Things have been done the same way at our school for who knows how long and it just doesn't seem to be working. Any thoughts on what would be best for our school? I really think we would benefit from being under an organization because right now it feels like we are being pushed around based on what has always been done at the school in the past. Thanks!