Hello. As a newly elected PTA president whose members are going forward with the switch to a PTO. I was hoping someone might answer some "grey" area questions? The only "by-laws" I can find are a basic set supplied by the National PTA, with the fill and the blanks still blank. It does have a section on dissolution which we plan to follow. Question #1..In our bylaws it states about the funds/property will be properly disposed of by the PTA? Does that mean items such as file cabinets, gym clothes and such could be taken by the PTA reps? Question #2... Can we open a PTO bank account with the new officers by donating the funds from the PTA account before or after we notify the PTA representative? Question #3... No where in our set of bylaws does it state that it requires a 2/3 vote, it just states the steps a-g...does it need to be all the members or just the ones present at the general meeting? #4 Can we legally start to set up the guidelines for a PTO, while going though this process? Thank you for any input we just want to move on this. We plan to have a PA local rep come to a E.Board meeting in July to discuss it with us. Then notify the general members with a fact sheet, and then have the vote in September.
illinois - yes it takes a lot of time and energy which should be spent elsewhere; but sometimes we must step aside and fight a battle that one believes would better suit your school and the children. Get at least 5 mothers to really work on this together, can't be done with one or two. Stay strong and good luck! By the end you will know the by-laws inside and out, except the very gray shady areas.
EMONTE Thank you very much for all your info,it seems like a really hard way to go,I know it will be worth it,its the energy its going to take. thanks again Illinois
illinois - Our school is in Ohio. What you have to do first is look at your By-Laws, National By-Laws which will refer you to your state By-Laws. Follow them to a T because if you have one person who opposes they will call you on it every time. If they do, say ok - can you give this to me in writing from the By-Laws! You have to win by a 2/3 vote of the members who attend your meeting the day/evening of vote, unless stated differently in your By-Laws. We approximately 378 paid members with approximately 450 children in our elementary shcool. Talk to the principal and teachers ask them their feelings on PTA or PTO. If you have their backing go for it. This was very exhausting for our mothers (about 5 on this PTO committee). Is the Executive Board in agreeance to switching? If you have the staff and the Board for PTO - go for it. It will be hard, don't back down and keep strong. Know your facts. Before presenting it to the entire membership the Executive Board must vote on presenting possibly disbanning from PTA. Our unit made a fact sheet and posted them on the doors of the school. We had to send out standard letters to all members notifying them that at the next meeting (give date, time and location) there would be a PTA representative there and then the PTO information and facts are given, and if you could get a local PTO person to your meeting this would be great!
I have a question for you? on the 45 people who voted to go pto,How many members do you have in total at your school? And,what state are you in? We would love to go pto,but our pta assoc.,doesn't want to help us,or let us out.Our bylaws say we need 2/3rds vote of our entire membership to dissolve,we have around 215 members. It's pretty impossible to gather that many members when only maybe 15 actually have anything to do with the school,or meetings. I could really use your help. We really want to go pto ASAP.
I would say yes to all of the above. It's not written anywhere that you can do this, but neither is it written that this money belongs to the PTA. Your by-laws should indicate that upon dissolution of the PTA, the funds would go to a non-for-profit entity. This entity could be your PTO. I would suggest that the membership vote on where they would like the funds to go. Your funds were earned by the dedicated efforts of your organization and regardless of what you call yourself, the funds still belong to your organization.
