I am not sure what a PTSA Guru is? Are you refering to a council, district or state elected representative? If you do not trust this 'guru' then you should contact your state PTA office. Legally you are bound to the NPTA bylaws until such time as you disband and those bylaws are very specific. I do question why your PTA raised $30,000 and still had it at the end of the year. Any fiscally responsible organization regardless of title or affiliation should have a budget, prepared at the beginning of the year, voted on by their membership, which outlines your proposed expenditures and then you supplement your dues income with the legitimate fund-raising activities to meet the needs of your budget. This would preclude ending the year with $30,000, with no idea what to spend it on and no members to vote on how to spend it. Remember too, if your school needs money for computers or any other essential learning materials, your first obligation should be to advocate before your school board. If they don't hear your voice, then they will spend according to the voices they do hear.
It is your right to go PTO if your membership, not just your board votes to go PTO, but it is only fair to your membership as well to have the PTA present the 'true and accurate' picture of the PTA. I also suggest you refer to my post in PTA vs. PTO about tax-exemption.
Good luck in whatever path your membership elects to take and I hope that a PTSA, going PTO will continue to involve and utilize the many talents and abilities of the STUDENTS.
If you are affiliated with the national PTA, you are required to include in your bylaws certain articles and sections. These are provided by the national PTA, and among their provisions call for automatic incorporation of any amendments to them into your local bylaws.
In our bylaws, Article V: Relationship With National PTA and State PTA is such an article. Section 8 states that a local PTA, upon withdrawal of its charter, is obligated to "yield up and surrender all of its books and records and all of its assets and property".
In other words, if you are a PTA, it would appear your options are limited. If you choose to disassociate yourself from the PTA, then you will be legally required to hand over any remaining funds.
Now, is this "right" as in ethical and fair? Well, we can debate that issue at length, and as there are good arguments on both sides; I can even offer to take whichever side you don't want.
I suppose you could spend the entire amount on things for the school, hoping to have no assets when you drop affiliation. But do those things belong to the PTA or the school -- you might still have assets. (In our district, if you put it on school property for school use then the school takes ownership -- that's a liability issue, not a PTA asset issue) I wouldn't suggest trying to hide it in an offshore banking account.
My advice would be to talk to the "guru". Lay out the reasons you think continued affiliation is not in your best interests. Allow them to explain exactly what the implications are of this course of action. You might find it expedient to retain affiliation. However this plays out, communication strikes me as the best course of action in the short term.
Quick question: Is the "PTA Guru" to whom you refer a member of your group or a parent at your school? Or is she a regional PTA person from outside your school?
I have already emailed you quite a bit of information regarding disbanding. One thing that is most important is that it will take you at least two meetings to disband. One to make the motion and have it seconded and the second meeting for the vote. It may be wise to hold on until you have all your information needed (especially a full copy of your bylaws from Wisconsin State PTA)and everything in order before you start the process. I cannot see that there would be a rush to do this, and though I have never been through it, I will bet you need to be as prepared as possible.
Let the PTSA guru wait along with you. She has one vote just like everyone else. I would certainly tell her the intention of the board but if you have not presented your recommendation to the assembly yet there doesn't seem to be anything else to tell her.
Another point about the money issue.It was probably raised as funding for the PTSA. Parents supported it with that intention, no matter who actually "worked" it. The money is not theirs or yours, it seems that as it stands, you are still a PTSA. Was there any indication about what they told parents they were raising this money for? If so, I would certainly go ahead and use it for the purpose intended.
