Our PTO stands for parent teacher organization as you guessed. There are many other derivations of the acronym - PTVO (volunteer) PTSO (student) PTC Parent Teacher Committee - you can call it whatever you want to call it - those around me would know my saying - "I don't care if you call me dog catcher - I'm here to do a job and I'm going to do it". That seems to be the mentality of most P/T organizations - whatever needs to be done and we're not hung up on titles.
I am curious about PTO vs PTA, and I just read the article here about the differences. I get that a PTO is not affiliated with the century-old national PTA, but the article did not mention what the letters "PTO" actually stand for. Presumably it's Parent Teacher Organization, but maybe not. Does anybody here know?
To me, there's four key "nuts and bolts" steps to starting your PTO well: 1. incorporating; 2. applying for nonprofit status; 3. setting up your bylaws; and 4. insurance.
You'll find info. on all of those stepsif you spend some time exploring. As I mentioned above, if you can wait 6 weeks or so, we'll have a guidebook with comprehensive details on all those things.
If you want to formally close down your PTA (though it sounds like you're basically defunct anyway), then you should get a copy of your state PTA bylaws and follow the steps for disbanding.
You don't have to formally disband your PTA before taking the steps to set up a strong PTO.
I have been involved with our local PTA the last 3 years. A lot has happened and we are changing to a PTO. I am the newly elected PTO President and am wondering what we have to do to make the change properly. The former PTA President cannot locate by-laws and none of the PTA membership dues were deposited. So technically the PTA did not exist last year. The only person on our board was the secretary (no president, etc.)! I have heard several different suggestions on this. Any information would be greatly appreciated!
I'd suggest starting the process of forming your PTO now. If you spend some time on this site (the forum and the "pto practicalities" link especially), then you'll find much about incorporating, filing for your nonprofit status and getting insured.
Do those things now for your new PTO, and that way -- when you more formally disband your PTA -- you won't miss a beat.
As an aside, if you can wait 6 weeks or so, we'll actaully have a comprehensive guidebook available that will help you with those start-up tasks. Stay tuned.
