Thanks Tim - I'm emailing your reply to my girlfriend. As one who moved from a very active PTO to a PTA, she's been dismayed by many of the restrictions in the new parent group. Too soon to tell if they are national PTA restrictions, or local school district rules.
And, ohhhh.... she's not sure she has the energy to champion the effort to break away. I've turned her on to this site, tho, so she can get lots of support and knowledge to empower her. (Glad I'm not in her shoes! Yea PTO!)
The only thing similar I've ever heard of is restrictions on who could volunteer to run/execute PTA events. The idea there is that if a non-PTAer ran the dunking booth at the fall fair, then the PTA might have insurance problems in the case of a dunking booth claim. That's a PTA event.
But the idea that only PTA members could enter a school during regular school hours is ludicrous, and I'd wager lots that either: a) there's been a gross misreading of regs; or b) your friend is misinterpreting something.
I'm not a lawyer or an insurance agent, but... A school's policy would cover the everyday workings of a school. Parents have parent conferences. Parents meet with principals. Parents attend school plays, etc, etc. Those are events that are everyday.
I searched the PTA website and couldn't find anything at all on this. Why wouldn't the school's insurance cover anyone in the school? Interesting question...I hope someone can enlighten us!
Am I hearing this correctly?! At my girlfriend's new school, a PTA school, she was told that you MUST join the PTA in order to come into the school for any reason (except to pick up your child)because the general liability insurance covers ONLY PTA members. Has anyone ever heard of this condition?
The issue of insurance is supposedly the one determining factor that has kept this district of 25+ schools in PTA.
Also, you must join per person (2x$3.75 PTA dues for husband/wife), not per family. Thus, it is clear who is actually a member, and who is not.
