I think I know what you are feeling. We brought up the idea of changing over to PTO last year and the first thing we did was call the state office because we thought they'd be helpful. That was a big mistake because they just made everything so difficult. If I had to do it over again, I would have followed the bylaws (which did require inviting PTA rep to a meeting) but I would have made that invite at the very end of the process and I would have kept the state involvement to a minimum. They did nothing but make things testy and heated. Who needs that when you're just trying to be a volunteer?
Honestly, I'm not sure your dilemma is as tough as it might seem.
Seems to me like you guys have done all the right things (you called in the state (twice!), held the meeting, had the vote) with the right intentions (to follow the rules, etc.) and -- now that it looks like you're "going PTO" -- the powers that be are trying to make things ridiculously convaluted (how do you spell that word?).
Well, in my book, your responsibility to follow the letter of the law ends when the letter of the law keeps changing.
As a leadership team, I'd just call it over and end your PTA. Stop using the PTA ID#s, stop using PTA materials and services, stop paying dues, set up your PTO and go on with your business.
Remember, it's that "business" (helping kids) that's most important. If the PTA folks (who've already been out twice) object, you can politely listen (provided the objections are polite) and just go on with your business.
You guys have gone above and beyond your responsibilities in disbanding. You are on strong ground if you just make the change and move on.
As past president of an elementary school and now secretary, we are trying to disband from the PTA. We thought we were doing everything by the book!!!!
We met as an executive board, discuss this issue. We invited the state representative to join our next executive board to inform her of our impending decision and to give her the opportunity to change our minds and enlighten us as to where our hard earned money was going. She sent another representative in her place. Needless to say, we were not convinced and voted unanimously to disband. We informed that our state representative of our decision and she said that she would come to our next PTA schoolwide meeting with all the ballots and information needed for the parents etc.. to vote to disband. Upon her arrival, she had changed her mind. We could not vote. We needed 2/3 majority of our "members" to vote. Well we are a school with 4 grades only (K-3). We had not had a membership drive yet, so, according to her, the "General Membership" consisted of members from last year, or "Membership drive to membership drive". On our cards we had wrote the expiration of the end of the school year. And according to the PTA Membership handbook it states "membership cards are valid for one year (Oct-Oct, or Sept-Sept etc.)". Everything she said contradicted the next thing she said. According to her definition of a "general membership" we only had two grades of parents who could vote. She informed us that we could still vote, but that it would not count to disband from the PTA but if they voted to remain as a PTA, THEN WE WOULD BE A PTA. This is what I call "Have your cake and eat it too!!
Does ANYONE have any suggestions on our dilema?
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