Get some term limits in your bylaws. New blood and ideas are a good thing.

You in theory may have started from scratch but you should have had all new elections, the old officers should not be carried over, at least in my experience. these people are going to truly run any parent involvement your school has into the ground, when are your elections? If you have bylaws then you should have a limit on years, that would settle that matter. After five years someone needs to lay the groundwork for limit of term...

(Full reply...computer issues yesterday)

Thanks for your advice...and keep it coming! Unfortunately this IS our FIRST year as a new PTO after being a PTA for 20+ years! Staring from scratch is out because (in theory) we already did that. As far as I can tell we are not a 501c3 because no one on the PTO has filed any of the proper paperwork because we "umbrella" under the district's FEIN.

As far as the principal goes...she has been at our school for 3 or 4 years (K-5 school). The parents who knew the previous principal CANNOT STAND our "new" principal. From what I understand they are very different in that the "new" principal does not allow the teachers and parents to walk all over her as her predecessor did. Thus lots and lots of tension! However I have found our principal to be professional, straight forward, fair and sensible. She has always answered my questions and we have had fairly frank discussions on various school and PTO issues this year. Granted, she is always wearing her administrator hat, but I can understand that and can work with that! I believe I have laid the groundwork for an open relationship with our principal so I’m glad to hear I’m moving in the right direction.

I had not thought about the repercussions of sending out the letter at the school and district level other than dividing our PTO, school and relationship with our principal even more. Thanks for the insight. Any other thoughts/comments are appreciated!

I am confused if this is your first year as a pto then how are women who have ran everything the past five years still running everything...did you start from scratch or just switch from pta to pto?

Thanks for your advice...and keep it coming! Unfortunately this IS our FIRST year as a new PTO

Thanks for your advice...and keep it coming! Unfortunately this IS our FIRST year as a new PTO