Thank you all for your input. The reason we are in two sites is we outgrew our actual school so they moved 9 classes from the actual elementary school, to the high school. So we have 3 kindergarten, 3 1st grades and 3 2nd grades all at the high school, we dont have our own gym, or cafeteria and our library is teeny tiny. We actually have two separte accounts for finanacial and each site pays for our own things. BUt I think the school has now decided to end the drama for us, they are buying each child a t-shirt, and we will ahve a pizza party some time in the winter when as much things arent going on. Plus the president of the other side has now resigned due to what she is calling harassment by me and the vp of the other side. Which is a little weird as I have never emailed her and only called her once...so I'm still trying to figure out how she was harassed. I think the main problem is we are dealing with women who hold their breathe and turn blue until they get their way. I appreciate all of your input. I really enjoy this forum and have gotten some good ideas from it.

Wow, I've never actually heard of a school with two separate sites...?

Anyway, I kind of like your idea of separating into two PTO's. I can't see any cons to doing that, and I see many advantages.

Due to the way things are zoned, what may be possible or correct for the one site may not be for the other. I am assuming that there is only one Principal, but that really shouldn't matter as the focus of the separated PTO would be at each individual site. Since the one site is having a larger turnout at the meetings any voting is going to be skewed.

The tough part is going to be the initial financial. IMO, the group that is going to have to separate and become a new entity is yours as you'll be the one pushing for the sep. But at the same time the existing funds should end up being split evenly, and depending on the yearly budget that may not be possible and also very likely against what the other site leaders are going to want.

The next difficult part will be what the relationship is going to be between these two new groups. You'll still be purchasing apparel, which will likely be the same at both schools, so working together makes sense. But if your site is out of apparel, and their's is not, trying to purchase a bigger order to obtain a discount may be tough.

IMO, even with all of the possible issues, you should really push for the separation. Being focused on one building makes sense!

Good luck,
PresidentJim

I can see why the Principle (given there is one for both sites) may want to have the PTO act as one for both locations ... inclusion and no one is being left out ... less parents/kids complaining about 'they got to do this we didn't' but why not take the simple solution and have the movie/pizza night and hand out the spirit ware at the event as a "thanks for supporting us" gift. Seems like a simple solution taking the high road for both parties.

Why do you have to do everything the same?

Even if you have a joint PTO, why not allocate a certain amount of dollars for a spirit activity (or X dollars per child) and let each campus choose it's own activity using those funds.

Before you split, you might try rethinking the group and giving each side a bit more autonmy. Do something things together; some individually.

As far as voting - pull out the bylaws. Even if there's no mention - to have a vote by ballot, people have to realize they are VOTING. Their input is certainly important as they represent half your constituents, but that doesn't make it a vote.

P.S. Aound here, that posting would not be consider "long". At best - "medium".

We are a PTO made up of 8 executive officers, 2 pres, 2 vp, 2 secretarys and 2 treasureres. The reason for this is because we have two locations for our school, a North site and a South. We cannot seem to get along for anything. We have one parent/vice pres who if the North side (my side) comes up with an idea for something for the kids, immediately comes up with a different idea and then ramrods it through or stalls our plans completely. We recently came up with an idea to give every child in our school a free school spirit t-shirt, she immediately decided that we need to do a movie and pizza day instead. We have poor kids in our school whose families wont be able to buy them a t-shirt when they come up for sale this would be something they would all have alike, regardless of whose families are better off. Because of how their parents on the other side have conducted themselves, usually our meetings are 10 to one north parents. The south side sent out flyers regarding this issue as a 'survey' to get parental comments and votes and wants to count them as votes. I of course as sec. said no it has to be at a meeting and they know they'll lose at a meeting, and she said she asked the supt and the principal, and they said yes..I spoke to the principal and she said she never told her they would count as votes. Any idea on how to help the situation? I think we end up splitting hte PTO into two groups and having a south pto and a north pto. Its like some people would rather have their ideas done, than do things that are good for the kids.