Four years ago, they had a PTA. It is a K-8 school so I am sure some of them are around but most of them took their children to another school. There are no by-laws and there has been no meeting. The principal is ready to retire and is not very involved to say the least. It is not a very parent friendly school. I think plenty of parents resent that and want to be involved but they all feel like they are not wanted. We can only go to the school once every 2 weeks and eat lunch with our children and we are never allowed in the classroom not even on the first day of Kindergarten!

I agree that if the right teachers get it started...but the same teachers starting it up complained about parent volunteers last year. They actually went to the principal and said they did not want parents in the school or classrooms to help with Kindergarten classes that do not have helpers or aides. The thing that bothers me most is that they are using the start-up of the PTO as a project for a class they are taking online to get their Masters. If they were really interested in getting a PTO started it looks like they would at least have a meeting....I hope you are right because I would love to have a PTO doing great things for our school!

I am going to look at this in a different way mainly because there is some history that I have that can relate to this.
The fact that the teachers want to start up a PTO should be applauded, it seems that they know it can be a valuable assest to any school.
Now the fact that officers will be teachers does not truly have to be a bad sign, it could be their way of kicking off this group, getting it establish and then turn over the reins. Our principal actually ran our group for thr first five months of exsistence, mainly because she wanted to keep "bad " parents out. Now lets look at that line...bad parents? does it mean parents who in the past have gone against the majority, does it mean parents who have stepped over the line, does it mean parents who bad mouth staff, does it mean parents who were a click and wouldnt welcome new comers? Does it mean parents who have always ran things and wont give up control,It could mean alot of things and from my experience I would say give it a chance and see what happens.In our history it was the building block of a very strong organization..

AJ1 - I noticed a couple of points in your post that make me wonder:

OUR SCHOOL IS JUST STARTING PTO.

How long has it been since your school has had a parent group? Do the teachers feel that the only way to have one is to do it themselves?

A BAD PAST WITH THE PTA SEVERAL YEARS AGO ... WANT TO KEEP PROBLEM PARENTS OUT

Are any of those parents even around anymore? If yes, a positively run election process should insure that capable parents are elected. If no, why should this new generation of parents be held accountable?

ONE OF THE TEACHERS SAID THAT ANOTHER TEACHER ASKED HER TO BE TREASURER AND TOLD HER ONE OF THEM WAS GOING TO BE PRESIDENT.

Does this group have any bylaws in place? I have personal experience with four different kinds of 501(c)(3) groups and none of them allowed officers to appoint themselves.

I'm trying to look at this situation from an objective viewpoint. Perhaps the teachers fully understand the positive impact a PTO can have on a school but are disappointed in the negative and/or missing parent leadership. If they assume leadership roles and create a group that allows parents to come in and actively volunteer then they really are performing a great service to the community. Over time, perhaps some parents will evolve through the layers of committee work eventually be ready to take on chairman and officer work.

If it's a negative environment then I agree with writermom and would not wish to be involved. However, if it appears to be positive I would suggest that you approach this with an open mind, work with the teachers to develop this new group and work towards helping parents assume more leadership positions.

By taking over leadership in order to keep bad parents out, chances are they are going to keep some good parents out, too. I think I would speak to the teachers in charge about my concerns, or else bring it up at the first meeting. They are risking alienating parents, which could hurt their involvement and fundraising by turning the PTO into a TO. If they block parents from taking any roles in the group except for workhorse volunteer-type activities, I don't think I could support this group.

We had the exact situation at our school had a couple of years ago. I called it a teacher coup d'état. It was a huge eyeopener for the teachers, let me tell you. They had no idea how much work it took to run a PTO, they told us that often.

Keeping bad parents out?? How do they plan on doing that? Having a secret clubhouse for meetings? Stating that only certain parents can run committees? Sounds totally absurd to me and against every by-law I have ever read. What happened to presenting a slate at a general meeting and voting?

I don't envy you but I suggest, from own experience, you sit back and watch it all unfold. That is what I did, I removed myself from all participation for the year (it wasn't easy giving up my committees but I did), kept an eye on the budget and waited it out till the following year. They did not run for re-election.