Yesterday I was approached by the current PTA pres in my school and asked to serve on the board. I don't want to support PTA in terms of financially backing things I don't believe they should be supporting. Maybe I am misinformed. I don't want my money going for lobbying for things that have nothing to do with schools etc. She informed me I could be a positive influence for change. i am not sure if she meant to a PTO which I have mentioned to her or change in the PTA. Is it even possible for me to change the PTA? Do they care what I want them to support or not support? She said that the national PTA pres. was at the state convention thing and I am guessing this is because we are a state with high PTA percentages and they are at risk of losing a lot of schools over advertising in their magazine. PTA made it clear in the newspaper that disbanning PTA is a "lengthy" and "difficult" process, and that a PTA member would attend a meeting at the school and explain benefits which they went into a little detail about. The benefits they mentioned seemed to matter little. I guess I am at a loss for what to do. I am involved in my school and I volunteer but I don't want to join PTA. Am I more influental not joining or joining to change things? Suggestions please.

Utah?

Tim

Yeah!

If I was in your shoes my getting involved or not would be focused on whether or not I felt I could influence the group to actually make the switch. If I thought I had no shot, then no way. If I felt that with a little bit of education they would see the light, then I would step right up and let the education start right away.

Is disbanning truly a "lengthy" and "difficult" process? I personally don't know. Sounds like a scare tactic, but I would love to hear the reality of it.

It makes it sound as though the National/State PTA is stating that you will have to continue to pay them their dues no matter what, even if your group was disbanded. Wonder what the ramifications of totally spending down and then disbanding your group would be? Of course you would either then start up a new PTO group, or possibly do it laterally.

Maybe Tim could shed more light as he is obviously the most educated on this subject.

Regards,
PresidentJim

"Maybe Tim could shed more light as he is obviously the most educated on this subject."


Oh Jim.. Tim LOVES it when we feed his ego like that.. that will make his day! Right, Tim?? YOU ARE KING.

Oh Jim.. Tim LOVES it when we feed his ego like that.. that will make his day! Right, Tim??

Well, there are those who'd say my ego needs to go on a diet, but....

I think scissors is asking a couple of different questions.

1. Is the standard question around these parts of whether it really is as difficult as PTA higher-ups make it seem to disband a PTA. The answer to that is: "No". But Utah is a unique animal, PTA-wise. Always has been an enigma, actually.

On the one hand, it's a very, very conservative state where typical political views are more at odds with typical national PTA stances than any other state. On the other hand, the percentage of Utah parent groups affiliated with PTA is far, far higher than any other state in the country.

So -- whereas "going PTO" in most parts of the country is the more common option -- in Utah "going PTO" is still considered the unusual option. And it's often difficult for groups to feel that different.

I do think affiliation must be nice when the state is that unified. I'd wager that the vast majority of real PTA satisfaction in Utah comes from state work vs. national. Surprised no one at Utah state has thought about keeping the state structure in place and disaffiliating with national. Would save Utah units hundreds of thousands of dues dollars with very little loss of benefits.

2. But I think what scissors is really asking is: "can she really make an impactful difference on PTA from the inside?" And that's a much more complicated answer.

To me, it depends on what you're trying to change. I don't think you can change the fact that it costs so much to be a PTO unit (that's been going up and up) vs. the benefits received. Politically, can you change the position statements and decision-making of PTA? Yeah, those positions are -- by and large -- voted on by membership.

Also think it matters what your group's goal is? If it's making your school a great place and giving a voice to your parents locally, then you can do that without the dues cost and the (perhaps sisyphisian) challenge of trying to change PTA. That's why a lot of group's leave -- most of the time it's not disagreeing with PTA positions; it's actually finding that the positions/structure in general just aren't a fit for their group's goals.

...Also would wager that folks will take exception to my arguments above. Glad to listen.

Tim