At our last meeting the vote took place on our school being PTO or PTA. We won with 45 votes for PTO and only 4 votes PTA. My questions are: Can we give the money to the school designating that this is to be set aside for the PTO for the start of the new school year to be used as usual for the school and children? Can we use this so called PTA money to pay the filing fees for the 501(c)3 ($185) and the Articles of Incorporation with the State ($25)? If anyone has this answer and tell me where it states this in writing please respond ASAP. Thanks!

I would say yes to all of the above. It's not written anywhere that you can do this, but neither is it written that this money belongs to the PTA. Your by-laws should indicate that upon dissolution of the PTA, the funds would go to a non-for-profit entity. This entity could be your PTO. I would suggest that the membership vote on where they would like the funds to go. Your funds were earned by the dedicated efforts of your organization and regardless of what you call yourself, the funds still belong to your organization.

I have a question for you? on the 45 people who voted to go pto,How many members do you have in total at your school? And,what state are you in? We would love to go pto,but our pta assoc.,doesn't want to help us,or let us out.Our bylaws say we need 2/3rds vote of our entire membership to dissolve,we have around 215 members. It's pretty impossible to gather that many members when only maybe 15 actually have anything to do with the school,or meetings. I could really use your help. We really want to go pto ASAP.

illinois - Our school is in Ohio. What you have to do first is look at your By-Laws, National By-Laws which will refer you to your state By-Laws. Follow them to a T because if you have one person who opposes they will call you on it every time. If they do, say ok - can you give this to me in writing from the By-Laws! You have to win by a 2/3 vote of the members who attend your meeting the day/evening of vote, unless stated differently in your By-Laws. We approximately 378 paid members with approximately 450 children in our elementary shcool. Talk to the principal and teachers ask them their feelings on PTA or PTO. If you have their backing go for it. This was very exhausting for our mothers (about 5 on this PTO committee). Is the Executive Board in agreeance to switching? If you have the staff and the Board for PTO - go for it. It will be hard, don't back down and keep strong. Know your facts. Before presenting it to the entire membership the Executive Board must vote on presenting possibly disbanning from PTA. Our unit made a fact sheet and posted them on the doors of the school. We had to send out standard letters to all members notifying them that at the next meeting (give date, time and location) there would be a PTA representative there and then the PTO information and facts are given, and if you could get a local PTO person to your meeting this would be great!

EMONTE Thank you very much for all your info,it seems like a really hard way to go,I know it will be worth it,its the energy its going to take. thanks again Illinois

illinois - yes it takes a lot of time and energy which should be spent elsewhere; but sometimes we must step aside and fight a battle that one believes would better suit your school and the children. Get at least 5 mothers to really work on this together, can't be done with one or two. Stay strong and good luck! By the end you will know the by-laws inside and out, except the very gray shady areas.