Our schools PTA has been VERY inactive for the past couple of years. I was elected as Pres last year, with the hopes of trying to organize everything. Recently I found that our insurance hadn't been paid. Our excess membership cards from last year are lost, and our bylaws are out of date. I have updated everything for this year (as far as getting into good standing with PTA) except the bylaws. At this point we have not had our membership drive and 5 of 7 board members want to go PTO. Is it basicaly up to the board members to vote on disbanding the PTA?? I've read alot about PTO and have ordered the start-up pack. If we decide to go PTO, do I just start putting PTO on all our flyers and info we send home with the students? Even if we don't have our official bylaws and we aren't incorporated? We have a bit of money in our PTA account, do we just use the money up and at the same time make all future deposits into a PTO account(once it is open)? We are in New York and any info would be helpful. Thanks

You poor thing! I noticed noone had answered you, so I'll try my best. I hope you come back!

Is it basicaly up to the board members to vote on disbanding the PTA?? This depends on your bylaws. I would wager a guess that it would have to be at least by majority vote of your general membership.

If we decide to go PTO, do I just start putting PTO on all our flyers and info we send home with the students? It will most likely be the same people that are involved, so it really depends on where you are putting the money. If money is going into your new, PTO account, than use PTO. If not, stick w/PTA until you've switched. This leads to your next question : Even if we don't have our official bylaws and we aren't incorporated? Your bylaws should be your first order of business. You'll need them to elect officers (even if it is the same people, you need to have a new election for a "new" group.) You'll need an officer as a name on your bank account, so you really cannot fully operate as a new group until you have those bylaws.

We have a bit of money in our PTA account, do we just use the money up and at the same time make all future deposits into a PTO account(once it is open)? I'm not familar w/PTA rules, but I would say that it is up to your group what you do w/this money. Check the bylaws of your PTA group. There should be a section about dissolution & distribution of assets. You may be able to give the money to a new group, or you may have to spend it.

I hope this helps & was not confusing. This is all my own opinion. You are in the right place to find out this kind of info. The guys & gals around here really know their stuff & have a lot of experience. Good luck! Keep us filled in on how you are doing!

P.S.

Good for you for taking this on! It's a lot of work, but is worth it!

At this point we have no Pta members. I've used the links in some of the posts to do a rough bylaws for our new PTO, and I've called a special meeting of our PTA exec board, to dicuss our pta future. Hopefully I will be able to get a majority vote at the special meeting and we can beging the disbanding process and still begin to get our new PTO off the ground. Thanks for your help!!

Good luck! I know how your feeling. Remember to keep in mind that "majority" means the majority of the people there, not the majority of mia or theoretical "members".

Hi Very -

You're in a funny (potentially advantageous) spot.

What do you mean by: "I have updated everything for this year"? What have you done?

There are a couple of answers to your questions:

1. Yes, you can start a PTO anytime.

2. As far as "who it is up to" to disband your PTA -- it's typically a decision for your membership to make, not just your board. But that's where the funny position comes in -- you don't have members/haven't had a membership drive this year. Was there one last year? Did you pay dues last year? Cuz the thing is, if I was fairly certain that the leaders and parents of my group wanted to be a PTO, then I certainly wouldn't go run a PTA membership drive (you'd owe dues for every membership sold) just so i could disband. What a colossal waste of time that would be -- not to mention how much it would confuse parents (who have no interest at all in this behind-the-scenes sausage-making).

So it kind of depends on where you are now...

Look forward to hearing more.

Tim