Our school district is building a new elementary school that will open next school year (9/10). Of the 747 students at this school 430 will be going to the new school. The majority of the PTO board will also be going to the new school. When we ran for our positions they were 2 year positions. We each have a year remaining after this current school year. We have assumed we would move over to the new school and have an election for any open positions. We did have a parent "wonder" if this was ok per the charter. What charter? The new school doesn't have one, would we refer to the school we are leaving? How does the new school PTO go about writing a charter? Do we just "adopt" the old school's? We aren't even sure yet were we will be getting funds. Unfortunately the new PTO is not on many administrators or principals' minds. This is a large school district and there are MANY moves and changes with the opening of the new school, that we (PTO) haven't been given any information or much thought. If anyone has any experience with something like this or has helped start a PTO from the ground up any advice or knowledge would be greatly appreciated!

I had to start a PTO from scratch and there are many tasks that go along with it.

1) Each of the schools that the children are coming from to the new school should allot a percentage of their PTO funds to be handed over to the new PTO. Pretty easy. Base it on children going.

2) You will need starting funds so make sure you get #1.

3) Pick a name. This paperwork can be done on your own through the federal website if you can handle or do like us and pay an attorney. This is your EIN # or Employee Identification Number used on all federal documents. We also found for our own protection (Board Members) to incorporate separated us from the PTO in cases of possible suit. An attorney can do the certificate of incorporation and file it.

(Now you can open a checking account with the money from the other PTO's.)

4) Officers: Since it is a new school, technically the old school rules do not apply and you don't have a position at the new school since there is no PTO right now. Let someone/group take the lead and do all of this, including an election, in September. They'll be the ones on the Board anyway, but make it formal since it's brand new. Helps to keep the tradition.

5) With your EIN and certificate of incorporation you can file the Tax Exempt Application. You will need By Laws, also sounds like the Charter that you have no idea about. We had our attorney/cpa review. Can take months before you get a positive answer. We lucked out and got a positive answer in less than 2 months.

6) We got insurance through PTO Today. VERY IMPORTANT!

On PTO Today is plenty of information to guide you. Look for starting/forming organization or something closely related and take it from there.

But be sure the other PTO's give the new school the portion of $ they deserve for the kids!!

Good luck!