PTO Today

We are a small campus with about 80 students. Is there a place online that tells us how to start a new PTO?

I thought this site should provide a startup pack with contacts and steps but I haven’t found one yet.

Please help

Leah Drake

Leah,

Good for you for starting a parent group at your school. The whole community is sure to benefit from it! You're in the right place. There is tons of useful information on this site [I]for free[/I] as well as many useful kits and tools you can purchase. I personally haven't used the Start Up Kit but many others have and have come back here to rave about it. Check it out at:

http://forms.ptotoday.com/store/product.html?id=1001

__________________
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

I am in my 2nd year as PTO President at a new school. We did most everything from scratch and got a lot of information online from other schools. I have learned a lot by starting up a PTO at a new school. It really depends on the dynamics of your school and the makeup of the people there. We made up bylaws, picked a mascot, school colors, and lots more. I will be glad to help you if you need some advice.

Browse the forums -- especially the Robert's Rules, Bylaws, Legal.

Search for words like 'incorporating' and 'Bylaws'.

There are a lot of threads.

When you have a specific question, post it.

Many of us have been a part of founding a PTO, and if we are here, we'll help.

PTO Today does sell a Start-up Guide. It is worth every penny, especially if you are applying for 501c3.

__________________
If you don't expect too much from me, you might not be let down.

TY everyone!

I think the crewchief answered my question. I have 10 years of PTA info stuck in my head, we just need to know how to get a new PTO started.

Ty again Leah

I have about 8 years experience in PTA from Indianapolis. I moved to Anderson,IN last year. There are no PTA's . I am getting ready to start one at Robinson Elementary. Anderson is in a transition period. Robinson Elementary will be K-2 and Anderson Elementary will be 3-5 next year. This year they both were K-5, but due to testing scores they have decided on this plan to conquer reading and math at the younger levels, while building oin the older ones levels. I think it is a plan that will work once the kinks are all worked out. But they are gonna need alot of parental involvement with Kids split in 2 differente schools and different buses,etc. Any one with any suggestions for me...(I'd love to hear them)
(I am also learning Spanish since alot of our students and parents speak the language.) The community ,teachers and parents I have spoke with so far are excited about PTA. I am looking forward to bringing it to Anderson,Indiana1

Hi all. My name is Brian and last night our body voted to create a PTO to replace our PTSA in the fall. I am so excited about it. I am VP of the current PTSA and I have been spearheading this move to PTO for over a year. One of my chief concerns was coming up with an alternative to the Reflections program...and sadly I have not seen anything floating about that is being promoted PTO wide. So...I have an idea...a concept that I am going to pilot at our school and would love to network with other schools and make this even bigger. Please contact me or respond to this thread if you are interested.

There are a group of parents who want to start up a PTO at our high school. The group consists of primarily parents who currently have children in the 6th grade (elementary) that will be moving up to the 7th grade (high school). The jump is scary for many because there is no separation of grades in HS and there are major concerns regarding some of the administration/teachers not addressing major issues of drugs, public display of affection, inappropriate language, etc. Not only that, the School Board...well lets just say there are some concerns there as well. Basically, they will resist.

The thought is to create a PTO...a partnership with the adminstration/teachers in addition to encouraging more parental involvement as well as giving the parents a voice. Many do not feel they have a voice.

Soooo--my questions are...
1. How should we approach the school?
2. We'd like to send out a survey to the parents before school is out...is this a cost that the school should absorb? Copies?

And of course, any other words of wisdom are welcomed.

I ended up writing up an informal poll, made 750 copies (something the school did with the blessing of the Principal) and made sure each student went home with one to get input from their parents. That way, no one could say that they weren't courted about this and everyone (even if they were a current PTSA member) would have their say about starting up a PTO. The hard part was drafting up a poll that was as unbias as possible either way.
But I did craft up a single page. Out of 750 that were sent home about a third came back. For every vote not to start a PTO...about 5 more were for it. So based on that informal poll I went ahead and brought the motion before the body at the last PTSA meeting for the year. I also had mentioned in the poll that this matter would be brought to a vote at the next meeting...that helps so if there is anyone who is passionate about the matter...then at least they will make their opinion known. But...just know that no matter how often you bring up the issue or discuss it...there will always be those that feel it was rushed through OR that it wasn't properly announced before the vote in order to get the most participation...bottom line...in my personal opinion...that contingent would not be happy until they had their way...then at that point...enough people showed. So good luck.

Yes, I'd love to look at your informal poll. Thanks so much.