PTO Today

HI all, I need some quick input. We are trying to start a PTO at my daughters middle/high school. Our school currently has a PTSA, which many members are not happy with, hence our desire to form a PTO. We have just been informed by school administration that National PTSA says there can only be one parent group that represents the entire student body at a school, and if PTSA is in place no others can be allowed. Have any of you heard this or similar language coming from PTSA before. It sounds awfully fishy to me. Is this PTSA's way of protecting there revenue stream from membership dues? I can't imagine National PTSA has language that can dictate the action of a specific school, our district has in the past officially represented the PTSA as it's parent group of choice. We were ready to start a membership drive next week when school starts , but now we may not even be allowed on campus. Any thoughts or input would be appreciated!

Short answer: Complete hooey. Either you're not getting the straight scoop from your principal. Or your principal is not getting the straight scopp from someone else.

There is no (and could be no) such regulation.

Tim

Thanks Tim, hooey was one of many words that came to mind when I heard this. I don't see how national PTA could possibly dictate actions at individual schools across the nation, they would be overriding the power and authority of school boards and districts if they had that ability. There is some bad blood and behind the scenes politics involved in our scenario which may be driving this approach. I am sure that does not come as a shock to you.

We're in the middle of the same thing at our high school. I, however, received an email from our state PTA president letting us know we could have both -- but, that it was confusing and not in the best interest of the children. Although the dissolution process can be timely. If teh majority of the members of the PTSA are unhappy -- it may be worth dissolving the PTSA and moving forward with the PTO. Good luck!