For a detailed overview of PTO v PTA, check out our feature story on the issue (look at the PTOpourri section).
In general, all of the "other acronyms" like PTO, HSA, PCC, PTC, etc. fall under the generic term PTO. PTA -- with a few exceptions like in NYC -- means a group is affiliated with the national PTA.
I am president of my schools Home and School Association. That's what we are called...Home and School Association. Can someone tell me what the difference is between a PTA a PTO and a H&S Thanks I appreciate it.
Hi! Our PTA is in the process of changing to PTO. Our meeting is scheduled for September to have a State/County PTA Rep come and talk to our general membership. Can anyone tell me what to expect at this meeting? How long was the meeting? Also, I, too, am confused about PTA funds. We are incorporating our non-profit corporation - PTO - which should be up and running before our September meeting. Since the PTO will be non-profit, the way I read our bylaws (NJ) we can transfer the PTA funds to the new PTO. Can anyone confirm this for me? Has anyone done this before? Any help I can get would be great. My e-mail is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if anyone would like to e-mail me with info. Thanks.
What happens to existing funds that a PTA
has in its treasury when it switches to a PTO? Is it true that a PTA should spend all of their money before they switch or they have to turn it back to the National PTA?
illinois, I'd agree with emonte. I can't believe that you'd need a 2/3 vote of all your members. We've never once had a meeting where 2/3s of our membership was even in attendance. We're probably going to go PTO at our next meeting and we'll be doing it based on a 2/3 vote of the members in attendance.
I'll try to help from my experience. 1. Property and Money. The way we read the bylaws, it looked like the PTA could take ownership of anything that belonged to the PTA, so we spent down the money and donated our property to the school (we had a popcorn machine). That way there was no issue. 2. I wouldn't open a PTO bank account with PTA funds. We started our PTO bank account before we were officially out of the PTA but we did it with completely separate funds. We catually had the new PTO take over the popcorn sales on Fridays and used that money as the first deposit. Again, why mess around if you don't have to? It just opens you up if anyone in the PTA wants to be a real stickler. 3. Votes. It's a vote of the quorum at the meeting, not of every single member. Yes, you can set up a PTO while you are going through the process. Just be sure to run the two groups separately (books, etc.).
Last thing I'd say is that you do not have to have the PTA person make a speech at your meeting. We did and the person wasn't helpful and actually was pretty unfriendly once it looked like we were going PTO. Good luck.
