Barbara, it's pretty easy to start a PTO. You can incorporate, get an EIN (federal employer ID#) and apply for nonprofit status and then you're up and running. None of those things are that tough. There's no one to pay dues to or get approval from to "be" a PTO. You can find information on all three of those steps on this site.

I suppose you could keep your PTA operational, but I don't know why you would. You'd need to pay dues on a minimum number of members I think. We closed our PTA last year at this time and had a PTO up and running for back to school.

I know what you mean when you have an old board that can't let go--I have an ex pres who has been gone for years and is no longer in the school system yet she is going around to my chairpeople and stirring the you know what..We eliminated a few programs that the IRS could deem not a PTA activity and could be taxable. Also we eliminated budgets programs that were not been spread equaly amongst our 1000 studnets. They had in the past allocated 5000 for 190 students and nothing for the remaining 720 of the other grades.
I am the Pres of this unit now and we came in with a new board also. We are a strong board (meaning we agree on the prinicples of what a PTA is sippose to be for--Missions ans objects) Do we always agree no but when someone has a different view we agree to disagree and no one walks away mad and says I'm not going to play anymore (whihc is what would happen in the past bpoards all the time or no one was asked for their vote the past pres made all decisions and that was it). Well this year people are gettting the information and getttign the chance to vote on all matters. We send advance notices out to each parent about an upcomng vote. The few and I really mean few you got stirred up from the past pres have been given so much misinformation and are also waiting for us to mess up. but you know what these type of people are all out there even in the business world. The fact thaat you are a PTA helps you becuase you have the resources to go yto to get the information you need. You have State and most likely your District Directors to go to when you have a question. They are resiurces not enemies. When the few were stabbing us and trying to geta mutiny going on (even though now one wants control of this ship) all we did was call in our State people to have a presentation on how the IRS has changed their regulations from years ago regarding PTA's. Alot of the poeple these few were trying to taint heard first hand the reasons why a PTA can betaxed and heard about a few local PTA's oin our area that are going through paying taxes on programs the IRS deemed not a PTA function that falls under non taxable.
I suggest you make a call to your next level of PTA. Usually PTA's have a district level. Meaning they incorparate townships, or counti=es into District areas. If you are unsure check woth your State reps. I would then contact them and let them know what problems you are encountering from the past board. Remember the State PTA's and NAtional PTA's are around to help you not critize you. Their jobs are to give you the information and direction. Don't let these few sour apples try to use State PTA against you. Hang in there, put your head up high and now that you have intergirty, and accountability. These are the statements we used when we held a meeting woith these sour apples and the principle about the progrmas we eliminated because the funds should not have been coming from PTA. They said to us "you wil never get caught" We respoonded with but our intergrity and accountability will be. We know we should not be doing these programs. What message are we sending to our children then that it is okay to do something illegal or wrong as long as you don't get caught. (They were speechless with that one who could argue that or dare to in front of the principal.) It was a few frustrating months (sept till Feb) but we came through with coolness, and complete answers for anyone who had a question about a program or anything regarding how something was done in the PTA.
It really on how you and your board handle the matter. get together and decide that 1st thing they will be around, but you know what people will know deep down what they accomplished and what your board did.. Actions speak ouder then words. Everyone should handle these sour apples the same way they would handle a regular parent. bring the actual facts and information in . Put PTA information about programs and events and how committees are formed in newsletters. Don't run away from the PTA because of these sour apples. Instead run to the PTA for assistance that is part of the dues you pay.

Hi! I'm new here but have gotten valuable info over the years from this site, so I decided to turn to you for your expert opinions. We currently have two PTAs (one for each elementary school) in our town. For as long as I can remember, there has been a constant rivalry between the schools, actually pitting the children against each other, which I found disgusting. Two years ago, it was discovered that there was theft of approximately $5000.00 from one of the PTAs. As president of the other school PTA, my exec board members and myself encouraged the recovery of funds and prosecution of the treasurer who committed the crime. Well, to make a long story short, after two years, we finally recovered the money and settled the matter. The executive board of the "tainted" PTA was voted out and that's how the vice-president of my PTA became PTA of the bigger school with me as his VP. So we are PRES/VP and VP/PRES of both schools. We considered this a wonderful thing. We decided to run PTA functions together and end the rivalry between schools. All seemed to be going along well, except for the fact that some of the old executive board members of the tainted PTA cannot let go. They seem to live, eat and breathe for the PTA. They constantly stand over us with bylaws, rule books and are more concerned with wating for us to mess up on a rule that they can report us to the state. Although we do nothing wrong, it's extremely hard to work efficiently for the children having someone watching over your shoulders, wishing you would fail. They have even gone to the extremes of dragging the good name of the PTAs through the mud at our current school board election. I feel that it would be best to start a PTO, creating new bylaws, and go about our work for the children without these evil few looking to report when we don't dot an "i" properly. I also understand that we would save money because all the dues money that goes to the state and national PTA would now stay in our account. How easy is it to start a PTO? Do we have to dissolve the charters of the PTA or can we maintain them for perhaps some future use? I could use all the advice or help you could supply. Thank you.