LadyMinx - I'm glad the information posted here helped you feel that you were on the right track. Sometimes we come in here for general information, a clarification of some law or another or maybe just validation that our own thoughts aren't too far off base.

It sounds like there are big changes in store for your community. There are bound to be as many opinions as there are people affected by the changes. Good luck to all of you as you work your way through them. Be sure to come back here for any questions, comments or concerns you have!

It sounds like you've made your decision. I'm not clear why you posted a message asking for advice when you already had your mind made up, but good luck.

The new school is still being built. and this pto isn't the only one that is closing about four other schools will close at the end of this school year.

From what i have so far found out when a non-profit closes they have to be accountable to the state or federal goverment for what happened to all the funds, they can't donate to any non nonprofit, so how can they donate to the new schools PTO if that school doesn't exist yet, how can you form a pto for a school that doesn't have children in it yet?
If they donate the money to the school system the school system is not required to give it back to the people who wanna form the new PTO, once donate it becomes property of the school system and public school money.
I also found out that if you make changes to your bylaws, it the changes are in the crucial requirements for the federal 501 status you have to notify to Federal Goverment of these changes and they have to approve them. The changes this principal is thinking of are one of the crucial items.

I am also of the believe that it should be spent on the children of this school now, Yes it's hard to form a new PTO, but its a new PTO that has children who came from other schools that have close to and those parents will have ideas and input about the new formed PTO once the school opens, they should have to form it after the new school opens to allow those new parents a say in the new PTO. Nothing stops them from holding somekind of event to raise money to get the new PTO started after the new school opens.

I agree that you should spend down, as usual, and donate your balance after dissolving to the new school's PTO.

If the dollars are significant, I would ask that my group be acknowledged or honored in some way in the new building.

There shouldn't need to be any changes in the bylaws. You dissolve and your funds go to a school or another educational charity.

You could potentially post-date your dissolution and wait for the PTO to accept the donation directly.

I don't know about others, but our planning is already way past September 2007.

I agree with pals and JHB. Have a wonderful party and/or program in the gym or auditorium that will benefit everyone who helped raise the money, and then donate a portion of the money to the new school. It's a win, win situation for everyone involved. Good luck to you.

I think a percentage equal to the number of students going to the new school sounds fair. It stinks being "told" that is what you are going to have to do. Even if you had considered it beforehand, it's twice as hard when you have no option.