Our former school had a VIPS program that was strictly for volunteers, but it was a subdivision of the PTO. I'm afraid that if you formed a separate group you would be opening a can of worms. How would two groups of parents divided against each other benefit the school? Is there any way possible to change the PTO from within? What exactly makes them so hard to work with?

Are school's PTO has proven to me and so many other parents not to be an organization that stands by their bylaws or listens to parents' request. I am wondering when a situation such as this occurs can parents of a school form an organization other than PTO/PTA? We do have a group of great parents willing to participate if directed with the right leadership which we do not have currently with our PTO or principal. Please let me know if anyone has been successful to form an organization to benefit the school/students and not been a PTO/PTA. Thanks so much for your input.