YES! Technically your board will be presenting the idea and the members and future board members will have a chance to discuss this issue before voting on as this maybe something that would warrent By-Laws changes. What could be offered so this isn't an "all or nothing" vote, do we want one set of officers with reps from each school to make sure everyone's needs are met OR just reps to be at the others meetings? I don't know just threw it out there. Also this could be presented at the next meeting so the parent's know this is an issue that needs to be looked at and have the next board pursue the issue when school begins again.
<<Question for jric: how do you meet the differing needs of both schools/principals? How do you decide how to spend fundraising money when you are supporting two different schools? Do you ever get into controversies where parents of the one school come in conflict with the other parents over PTO supporting their schools evenly? Those have always been the issues that scare me about ever combining our two PTOs... >>
Our principals and our schools run very well together. To make it more confusing, each school has two principals and an assistant principal, so there are 6 of them, but the cooperation is outstanding.
Fundraisers are run at both schools at the same time- paents can just send in one form if they have several children. The money is pooled into one account. Honestly, we try and pretend we're just one big K-5 school that happens to be in different buildings. We pay for the arts and enrichments performances- the same number of performances for each grade. We offer teacher reimbursements (for items purchased out of pocket)to every certified staff member in both schools. We coordinate a field day for each school. Most of the things are split fairly evenly. When we happen to have extra unallocated money, we ask each set of adminstrators what their school needs. If we can afford it and membership approves, we get it. This year one school wanted laser printers for the prep rooms ($2500) and the other asked for interactive whiteboards (over $5000). They were both approved- no one mentioned the discrepancy between schools.
I think this works for us because there is no competition between the administrators and the schools. We all realize that we're one community- the younger kids will eventually be in the upper elementary school- so we want to do the best we can for all.
We are in a very similar situation. K-2 and 3-5 on the same campus. Two principals and two PTAs. We discussed merging but felt that parents would disagree over how fundraising money was allocated between the schools. One change we made a few years ago was to split fundraiser profits. Since parents with children in both schools want to support them equally, we run the fundraisers together. Parents can send in one order regardless of the number of children enrolled. At the end of the school year, both treasurers work out total profits and the school that raised more will write out a check for half the difference. This needs quite a bit of coordination but is worth the effort.
Ours is also very similar: K-1 and 2-5. When the k-1 building opened 6 years ago, it was decided that the two schools -- though very close and with many overlapping parents -- would have independent parent groups. This has worked very well for us. As far as your particular situation is concerned, I'm not sure RRO is the only source for your answer. It sounds to me that combining the two groups is like disbanding both and creating a new one. I would assume a move that major should go to the vote of the members of both groups, not just the officers or the principals. There is a rule in RRO that says a change to the Bylaws requires a 2/3 majority, not just a simple majority.
Question for jric: how do you meet the differing needs of both schools/principals? How do you decide how to spend fundraising money when you are supporting two different schools? Do you ever get into controversies where parents of the one school come in conflict with the other parents over PTO supporting their schools evenly? Those have always been the issues that scare me about ever combining our two PTOs...
Your schools are very similar to mine- we have K-2 and 3-5 schools next door to each other. We do have one parent organization that covers both schools- a president that oversees the organization, with each school represented by a VP. It works very well for us.
It seems very late in the school year to be trying to combine the organizations. A new group will need new bylaws, etc. I wouldn't think there would be a problem letting the current boards decide, but you would have to have a general meeting with parents from both organizations invited. If you vote to combine, a new board can be elected.
We are currently a K-2nd (Primary School) and the elementary is 3rd-5th n seperate buildings about 100 yards apart. We have experienced numerous problems with Principal position changes (five in 5 years). I am the PTO President of the Elementary school this year and chose to not run for my second term. (actually NONE of the current Board members are returning)...so here is the question: The Primary school principal and the Elementary school principal are wanting the 2 current PTO Boards of both schools to decide for next year if there will be only 1 PTO for both the locations. Based on the Roberts Rules, do we have the right to vote on that without giving a New Board of Officers (not yet even elected)the chance to give their input or legal vote? :eek:
