Thanks for the heads up Pals, but we work very closely with our district office, they send copies of the monthly budget report to our meetings showing where the money that we have allocated to projects and items is. We are a small school district and all work together. I have always counted my blessing with where we live and our schools, but I guess I am luckier than I thought. Even with the budget cuts here in CA. it never came up at budget meetings with the District to use the Parent Club funds.
Laurib...in our district we have to be very careful about cutting checks to the district. we have had some very hard budget times and if they see money that has been sitting there untouched for over a year they start to question it. We did not have it happen to us but with our past pta that almost happen with playground money leftover for over two years. It wasnt a huge amount and since it was in a district(not school) account they could have taken it.Luckily the budget freeze got over and it was still there..just something to ask or watch
If all else fails, you could just stay PTA until you pay for the playground. I myself would probably look for another area to spend the money on, something that your group maybe intends to do after the playground. Just switch time frames (I'm saying this so poorly, but you know what I mean? For example: If you planned to update your computer lab with the money brought in after the playground would've gone in, update them now and use the money you would've used for the computer lab for the playground...). Or purchase $9000 worth of playground (down payment or just buy $9000 worth of what you intend to purchase. Like buying in phases...).
Whatever you do, be sure of where you stand with the PTA, the school and the parents.
I like laurib's idea the best; think it's the cleanest. If you prepay the playground company, you have a prepaid asset on your books which I believe may technically be an asset that would transfer to the PTA when you dissolve--have to check the bylaws in your state. Although I doubt they would renege on the commitment (think of the public relations nightmare...), I wouldn't want to take the chance. Starting a dedicated fund outside the PTA would probably work, but I'm not sure how to set that up without creating a whole other organization, which might get expensive.
But, this is a case where I would definitely recommend that you try to find a lawyer who can take a look at this for you. (If you're lucky, you have one as a parent who can take this on as a pro bono issue. One who specializes in nonprofits would be best, second best would be a contracts lawyer.) If you don't find a way to transfer this to the school before you vote to dissolve the PTA, then the PTA, who gets control of your funds, may or may not still be required to contribute that money to your playground. It all depends on how the money was raised and earmarked, and if there's a loophole for the PTA to be able to keep the money, I'm willing to bet they'll find it.
