Lisa- It seems to me that no matter what the outcome, you are definately an asset to your school. I am truly impressed with your diplomacy and fairness. If the vote does go away from PTA, I hope that the leaders above you realize what they have lost.
Good luck to you.

Tim:

Thanks for weighing in. I knew you must have had good reason for being so strangely silent :cool: .

My reason for fairness falls outside my true feelings on the issue. I am extremely independent and and operate on all levels from that stance. In my short tenure, I have found PTA to be quite restraining, and I feel a PTO is definitely the right choice for us.

However, I don't want to insult what has gone before me, because it was effective with hardworking people at the helm. So the fairness I seek is a kind of tribute to them, because I certainly recognize and appreciate all they've accomplished.

But in asking them (a couple of current board members who were past presidents and been on the board for years), they both feel that what was accomplished at our school was done pretty much on their own. PTA support, which I keep hearing is so necessary, doesn't seem to exist at our school.

So I say: structure - yes, accountability - absolutely, but all within procedures unique and perfectly befitting to our school (all appropriate legalities implemented of course).

Thanks for the suggestion about the committee, and while it's a good one, I think Michelle has a point about making sure they are not slanted one way or the other.

Michelle: There are GREAT people in PTA, and it is a great thing for those who can operate within all the procedures and deadlines they impose. I just don't think it's right for us; however, I as president recognize my responsiblity to provide my board and association members with adequate information to make the most informed decision they can.

Thanks for being so willing to help - both of you :

Lisa

Hi Mom, I like Tim was hesitant to jump in but to be fair, there are decent people in the PTA and ones that will not bully you but present facts.
If you contact your state office, explain that you are not comfortable with your council person and would like someone who is fair, it's not an unreasonable request and you should get someone.

PTA council or state reps have years of experience and a vested interest in bringing on/keeping PTAs. It's their (unpaid) "job" to do that.

I have been on Council for less than a year and in the PTA for 3. I don't have any vested interest in keeping my units up and running. PTA is not my business and I don't make a living from it. My life goes on when one leaves and it's truly about the parents and the children for me. I am passionate about because for myself, it is the best option. (That does not mean that it is the best option for everyone) In one meeting I attended, it was better for them to dissolve and I only presented facts and let them decide. (I've e-mailed you the grid I used)
As for having a PTO rep from the other county etc. Some schools have operated independently for years. There is likely someone in your area that has the experience. You may want to contact your school district for a referal to a qualified individual. As you have seen in this forum, their are many passionate PTO people and could likely be just as informed in their presentation.

If you do decide to appoint a committee to investigate, it is important that those on the committee aren't swayed to one side of either group. It is very easy to get information to support your viewpoint. Also the PTA website does not have a PTA v PTO comparison.
In one dissolution (I was not in attendance because we weren't notified that they were doing it until the day of)
I was e-mailed a copy of the materials that were mailed out to all members and it was very slanted and also contained wrong information. We answered the allegations and proved it false but it was too late to present that to the membership. Would it have made a difference? Maybe, Maybe not.
I think the best option is to have someone from both sides. It is your right to tell them that if they are hostile or unkind that they will be asked to leave. Of course, if they did, it would only help your membership with the decision to leave because who wants to be involved with negativity? It doesn't have to get messy.

I've been hesitating to jump in here momof3, because I know you're trying to gauge the fairness of PTO Today. I'll let our material and what others say about us stand on their own.

Did want to jump in, though, on the idea of the "fair" solution being to bring in PTO speakers and PTA speakers. In a perfect world -- yes, that would be great.

But the fact is that there is no equivalent to the "PTA rep" in the PTO world. PTA council or state reps have years of experience and a vested interest in bringing on/keeping PTAs. It's their (unpaid) "job" to do that. The president of a PTO from a couple of towns over is just not the same.

It's kind of like saying you're thinking about being a Catholic or an agnostic, and you want to bring in speakers from both sides. The Catholics have a structure that's made for this; they have local Priests with decades of experience on the matter, and parishes and the like. Who are you going to call for the other side? Some agnostic from down the street? He or she may or may not be well-educated on the differences. He or she may or may not be trained to speak on the issue (likely not). he or she certainly won't be as personally connected to the issue as the Priest is.

Crazy example, I'll grant you, but can you see where it's not apples-apples?

What would I do to be fair? I'd bring up the issue at a meeting and then ask that a committee of 3 or 4 members be appointed to investigate and report back. And I'd give the committee (and any other members interested) all the links you've found from both sides. And a meeting or two later I'd have the committee report and then I'd have the group make an informed decision. I would not have the PTA rep in. It really tips the scales unfairly, and I've heard way too many horror stories about the experience.

I knew I wouldn't be able to keep out of this...

Tim

Originally posted by JHB:


While I think it's important to consider the dollars in PTA or PTO, that wouldn't be a key decision maker for us. I don't know about other states, but I believe in Texas each PTA unit allocates $1 of membership to national and $1 to state. So assume 200 memberships (for us), that's only $400. When you look at the insurance discounts, the forms, the processes, 501(c)(3) already being done, the training for officers, expert assistance - that's CHEAP.

For accuracy on JHB's sample school, the Texas state dues are $1.25 and the national dues are $1.75. So the 200-member unit would pay $600 (plus council dues). Texas has among the lowest state dues.

Even at $600, it sems pretty good because a group can get the 501c3 designation automatically. But the trick to that is you wind up paying those extra dues every year, forever as a PTA, whereas a group can do the 501c3 on its own, pay the IRS fees once, and then be done with it as an independent.

Tim

Sorry, one other point. While it's great that PTA offers training, procedures, forms - that's not to say every unit uses these services. So it's not an automatic waiver of risk just because they exist. Ultimately, PTA or PTO, the officers still need to do the "right" things and follow sound practices.