Wow--I could have written your post! My friends and I are in the same situation!
The PTA seems to have standards that (at least in our area) are strictly enforced when it comes to raising money for things the PTA feels the BOE should be supplying, like a playground, books, lab equipment, musical instruments. Right now we are struggling to get a "volunteer's association" off the ground to start fundraising for a new playground at my son's school. We are setting our association up like a PTO (in fact we joined the PTO Network for the benefits)and considering the amount of money we are looking to raise, we had to. The playground aspect was not threatening to our PTA, but it's been VERY uncomfortable ever since a PTO Today invoice was accidentally forwarded to the PTA president by our school's secretarial staff. At first I was intimidated by their attitude, but then I realized that we have every right to do what we're doing, especially since we're not doing anything wrong! No one gave them exclusive rights to helping the school, and frankly, it would be dicriminatory if they did have absolute rights--what if you don't want to be a member of the PTA because of their politics on a national level? In our school they have sole ownership on organizing the vounteers right now, so you HAVE to pay to play. I brought this up to our principal, who's now going to discuss it with our BOE superintendent. The ironic thing is I espouse most of the ideas the PTA advocates! Even if I could be a member of the PTA and NOT pay dues I still wouldn't rejoin--I dislike the idea that someone in national headquarters "somewhere" is going to tell me what I HAVE to, or CAN'T do in my own school!
Needless to say, my popularity has been less than stellar in certain groups. I just keep my chin up, give them nothing to criticize me about(read "I'm always polite and pleasant"), and focus on the fact that we're doing nothing wrong. Like I said, we're working on getting set up; the financial aspect of the filings with the IRS etc. is the biggest obstacle right now. I got the tentative OK from the principal to raise the funds for the playground--I think the superintendent will have a hard time denying us since another elementary school in our district has already paved the way with the playground aspect. Just understand that it can be VERY political, both figuratively and literally. The president of our county PTA has VERY strong ties with our particular school, and I am sure she will do her best to keep her membership dues and fundraising monies in the PTA pocket and out of ours!
Without knowing more about your specific situation the basic answer to your question is yes, you can form a PTO while a PTA exists. The PTA is not going to like it much so expect a battle. All you need to form an organization is two people and poof you are an organization. Now whether or not you get others to join, get the copperation of the school and all the other things associated with running such an organization is a huge question, especially when you have a PTA already in existance. You will be opening a real hard core bag of worms so think hard please.
If your situation is serious enough, why not use the power to disband the PTA that is contained within the PTA by-laws before going about forming a new organization would be my advice.
Our PTA is out of control. can I start a PTO while there is still a PTA? can they be working at the same time? Basic problems: small group, in power at the district level, negative, angry, using the PTA reAlly more as a political action committee!! Has already alienated the Board of Education and is slowly dividing each of the five PTA units from each other. (units are one High School, one Middle School, three elementary schools) very frustrating, if you speak out, these women come at you, and your child. HELP!!
