Newyorker didn't ask for PTA propaganda but rather for some guidance on a simple question about accountability issues. I've read plenty of posts that seem to indicate the issue of accountability is across the board and not limited to any one specific acronym.

I don't know about propaganda, I just believe a group is only as good as it's weekest link.
A poorly run PTA may think the grass is greener changing to PTO. But a poorly run PTA can become a great group by taking advantage of the training and the support system.
If the problems are within the organization itself, the one letter won't solve the issues.

CrewChief you sound like you are lucky enough to belong to a great PTO. keep up the good work for your school, and the kids

You're absolutely right, who'sincharge? Every group is different and only as good as the people running it. People are in charge of your group, it just seems they're not doing a very good job of it! I can't even imagine your frustration.

I've seen this issue come up time and again on these boards. I have no insight because I inherited an amazing system. I don't know how to take a bad group and make it good. But it seems that the concensus is to start from scratch and begin to rebuild.

This seems to be what this particular post was started for - to get advice about switching from one type of system to another. Sometimes that's the only recourse a group of concerned parents can take. If so, I think they're wise to seek advice from succesful sources.

crewchief, every school must be different
you mention 'the group is governed by and accountable to it's bylaws. If it's seen as a service branch of a school rather than a seperate entity then to the principal and superintendent/BOE'

i have been all the way to the top. our PTO is independent, and NOT accountable to teh school or district, BUT nor do they uphold their very own bylaws and flaunt RRO which are cited in their bylaws.....there is truly NO WHERE for our parent body to go when the PTO wwill not abide by their own rules. thats been my expereicne. i have NO experience with PTAs, but frankly, nothing could be worse than a body with authority but no acountability, which is what our PTO seems to have. BUT i think it is a function of the head of school, who sits on the exec board of the PTO. if the principal closes her eyes to open flaunting of the PTO bylaws, it means the group is unto itself, a little society that makes up its own rules. that is not a productive PTO. one needs to get the accoutabilities explained upfront, by the head of school. in my case, where the principal is hands off, and thePTO makes up its own rules as it goes along, no one wants to go to meetings anymore, and rightly so.

Well, I wouldn't say NO ONE is in charge. That's just silly. Newyorker didn't ask for PTA propaganda but rather for some guidance on a simple question about accountability issues. I've read plenty of posts that seem to indicate the issue of accountability is across the board and not limited to any one specific acronym.

Specifically regarding PTO, which is what Newyorker asked, the group is governed by and accountable to it's bylaws. If it's seen as a service branch of a school rather than a seperate entity then to the principal and superintendent/BOE.

from my experience, seems NO ONE is responsible for PTOs,,,they are are unto themselves and NO ONE will help mediate problems...dont know if PTA is different, but its worth beign a member of an org that has ACCOUNTABILIY and a place where one can redress greivances, cuz sometimes local admin wants NOTHING to do with teh politics of mediating parent/PTO matters, all tjhey want to do is NOT make waves, NOT get involved, and shirk ALL responsiblilties, if in fact they are accountable. in short PTOs are hard to deal with when there are concerns the PTO doesnt want to handle (if the leaders are bullies for example, and dont WANT to work with parents)....so consider PTAs and see what htey have to offer in way of higher accountability and sounding board/conflict mediation.

Why do you wish to change? It appears that you may not have widespread support.
The PTA folks have listed just 1 of the benifits, along with the "accountability" is the training.

Always think in terms of the future, the best of by-laws will not help if no body reads or understands them.

I am sure that you may have reasons for the change, now you must convince others on the "benifits"of PTO vs the Benifits of PTA.