It appears a compromise reached between Sen. Curtis Bramble and the state PTA over a parent-participation bill last week was only a temporary cease-fire.

The PTA has changed its mind and now opposes SB199, a bill that would require schools to give all parent groups equal access to school decision-making, activities and resources. The change of heart comes about a week after PTA leaders joined Bramble, R-Provo, on the Senate floor to show their support for the bill, which was changed from its original version as a compromise between Bramble, some parent teacher organizations and the PTA.

Cheryl Phipps, PTA legislative vice president, said the PTA changed its stance after consulting attorneys and hearing from unhappy members. She said the PTA worries the bill might result in less parental involvement rather than more.

"It puts an administrator in the position of having to say yes to everyone or no to everyone," Phipps said. She said the PTA worries busy administrators would find it easier to say "no."

Dawn Frandsen, a member of a Provo Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), said that shouldn't be a concern. Bramble decided to sponsor SB199 after some parents and PTO members said schools were not including them in decision-making and other activities because they weren't in the PTA. PTOs, unlike PTAs, aren't affiliated with a national group.

"Why is it a problem to have a superintendent or principal say, 'Today is the day I'd like to meet with all the parent groups'?" Frandsen said. "If you want to come, come; If you don't, don't."

Both Bramble and PTA leaders said it is unlikely they will be able to reach another compromise on the bill.

"When you sit down in good faith and negotiate a compromise and the parties agree and you act on that, it's more than frustrating," Bramble said. "It raises questions of integrity."

Phipps said the PTA also has concerns with a part of the bill that would make schools responsible for ensuring that all parent groups they work with follow the law. Phipps said the PTA supports giving parent groups equal opportunities, but believes SB199 would have too many unintended consequences. The PTA would rather see the Utah Board of Education craft a rule.

The PTA's about-face was just the latest turn SB199's roller-coaster journey. The PTA opposed the original version of the bill, which would have prohibited schools from working with parent groups that refused to waive dues upon request, such as the PTA. But Bramble, the PTA and PTO members sat down last week to hash out a compromise in which Bramble agreed to drop that part of the bill and only seek equal access for all parent groups. The PTA agreed to that compromise, but upon further review changed its stance once more and now opposes the bill.

The bill has passed out of the Senate and awaits House consideration.