BYLAWS
OF EAST TAUNTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (ETES)
PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO)
ARTICLE I NAME
The name of this organization is East Taunton Elementary School (ETES)
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization is to aid the students of ETES in achieving
their fullest potential by providing educational and personal enrichment,
and by encouraging the cooperative interaction of parents, teachers, and the
community.
ARTICLE III SCOPE
In providing educational and personal enrichment to the students of ETES,
the PTO shall help the students and staff by supporting the various student
and staff enrichment activities, providing a forum for parent, teacher, and
student interaction through school events and monthly meetings and engaging
in fundraising projects.
ARTICLE IV MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING ELIGIBILITY
Section 1. All parents or guardians of students enrolled at ETES and
all staff shall be voting members of the PTO.
Section 2. A quorum of the membership shall consist of those members
present at any regular or special membership meeting of the PTO.
Section 3. Members shall be notified of all upcoming meetings and
events through the PTO Website and written notices distributed to all
students.
Section 4. No dues shall be collected.
ARTICLE V OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The ETES PTO officers shall consist of a Chairperson (or Co-
Chairs), Secretary, Treasurer, and Principal who together shall comprise the
Executive Board. At minimum, the Executive Board must have a Chairperson,
Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive Board may also include Chairs of
Committees that the Executive Board may designate to serve on a temporary or
permanent basis.
Section 2. The voting members of the organization shall elect the
Chairperson(s), Secretary, and Treasurer. Elections shall be held in the
month of May or June each year for a one-year term. A majority of the votes
cast by the voting members shall be necessary for election. Any vacancy
occurring during the year shall be filled by the majority vote of the
members of the Executive Board at a regular or special meeting.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall manage the affairs of the ETES PTO
between meetings of the Membership. It is the policy-making body and may
exercise all the powers and authority granted to the organization by law.
Section 4. Each member of the Executive Board shall serve for a term of
one (1) year. Vacancies before the expiration of a member’s term shall be
filled by a majority vote of the remaining board members. In the event of a
tie vote, the Chairperson(s) shall choose the succeeding member. Committee
Chairs will nominate their successors. A member elected to fill a vacancy
shall be elected for the unexpired term of that member's predecessor in
office.
Section 5. Duties of the President
a. Fulfills leadership role for PTO activities.
b. In collaboration with the Executive Board Members, develops agendas
for Executive Board, and membership meetings.
c. Presides over Executive Board and Membership meetings.
d. Keeps parents, teachers, and community apprised of PTO activities
and acts as liaison between them.
e. Shall cast the deciding vote in case of a tie at Executive Board and
Membership Meetings.
f. Approves publicity and communication including submittals to the PTO
website and T.E.N.
Section 7. Duties of Secretary
a. Keeps written record and presents minutes of all meetings of the PTO
and the Executive Board.
b. Keeps a current list of voting members.
c. Keeps an updated copy of the PTO Bylaws.
d. Shall be responsible for communication to the members.
e. Shall ensure that all notices are given in accordance with these
Bylaws.
Section 8. Duties of Treasurer
a. Keeps records of all receipts and disbursements of monies.
b. Coordinates with all Committees and Executive Board Members to make
deposits, and pays bills and reimbursements as needed.
c. Maintains all financial records, prepares financial reports on a
monthly basis with a final financial report at the close of the school year,
and makes financial reports available to PTO.
d. Assists Committees with budget reports as needed.
e. Shall prepare all necessary tax returns and documentation.
f. With the support of the Executive Board, shall be responsible for
coordination with any outside accountant, auditor, or governmental entity
for any audit or review.
ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committee Chairs shall keep a procedure book or file
detailing activities, responsibilities, and expenses.
Section 2. Members may chair more than one Committee per term.
Section 3. Committee meetings shall be called by the Committee Chairs
and shall meet as often as is necessary to carry out their functions. The
Committee Chair shall provide the PTO Chairperson(s) with periodic status
reports.
Section 4. Publicity and communications shall be cleared by the PTO
Chairperson.
Section 5. A financial report shall be made to the Treasurer within 30
days after each fundraising event.
ARTICLE VII MEETINGS
Section 1. All Membership and Executive Board meetings shall be open to
interested parties.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall meet at the discretion of the
Chairperson(s) and/or the Principal.
Section 3. A quorum necessary for the transaction of business of the
Executive Board shall consist of a majority of the members of the Executive
Board present at the meeting.
Section 4. A majority vote of the voting members present at any PTO
meeting shall be required for action to be taken by the organization.
Section 5. Members shall be notified of all upcoming general or special
meetings through either the PTO website or through written notice
distributed to all students.
ARTICLE VIII FINANCES AND CONTRACTS
Section 1. The Executive Board shall present to the membership at the
first regular meeting of the school year a budget of anticipated revenue and
expenses for the year. The budget shall be used to guide the activities of
the PTO during the year. Any substantial deviation from the budget must be
approved in advance by the membership.
Section 2. The Executive Board is authorized to enter into contracts or
agreements for the purchase of materials or services on behalf of the
organization as long as the contracts and agreements comply with applicable
regulations, laws, and procedures. The Executive Board may authorize any
officer or officers to enter into said contracts or agreements.
Section 3. Non-administrative expenditures over $250 shall be
authorized by a majority vote of the voting members present at a general or
special PTO meeting. Expenditures under $500, emergency expenditures, or
expenditures involving legal or attorney matters concerning the organization
shall be at the discretion of the Executive Board. Administrative
expenditures shall be at the discretion of the Executive Board.
Section 4. PTO checks may be signed by the Chairperson(s) or
Treasurer. All PTO checks over $3,000 must be signed by the Treasurer and
one other Executive Board member.
Section 5. The Executive Board shall receive the final Treasurer’s
report annually. The Executive Board may conduct an external review of the
final Treasurer’s report and may have the accounts examined annually by a
non-member accounting specialist who, if satisfied that the Treasurer’s
annual report is correct, shall sign a statement of that fact at the end of
the report.
ARTICLE IX CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Section 1. If a member of the organization has a financial interest
conflicting with the interest of the organization, the individual must bring
the potential conflict to the attention of the Executive Board and the
Membership and refrain from deliberating or voting on any decision with
respect to the matter.
Section 2. Executive Board members must notify the Board if they are
receiving any non-standard terms or treatment from ETES.
ARTICLE X DISBANDING OF PTO
The PTO can be disbanded after 30 days notice to the membership. A vote
shall be taken at a membership meeting and remaining assets shall be
disbursed for the benefit of the students of ETES under the oversight of the
Principal.
ARTICLE XI BYLAWS AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the voting members present
at a general or special meeting.
These Bylaws were published for review by the membership on January 9, 2007
and were adopted by the membership by a majority vote during a meeting
properly called on February 13, 2007 and are effective immediately.
