Bylaws of Hampden Elementary/Middle School PTO
Article I-Name, Description & Purpose
Section 1: Name- The name of the organization shall be the Hampden Elementary/Middle School PTO. The PTO is located at Hampden Elementary/Middle School, 3608 Chestnut Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21211.
Section 2: Description-The PTO is a non-profit organization that exists for charitable educational, and scientific purposes, including the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of 26 U.S.C. § 501.
Section 3: Purpose-The purpose of the PTO is to enhance and support the educational experience at Hampden Elementary/Middle School, to develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parental involvement, and to improve the environment at Hampden Elementary/Middle School through volunteer and financial support.
Article II-Membership
Section 1: Membership shall be automatically granted to all parents and guardians of Hampden Elementary/Middle School students, plus all staff at our school who pay their membership dues. The membership dues will be set annually. Members have voting privileges, one vote per membership purchased.
Article III-Officers
Section 1: Executive Board-The Executive Board shall consist of the following officers: President, Vice President, and Secretary. The School Principal or his/her designee is a voting member of the Executive Board. The School Family Council Parent Representatives are elected by the school body. School Family Council Representatives will be the voice for the Parents wants and needs and must be present at all School Family Council Meetings.
Section 2: Term Of Office-The term of office for all officers is two years beginning Officers may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office. Each July 1 of election year and ending June 30th of election year. Persons elected shall hold only one office at a time. When the voting year occurs, voting shall take place in the month of May to make for a smooth transition of the opening/closing of the new school year.
Section 3: Qualifications-Any PTO member in good standing may become an officer of the PTO. No persons with a conflict of interest whom stand on an outside fundraising committee shall hold office on said Hampden Elementary/Middle School PTO.
Section 4: Duties-Executive Board-Develop the PTO's annual budget, establish and oversee committees to conduct the work of the PTO, establish fundraising programs, approve by majority vote of the Board unbudgeted expenditures of no more than $200.00.
President-Preside at General PTO meetings and Executive Board meetings, serve as the official representative of the PTO, and retain all official records of the PTO.
Vice President-Oversee in the absence of the President and attend all meetings.
Secretary-Record and distribute minutes of all Executive Board meetings, all General meetings, prepare agendas for official PTO meetings, manage communications and marketing for the PTO including, but not limited to PTO newsletter, e-mail broadcasts, website, bulletin boards, etc.
Section 5: Board Meetings- The Executive Board shall meet monthly during the school year, or at the discretion of the President.
Section 6: Removal- An officer can be removed from office for failure to fulfill his/her duties, after reasonable notice, by a majority vote for the Executive Board.
Section 7: Vacancy- If a vacancy occurs on the Executive Board, the President shall appoint a PTO member to fill the vacancy, for the remainder of the officer's term.
Article IV-Meetings
Section 1: General PTO Meetings- General PTO meetings shall be held to conduct the business of the PTO. Meetings shall be held monthly during the school year or at the discretion of the Executive Board.
Section 2: Voting- Each member in attendance at a PTO meeting is eligible to vote, one vote per membership. Absentee or proxy votes are not allowed.
Section 3 : Quorum- Eight(8) members of the PTO present and voting constitute quorum for the purpose of voting.
Article V-Financial Policies
Section 1: Fiscal Year- The fiscal year of the PTO begins July 1 and ends June 30 of the following year.
Section 2: Banking- All funds shall be kept in a checking account in the name of the Board which shall be the President and the Treasurer and held at a local financial institution.
Section 3: Ending Balance- The organization shall leave a minimum of $500.00 in the treasury at the end of each fiscal year.
Section 4: Contracts- Contract signing authority is limited to the President or the President's designee.
Article VI-Bylaw Amendments
Amendments to the bylaws may be proposed by any PTO member. Amendments presented at a PTO meeting shall be considered for voting at a subsequent meeting. 2/3 approval of all members present and voting is required to adopt an amendment to the Bylaws.
Article VII-Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the PTO, any funds remaining shall be donated to (our school).
Article VIII-Parliamentary Authority
The authority for this organization shall be "Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised".
These bylaws were adopted on June 1, 2015.