BYLAWS

 

OF

THE CENTER SCHOOL

__________________________________________________

 

 APPROVED BY THE MEMBERSHIP ON   01/13/03

 

 MICHELE  BURGER

SECRETARY

 

 

CARIN DRANOFF

PTA President

                         

Article I - Name

 

The name of the association shall be: The Center School  PTA.

 

 

                                                         Article II - Objectives

 

1.   to provide support and resources to the school for the benefit and educational growth of the

children      

 

2.       to promote and help develop a cooperative working relationship between the parents and      staff of our school

 

3.   to develop parent leadership and build capacity for greater involvement

 

4.    to foster and encourage parent participation on all levels

 

5.    to provide opportunities and training for parents to participate in school governance and      

      decision-making.

 

 

 

                Article III - Membership

 

Section 1.          Eligibility          

 

Membership in the association shall be limited to parents, legally appointed guardians, and persons in parental relation to students currently attending The Center School.  In the beginning of each school year, a welcome letter from the association shall inform parents of the PTA and shall encourage their participation.  All teachers currently employed are also encouraged to attend. 

 

Section 2.          Donations                                

                      

Each family shall be requested to make a voluntary donation of $30.00.  Donations are not a requirement for membership, voting or running for office.

 

Section 3.          Voting Privileges:

 

Each family member of a child/children currently enrolled at The Center School shall be entitled to one vote.  Proxy voting or absentee balloting is prohibited.

 

Each teacher currently employed at The Center School shall be entitled to one vote.

 

 

Article IV - Officers

 

Section 1.          Titles

 

The officers of the association shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

 

 Section 2.          Term of Office

        

The term of office shall be from July 1 through June 30. Officers shall be elected in May for a one-year term beginning July 1.  Eligibility for office is limited to parents, guardians or persons in parental relation who are not employed at The Center School.

                                                                           

Section 3.          Duties of Officers

 

3.1        President:  The president shall preside at all meetings of the association and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.  The president shall provide leadership for its members.  The president shall appoint chairpersons of PTA committees with the approval of the Executive Board.  The president shall delegate responsibilities to other PTA members and shall encourage meaningful participation in all parent activities.  The president shall attend all regular meetings of the presidents’ council or high school federation and shall be a core member of the school leadership team.  The president shall meet regularly with the Executive Board members in accordance with these bylaws to plan the agendas for the general membership meetings.  The president shall be one of the signatories on checks. The president or his/her designee shall represent the PTA on district committees. The president shall assist with the June transfer of PTA records to the incoming Executive Board.

 

3.2        Vice President:  The vice-president shall assist the president and shall assume the president's duties in his/her absence or at the president’s request. The vice-president shall be one of the signatories on all checks.  The           vice-president shall assist with the June transfer of PTA records to the incoming Executive Board.

 

3.3        Secretary:  The secretary shall maintain the official record of the               proceedings and actions of all association meetings.  The responsibilities shall include notices, agendas, sign-in sheets and material distributed.  The secretary shall prepare and read the minutes of each association meeting and shall make minutes available upon request.  He/she shall maintain custody of the association’s records and reports.  The secretary shall sign and incorporate all amendments into the bylaws and shall ensure that copies of the amended bylaws are on file in the principal’s office.   The secretary shall be responsible for reviewing, maintaining and responding to all correspondence regarding the association. The secretary shall assist the treasurer with the June transfer of all PTA records to the incoming Executive Board. 

 

3.4        Treasurer:  The treasurer shall be responsible for all financial affairs and funds of the association.  The treasurer shall also be responsible for maintaining an updated record of income and expenditures and shall be one of the signatories on checks.  The treasurer shall adhere to and implement all financial procedures established by the association.  The treasurer shall be prepared to present and provide copies of financial reports at all association meetings.  The treasurer shall also prepare and provide the January 31st interim and June annual accounting reports. He/she shall make available all books or financial records for viewing by members upon request and for audit.  The treasurer shall prepare all financial records and assist the secretary with the June transfer of all PTA records to the incoming Executive Board. 

 

3.5        School Leadership Team Membership:  The president of the PTA shall automatically serve as a core member of the School Leadership Team. All other parent member representatives shall be elected by the general membership.  No person employed at The Center School shall be eligible to serve as a parent member representative on the School Leadership Team.

 

Section 4.          Election of Officers

 

                          4.1      Nominating Committee :  The nominating committee shall be established during the March general membership meeting.  The  nominating committee shall consist of three to five (3-5) members to be elected by the membership.  The majority must come from the membership.  The remaining members of the nominating committee shall be selected by the President, subject to the approval of the Executive Board. The nominating committee shall choose one of its members to serve as chairperson.  No person employed at The Center School shall be eligible to serve on the nominating committee.

 

                                    Members of the nominating committee are not eligible to run for office.  An eligible member of the nominating committee may be considered as a candidate if she/he immediately resigns from the nominating committee in writing.

 

                                    The nominating committee shall seek out the membership in writing, in English and other languages as appropriate, for recommendations of candidates for all offices.  The nominating committee will also be responsible for conducting the election process.  This includes the following:

 

¨       preparing and distributing all notices regarding this process in English and language spoken by parents, wherever possible, i.e., meeting notices, agendas, reminder notices, tear-off nomination forms, etc.

¨       preparing ballots, attendance sheets, ballot box, tally sheets and all other materials pertaining to the election.

¨       canvassing the membership for all eligible candidates.

¨       determining and verifying the eligibility of all interested candidates, prior to the election

¨       reporting the names to date of those candidates during the April meeting.

¨       ensuring that an opportunity is provided to all members allowing for nominations (this includes self-nomination) to be taken from the floor during the April  meeting.

¨       officially closing the nominations process during the April meeting.

¨       reporting the names of all eligible candidates and the positions they are seeking, to the membership at least two (2) weeks prior to the May  election.

¨       ensuring that only eligible members receive a ballot for voting.

¨       conducting the May election.

 

                          4.2      Additional Nominations:  At the April membership meeting, the nominating committee shall request additional nominations from the floor.  The nominating committee may also utilize tear-off nominating forms to reach additional eligible candidates.  Tear-off nominating forms must include a cut-off date not less than ten (10) days from the date of distribution.  All tear-off forms must be secured by the nominating committee in accordance with CR A-660.

                                   

                                4.3        Notices:  The meeting notice and agenda for the May general      membership election meeting shall be distributed not less than ten (10) days prior to the date.  All  meeting notices and agendas shall be available in English and translation, wherever possible. The distribution date shall appear on all notices.  It shall list all candidates in alphabetical order under the office for which they were nominated.

 

4.4           Voting Requirements:  There shall be one vote per family for the child/children currently attending The Center School.  Each teacher currently employed at The Center School shall be entitled to one vote. Voting by proxy or absentee ballot is prohibited.

                              

4.5           Election and Use of Ballot: 

 

¨   Voting shall be by written ballot in accordance with Chancellor’s

    Regulation A-660.

¨   Names of candidates shall appear on the ballot in alphabetical order

    under the title of the office for which they were nominated.

¨   Ballots shall be printed with instructions in English and other languages,

    as appropriate, wherever possible.

¨   Ballots shall be distributed following a member’s signing of the

    verification sheet.

¨   The elections shall be scheduled at a time that encourages maximum

    member participation.  This will require at least an evening session.

¨   Ballots shall be counted immediately following the election and in the

    presence of the members.

¨   Ballots shall be retained for six months by the chairperson of the

nominating committee.  If he/she will no longer be an eligible member after June 30, the ballots shall be turned over to the  incoming Secretary.

 

Section 5.          June Transfer of Records

 

The outgoing PTA Executive Board shall arrange for the orderly transfer of records and information of the PTA, which shall include an overview of PTA transactions for the school year, to the incoming Executive Board.  At least two meetings will be scheduled during the month of June for this purpose.  Any member of the Executive Board may request the assistance of the presidents’ council or high school federation during this process.

 

 

Section 6.          Certification of the Election and Installation of Officers

 

The results of the election shall be announced by the chairperson of the nominating committee or another committee member designated by the chairperson. The installation of new officers shall be held during the June general membership meeting

 

Section 7.               Vacancies

 A vacancy occurring in the office of president shall be filled by the first vice-president for the remainder of the term of office.  A vacancy occurring in any other position shall be filled by a special election process.  Officers who wish to resign their positions once an election has been certified, must do so in writing to the secretary, and, at that time, shall turn over all records to the secretary.  In the event of the resignation of the secretary, he/she must transfer records to the president.

  

Section 8.          Special Election Process

 

Special elections shall be held to fill any vacancy, other than the position of president.  The Executive Board shall be responsible for announcing any vacancies which may occur and ensuring that all vacancies are filled by the next regularly scheduled meeting of the association.  In those instances where a vacancy occurs in the required positions of treasurer and/or secretary, the Executive Board shall call for a special membership meeting in accordance with the provisions outlined in these bylaws.

                                   

Section 9.          Disciplinary Action

 

      Any officer who fails to attend three (3) consecutive Executive Board meetings without good cause following written notice from the Executive Board, shall be removed from office by recommendation of the Executive Board or motion from a member and two-thirds vote of the membership present. The association’s notice and agenda must cite that a vote will be taken by the membership as a disciplinary action against an Executive Board member.

                                                               

                        Officers and Executive Board members accused of misconduct or neglect of duty may be removed only after:

 

¨       A motion is presented by any PTA member during any meeting of the PTA assembly to appoint a review committee.  The motion must be approved by majority vote of the general membership present.

¨       The majority of the review committee must be comprised from the general membership.  Executive Board members against whom charges are being contemplated may not serve on the review committee.

¨       The review committee must investigate, examine and obtain all relevant documents, interview all pertinent witnesses, etc., in order to conduct their fact-finding review.  All pertinent facts and information must be considered by the committee.  The officer(s) against whom charges are being contemplated has the right to present relevant facts, documents and witnesses.

¨       The committee must present its findings and recommendations during a general membership meeting within a period not to exceed sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the establishment of the review committee.     The association’s notice and agenda must cite that a vote will be taken by the  membership regarding disciplinary action. The general membership shall then vote to remove or absolve the officer(s).

 

Article V - Executive Board

Section 1.          Composition

 

The Executive Board shall be composed of the elected officers of the association and chairpersons of standing committees.  Designated persons and community school board members shall be ineligible to serve as an elected officer.  No person employed at The Center School shall be eligible to serve on the Executive Board or as a parent member representative on the School Leadership Team. Officers shall be expected to attend all Executive Board meetings and shall be subject to removal under Article IV, Section 9 unless a good and valid reason is rendered in writing.

 

Section 2.          Meetings

 

Regularly scheduled meetings of the Executive Board shall be held monthly, September through June, on the last Monday  of every month at 6:00, unless such date shall fall on a legal or religious holiday, in which case the meeting shall be held on the following or previous Monday.

 

Section 3.          Voting

 

                                Each member of the Executive Board shall be entitled to one vote.

 

 

Section 4.          Quorum

 

Three members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum, allowing for official business to be transacted.

 

  

Article VI - Meetings

 

Section 1.          General Membership Meetings

 

1.1           The general membership meetings of the association shall be held on the first Monday of each month from September through June, at 6:00, unless such day falls on a legal or religious holiday.  In such instances, the meeting shall be held on the following Monday or previous Monday as determined by the Executive Board.   Written notice of each membership meeting shall be distributed in all applicable languages, where possible. A ten calendar day notice shall be required prior to the scheduled meeting.  The date of distribution shall appear on all notices.

 

1.2        All eligible members may attend and participate during general membership meetings and may speak to agenda items subject to restriction in these bylaws.

 

1.3        Observers may speak and otherwise participate, if acknowledged by the chair.

 

Section 2.          Order of Business

 

The order of business at meetings of the association, unless changed by the Executive Board shall be:

           

¨       Call to Order

¨       Reading and Approval of Minutes

¨       President’s Report

¨       Treasurer’s Report

¨       Principal’s Report

¨       School Leadership Team Report

¨       Committee Reports

¨       Old Business

¨       Adjournment                    

                                   

Section 3.          Quorum

 

                       A quorum of six  members of the association shall be required to   

                       conduct official business.

                 

Section 4.          Minutes