Article I              Name

The name of this organization shall be the Beall Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).

Article II            Objectives-Mission

A.                To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, and community.

B.                 To bring closer the relationship of home and school so that parents and teachers may cooperate in the education of the child.

C.                 To enhance the educational facilities and opportunities for the students of Beall Elementary School that are not otherwise provided for in the Beall Elementary or Allegany County operating budgets.

Article III            Policies

A.                This organization shall neither seek to direct the administrative activities of the school nor to control its policies.

B.                 This organization may make suggestions to the administration concerning activities of the school, if such suggestion is made toward the betterment of conditions for all concerned.  (i.e., students, teachers, administrators, and parents.)           

Article IV            Membership and Dues

A.                Any parent, guardian, or family member of a Beall Elementary Student or any member of the Beall Elementary School faculty and staff who is willing to uphold the policies of this organization may become a member.

B.                 An annual enrollment of members shall be conducted; additional members shall be accepted at any time.  All previous year’s memberships expire on the first day of the new academic school year.

C.                 The Executive Board, at the Summer Executive Board meeting. shall determine dues for the coming year.

D.                Upon payment of dues an individual becomes a voting member of the organization.  For all votes each member is entitled one vote.

Article V            Officers and Elections

A.                Officers

1.       The Officers shall consist of the following: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

2.       Officers shall be elected at the final members’ meeting of the school year by the members present.

3.       Officers shall assume their official duties at the close of the current school year of their election.  (i.e. last day of school in June following their election.), and shall serve for a term of one (1) year.

4.       The privilege of holding office shall be limited to members whose dues are paid.

B.                 Elections

1.       The Nominating Team shall oversee the election procedures.  There shall be a  

Nominating Team consisting of one to three (1 - 3) persons.  The Nominating Team shall be appointed during the Spring meeting of the Executive Board after announcement of open offices.

2.       Nominees for office shall consist of all those individuals who have expressed a willingness to serve in a particular office.

3.       Lacking any volunteers who have expressed a willingness to serve in a particular office, the Nominating Team shall find potential candidates.

4.       The Nominating Team shall present a slate of nominees for all offices to be filled and report the slate of nominees to the PTO members in writing no later than the end of April.  Following the report from the Nominating Team, an opportunity shall be given for nominations from the membership at large.

5.       Only those who have consented to serve, if elected, shall be eligible for nomination, either by the Nominating Team or from the membership at large.

6.       At the May election meeting of the general membership, the Nominating Team shall present a ballot representing the list of candidates for each position to be elected.

7.       A written ballot will be taken and counted by the Nominating Team.  If only one candidate is running for a position, the ballot will reflect a yes/no vote on the individual.

8.       A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board.

Article VI            Duties of Officers

A.                The President shall:

1.    Preside over all meetings and functions of the PTO including the Executive Board meetings.

2.       Serve, or appoint a designee to serve, as ex officio member of all teams except the Nominating Team.

3.       Respond to and act upon any communication for the general membership

4.       Take any necessary administrative action while reserving matters of policy for action by the Executive Committee or general membership.

5.       Represent the PTO in the community.

6.       Prepare and pass on related information about the office to the successor at the May meeting.

B.                 The Vice President shall:

1.       Assist the president in the discharge of his/her duties.

2.       In the temporary absence or disability of the President, act in his/her stead.

3.       Become President if the office becomes vacant during that term.

4.       Oversee all endeavors of the Activities Team.

5.       Prepare and pass on related information about the office to the successor at the May meeting.

C.                 The Secretary shall:

1.       Keep minutes of all business meetings and Executive Board meetings.

2.       Retain possession of By-Laws and all business meeting minutes and provide copies of such as needed by the members and Executive Board.

3.       Oversee all endeavors of the Communications Team.

4.       Prepare and pass on related information about the office to the successor at the May meeting.

D.                The Treasurer shall:

1.       Receive all monies of the organization.

2.       Keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures.

3.       Pay out funds only as authorized by the Executive Board.

4.       Present a statement of account at every meeting of the organization and other times when requested by the Executive Board.

5.       Make available a financial statement to the general membership in May.

6.       The Treasurer’s accounts shall be examined annually by an auditor who is satisfied that the Treasurer’s annual report is correct and shall sign a statement of that fact at the end of the report.

7.       Oversee all endeavors of the Finance Team

8.       Prepare and pass on related information about the office to the successor at the May meeting.

Article VII             Meetings

A.                The annual planning meeting of the Executive Board shall be held in the summer prior to the new academic year, the exact date to be decided upon by the newly elected Executive Board.

B.                 The Executive Board shall decide upon the regular meetings of the organization.  At a minimum, one (1) regular meeting should be held during the months of September, February, and May.

C.                 The organization or the Executive Board may call special meetings.  The President will give appropriate notification to the school populace.

D.                Three officers present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum necessary for the transaction of business of the organization.

E.                 There shall be at least one required Executive Board meeting in the academic year.

Article VIII            Executive Board

A.        The Executive Board is a representative group of the organization and shall consist of the elected Officers, the Activities Team Leader, the Communications Team Leader, and the Finance Team Leader.  Also serving in ex-officio positions are the Principal of Beall Elementary and one Faculty Liaison.

B.        The duties of the Executive Board shall be:

1.       To assist, as necessary, the organization or teams requiring or needing assistance.

2.       To create standing and temporary teams necessary to carry out the objectives and aims of the organization.

3.       To present a report of plans, projects, activities, etc., at the regular meetings.

4.       To prepare and present an annual budget to the membership for approval at the September meeting.

C.                 The duties of the Activities Team, Communications Team and Finance Team are as follows:

1.       Activities Team – This team will oversee and organize all special events that are for the purpose of recognizing and rewarding the students and/or faculty.

2.       Communications Team – This team will oversee and organize all efforts to communicate with the student body, parents and faculty via written, oral, and/or electronic means of communication.

3.      Finance Team – This team will oversee and organize all efforts to raise funds for the organization-including fundraising events and corporate partnerships.  They will also oversee the membership of the organization—tracking and ensuring that dues have been paid, etc.

Article IX            Standing and Special Teams

A.                Standing and special teams shall be determined as deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

Article X            Parliamentary Procedure

A.        Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern this organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these By-Laws.

Article XI            Amendments

A.                These by-laws may be amended or revised at any regular business meeting of the organization by a majority vote of the members present.

Drafted by the 2003–2004 Beall Elementary School PTO Executive Board on: 02/24/04 

By–Laws adopted by the PTO organization on: 04/20/04