Date
presented to Executive Committee: ___________________
Date
approved by PTO membership: ______________________
Sam Houston Elementary
Parent Teacher Organization
Bylaws
Sam Houston Elementary
207 Oakdale Drive, Lebanon, TN 37087
PHONE (615) 444-7494 FAX
(615) 443-0243
ARTICLE I
Name
This organization shall be called Sam Houston Elementary School Parent Teacher
Organization (S.H.E. P.T.O.)
ARTICLE II
Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the welfare of Sam Houston
Elementary School and the students therein, to bring into closer relation the
parents and the school and to support the activities and programs of the school
through financial and/or voluntary support.
ARTICLE III
Policies
(Section 1) This organization shall be a non-profit organization. The
use of funds, dues, and proceeds derived by this organization shall be for
the benefit and improvement of the school. The funds may not be used to support
any organized charitable drive.
(Section 2) This organization shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian,
non-partisan and non-political. The names of its members or officers shall
not be used in any manner other than in the regular work of the organization.
(Section 3) This organization shall not seek to direct the administrative
activities of the school or to control its policies.
(Section 4) The checking account of the organization shall require the
S.H.E. P.T.O. President, S.H.E. Principal, and Treasurer on the account. The
checking account requires two signatures on checks written on behalf of the
S.H.E. P.T.O., the required signatures are the S.H.E. Principal and S.H.E.
P.T.O. President.
(Section 5) All Checks written on behalf of the S.H.E. P.T.O. shall
have documentation of reason for funds spent. All financial documental
shall be kept in a safe secure location.
(Section 6) The Treasurer shall give account of financial standing of
the SHE PTO, with disclosure of checks written since previous meeting.
(Section 7) In the event of the dissolution of the organization,
a committee shall be immediately appointed by the organization to disburse
all funds on hand within thirty days of the dissolution date. Such disbursement
shall be for the benefit of the school, under the laws of the State of Tennessee.
ARTICLE IV
Any parent or legal guardian, with a child currently enrolled in Sam Houston
Elementary School interested in the purposes for which this organization is
established and willing to uphold its policies and subscribe to its bylaws
may become a member.
ARTICLE V
Officers and Their Election
(Section 1) The officers of the organization shall be a President, Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Sergeant-At-Arms, and Teacher Representatives
from each grade or others as determined who shall be chosen from among those
who are members of the organization.
(Section 2) The Executive Committee shall consist of the President,
Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Sergeant-at-arms, Teacher
Representative board members and the Principal (ex-officio). The Executive
Committee may make decisions on an ad hoc basis between meetings.
(Section 3) These offices shall be held for one year. Elections shall
take place each spring prior to the close of the academic year. Officers shall
assume their duties immediately following the close of the elementary school
academic year. Officers shall be restricted to two consecutive terms in the
office served.
(Section 4) The Nominating Committee shall consist of two members of
the Executive Committee and two persons from the membership. The nominating
committee shall select the candidates for the offices mentioned above and present
a slate of officers to the membership at the meeting prior to the last meeting
of the school year. Election and installation of officers shall be at the final
meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor and voting shall
be limited to nominees.
(Section 5) All elections shall be by majority vote. Each member present
to vote shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of
the members.
(Section 6) Any vacancy may be filled by a majority vote of the Executive
Committee. The newly appointed officer would serve for the remainder of the
current term.
(Section 7) The principal of Sam Houston Elementary School shall be
an ex officio member of the Executive Committee. Furthermore, the principal
shall be the official representative of the school and shall present all suggested
projects to the proper school officials for approval.
(Section 8) The President and Treasurer upon being elected, but prior
to being appointed, shall have a criminal background completed by the Tennessee
Bureau of Investigation. If it is found that the President or Treasurer has
a felony on their record, that individual will not assume their elected position.
At which time there will be a meeting as soon as possible to hold another election. If it is not possible to hold a full PTO meeting, the executive board will hold an emergency meeting to appoint an acting President or Treasurer until such time a meeting of the full PTO can take place.
ARTICLE VI
Duties of Officers
(Section 1) The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization
and of the executive committee, shall appoint the committees and committee
chairmen, and shall perform all other duties pertaining to the office.
(Section 2) The Vice-President shall take charge of all responsibilities
of the president in his/her absence. He/she shall also work in any capacity
delegated by the president and executive committee for the fulfillment of all
school related activities, fundraisers, etc. It is also the responsibility
of this office to ensure the Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised are
(Section 3) The Secretary shall keep a complete record of the
proceedings of each meeting and read the minutes for approval, and shall perform
other such duties, as may be delegated.
(Section 4) The Treasurer shall collect all dues and money forthcoming
from any and all projects and make a clear record of the same and report thereon
to the membership whenever called upon to do so. The Treasurer shall pay all
bills and accounts against the organization when properly certified. Two signatures
will be required on all checks. The Treasurer is responsible for financial
integrity, monthly report of income and expense and year-end reporting of income,
expenditures and remaining balance.
(Section 5) The Historian shall be responsible for pictorial accounts
of school related activities and shall perform other such duties as may be
delegated.
(Section 6) The Sergeant–At-Arms shall keep order during its meetings
to enforce order at the direction of the chair and to assist in practical details
of organizing meetings. If necessary, forcibly remove any members who are overly
rowdy or disruptive. It is also the responsibility of this office
to ensure the Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised are used during
all SHE PTO meetings.
(Section 7) The President and Principal may transact business of the
organization up to $500.00 as necessary. However, no action shall be in conflict
with that taken by the voting body of the organization.
ARTICLE VII
Committees
(Section 1) Committees are formed to provide a specific service for
one year or more. Committees may be appointed or dissolved by the Executive
Committee.
(Section 2) Coordinators support service functions within the school
and representatives serve as liaisons as needed.
ARTICLE VIII
Meetings
(Section 1) The organization will meet on a regular basis, with a minimum
of 5 meetings during the school year. The dates of the meetings shall be flexible
so as to adjust to the school calendar.
(Section 2) Members present at a duly called meeting shall constitute
a quorum.
(Section 3) The privilege of holding office, making motions, debating
and voting shall be limited to representatives of the organization of any parent
or legal guardian, with a child currently enrolled in Sam Houston Elementary
School interested in the purposes for which this organization is established
and willing to uphold its policies and subscribe to its bylaws that are members
and the teachers and administrative staff of Sam Houston Elementary School,
in Lebanon, TN.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a
two-thirds vote of the members present and voting provided the proposed amendment
has been presented through the executive committee and has been read at the
previous meeting of the organization.
Parliamentary Authority
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the SHE
PTO in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are consistent
with these bylaws.
Submitted by 2006/2007 President William A. Glover, III ------January 2007