PTO By-Laws

Bylaws of the John H. Castle Elementary School
Parent Teacher Organization
Paradise, IN (Warrick County School Corporation)
Amended April 2004

ARTICLE I (NAME)

The name of this association shall be the JOHN H. CASTLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION.

ARTICLE II (OBJECTIVE)

The purpose of the PTO is to improve education at John H. Castle by promoting cooperation, support and communication among parents, teachers and staff.

ARTICLE III (POLICIES)

Section 1. This organization shall not be affiliated with any other organization, except
that it shall have the right to cooperate and coordinate programs with other
organizations within the immediate community, which are to the advantage of
John H. Castle Elementary School and its students.

Section 2. The program of this organization shall be educational and shall be developed
through committees and projects.

Section 3. This organization shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan.

Section 4. This organization shall not seek to direct the administrative activities of the
school or to control its policies.

ARTICLE IV (MEMBERSHIP & DUES)

Section 1. Any person interested in the objectives of the organization and willing to
uphold its policies and subscribe to its bylaws may become a member upon
payment of dues as hereinafter provided.

Section 2. The annual dues shall be all-inclusive for membership in the John H. Castle
Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.

Section 3. The annual dues of this organization shall be five dollars ($5.00) per family.

Section 4. The organization shall conduct an annual fall enrollment of members, but
persons may be admitted to membership at any time.

Section 5. Only members of the organization shall be eligible to participate in the
business meetings and receive member benefits (e.g. student directory, teacher
stipends, etc.) or to serve in any of its elective or appointive positions.

Section 6. A membership shall be valid through October 1 of the ensuing school year.

ARTICLE V (OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION)

Section 1. A.) The officers of this organization shall be
President
Three (3) Vice Presidents
Vice President of Funded Programs
Vice President of School Activities
Vice President of Special Events
Secretary
Treasurer
It is strongly suggested that the president and one other board member
have prior membership on the John H. Castle PTO Executive Committee.
B.) Officers shall be elected annually in the month of April.
C.) Officers shall assume their official duties on June 1 and shall serve for a term of one (1) year and/or until their successors are elected.
D.) No person shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office unless no one volunteers to fill the position after notification is sent to the current board and the membership at large.
E.) If no one individual is willing to assume the role of President, then two individuals may share the duties and responsibilities as co-presidents.
F.) The immediate past president or one other past officer will serve as a non-voting PTO board advisor.

Section 2. A.) There shall be a nominating committee consisting of three (3) members,
one of whom shall be selected from the executive committee by the
executive committee and two (2) selected from the organization by the
executive committee at least one month prior to the annual election. The
president shall appoint one of the three to serve as chairman.
B.) The nominating committee shall select nominees for each office to be
filled and report at the regular board meeting in April. If the offices of
president and one other executive committee member can not be filled
from the existing board membership, the committee will need to fill the
slate from the at-large membership.
C.) Following the report of the nominating committee, an opportunity shall be given for nominations from the floor.
D.) Only those who consent to serve if elected shall be eligible for nomination either by the committee or from the floor.

Section 3. A vacancy occurring in an office at any other time shall be filled by A
MAJORITY VOTE OF THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, due notice of each election having been given.
In case a vacancy occurs in the office of the president, the vice president of
funded programs shall assume the office of president. If the vice president of
funded programs declines, then the vice president of school activities will
assume the office of president. If the vice president of school activities
declines, the vice president of special events will assume the duties of
president.

ARTICLE VI (DUTIES OF OFFICERS)

Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the
executive committee; shall be a member ex officio of all committees except
the nominating committee; and shall perform such other duties as may be
prescribed in these bylaws or assigned to him/her by the organization or by
the executive committee.

Section 2. The vice president of funded programs shall act as an aide to the president and
shall perform the duties of the president in the absence of that officer, as well
as oversee activities of committees placed under the purview of this vice
president.

Section 3. The vice president of School Activities will oversee activities of committees
placed under the purview of this vice president.

Section 4. The vice president of special events will oversee activities of committees
placed under the purview of this vice president.

Section 5. The secretary shall keep accurate records of all meetings of the association
and of the executive committee and shall perform such other duties as may be
delegated by the organization or the executive committee.

Section 6. The treasurer shall receive all monies of the organization; shall keep an
accurate record of receipts and expenditures; and shall pay out funds only as
authorized by the executive committee. The treasurer shall present a statement
of account at every meeting of the organization and at other times when
requested by the executive committee and shall make a full annual report at
the May meeting. The treasurer�s accounts shall be examined annually by an
auditor by July 1.

ARTICLE VII (MEETINGS)

Section 1. Regular meetings of this organization shall be held at John H. Castle
Elementary School on the first Friday of each month during the school year,
unless otherwise provided by the organization, seven days notice having been
given by the executive committee.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the executive committee, seven days notice
having been given.

Section 3. The annual meeting shall be in April.

Section 4. Twelve (12) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
in any meeting of this organization.

Section 5. The privilege of holding office, introducing motions, debating and voting shall
be limited to members whose current dues are paid.

ARTICLE VIII (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE)

Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the organization.

Section 2. The duties of the executive committee shall be (a) to transact necessary
business in the intervals between organization meetings and such other
business as may be referred to it by the organization; (b) to monitor and
approve work of standing committees; (c) to present a report at the regular
business meetings of the organization; (d) to appoint an auditor to audit the
treasurer�s accounts; (e) to prepare and submit to the organization for approval
a budget for the fiscal year; and (f) to approve routine bills with the limits of
the budget.

Section 3. Regular business meetings of the executive committee shall be held during the
school year, the time to be fixed by the committee.

Section 4. The executive committee must approve in advance any expenditures not
specifically itemized in the approved annual budget.

ARTICLE IX (PTO BOARD)

Section 1. The PTO Board shall include the executive committee, chairmen of the
standing committees, and the principal of the school or his representative. The
PTO Board members will report on activity to the general membership.

Section 2. Standing committees shall be created annually by the executive committee as
may be required to promote the objectives and interests of the organization.
The chairmen of the standing committees shall be selected by the executive
committee and the principal of the school or his representative. No chairman
shall serve more than three (3) consecutive terms in the appointed position
unless the position cannot be filled.

Section 3. The chairmen of all standing committees shall present plans of work to the
executive committee, and no committee work shall be undertaken without the
approval of the executive committee.

ARTICLE X (GENERAL MEMBERSHIP)
A vote by the general membership is required to approve the annual PTO budget. Any expenditures exceeding $500 for items not included in the budget also must be approved by a vote of the general membership.

ARTICLE XI (FISCAL YEAR)

The fiscal year of this organization shall begin on June 1 and end on the following May 31.

ARTICLE XII (PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY)

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a
two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting provided notice of the
proposed amendment(s) shall have been given at the previous meeting or was
sent to members in writing at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting when
the amendment(s) are to be considered, and provided the amendment(s) are
not inconsistent or in conflict with the articles on incorporation.

Section 2. A committee may be appointed to submit a revised set of bylaws as a
substitute for these bylaws only by a majority vote at a meeting of the
organization, or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the executive committee.

Section 3. The articles of incorporation may be amended at any regular or special
meeting of the organization by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present
and voting, provided notice of such meeting shall have been given in writing
to all members of the organization thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE XIII

RELINQUISHMENT CLAUSE
If John H. Castle Elementary PTO should be dissolved, its assets shall be turned over to a designated organization or agency with approval of a membership majority present at a meeting of PTO before it is dissolved.

DISSOLUTION CLAUSE
PTO may be dissolved using the same procedure as for amendment and bylaw revision.