J.H. Castle Elementary School

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.