BYLAWS
OF
Parent-Teacher Organization of the
Marblehead Community Charter Public School
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization is the Parent Teacher Organization of MCCPS. It is a local collaboration of parents and teachers organized under the authority of the MCCPS. For convenience, the organization shall be referred to in these bylaws as the PTO.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSES
Section 1. The purposes of the MCCPS PTO are:
- To support the mission of the MCCPS by working in collaboration with the teachers, administration, and staff members to “assist students in reaching their highest intellectual, social, emotional, and physical potential.”
- To bring into closer relation the home and the school, so that parents, teachers, and staff members may cooperate intelligently and effectively in the education of the children enrolled at the MCCPS.
- To enlist as many parents as possible in meaningful roles in MCCPS, so the needs of the students and the institution will be served.
- To promote the welfare of MCCPS children at home, in school, and within the larger community.
Section 2. The purpose of the PTO is promoted through collaboration between parents, teachers, administrators, and staff members to be developed through conferences, committees, projects, and programs that will be governed and qualified by the basic policies set forth in Article III.
Section 3. The PTO is organized for the charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code (hereinafter "Internal Revenue Code").
ARTICLE III: BASIC POLICIES
The following are basic policies of the of MCCPS PTO:
a. The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
b. The organization shall work to promote the health and welfare of MCCPS students and shall seek to promote collaboration between the parents, the school, and the community at large.
c. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, officers or other private individuals except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II.
d. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (i) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
e. Upon the dissolution of the organization, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the organization, the remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit funds, foundations, or organizations that have established their tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
f. The organization or members in their official capacities shall not, directly or indirectly, participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office or the Board of Trustees; or devote more than an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERS AND DUES
Section 1. Membership in this PTO shall be made available without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical handicap. Membership will consist of current parents, current teachers, and current staff.
Section 2. This local PTO shall conduct an annual enrollment of members, but may admit persons to membership at any time provided they meet the requirements of Article IV: Section 1.
Section 3. This local PTO has suggested annual Dues of $10.00 per family.
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the MCCPS PTO shall be an Administrator, a Financial Administrator, and three Community Chairs. The Administrator will be a current parent of the school; the Financial Administrator will be a current parent of the school; the three Community Chairs can be a parent of the school, a teacher/staff member, and an open seat, respectively.
Section 2. Officers shall be elected by ballot in the month of March at
Exhibition. Only current PTO members may vote in an election.
Section 3. The vote shall be conducted by ballot by the PTO membership.
When there is but one candidate for an office, the ballot for that
office may be dispensed with and the election may be held by
voice vote. A majority vote shall be required for the election.
Section 4. The following provisions shall govern the qualifications and eligibility of individuals to be officers of the MCCPS PTO:
a. Each officer shall be a member of the MCCPS PTO.
b. No officer may be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office, except in that situation where a qualified officer has agreed to extend their term in the absence of a qualified successor and as approved by the members of the MCCPS PTO.
c. A person who has served in an office for more than one half of a full term shall be deemed to have served a full term in such office.
Section 5. Officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the current school year and shall serve for a term of one year or until their successors are elected.
Section 6. A vacancy occurring in the office of Administrator shall be filled for the remainder of the un-expired term by the Parent Community Chair. A vacancy in any other office other than the president shall be filled by the PTO Administrators and Community Chairs.
Section 7. There shall be a nominating committee composed of at least three members who shall be elected by this local PTO at a regular general membership meeting by January to the election of officers, as outlined in Article VI, Section 2. If three members do not volunteer for the nominating committee, the current PTO will make nominations.
- The nominating committee shall elect its own chair.
- The nominating committee shall nominate at least one eligible person for each office to be filled, and will report its nominees at the regular general membership meeting in February, at which time additional nominations may be made from the floor. A thirty day notice of the meeting, including the slate of officers to be presented, must be given to the membership.
- Only those individuals who are current members of this local PTO and who have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated for, or elected to, such office.
Section 8. When an officer fails to attend three consecutive meetings without adequate excuse or when an officer is not fulfilling the responsibilities of the office as prescribed in the bylaws, or engages in conduct which the PTO Administrators and Community Chairs determines to be injurious to the organization or its purposes, the Administrators and Community Chairs may by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote, take such action as it determines appropriate, which may include: (1) asking for the resignation of the officer: (2) making a formal recommendation that the officer be removed from office following a hearing conducted in accordance with Due Process.
“Due Process’ Procedures: Following the two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote recommending that the officer be removed from office: (1) The officer must be given fifteen (15) days written notice of the hearing to remove the officer from office; (2) The written notice shall contain the reasons for the proposed removal, and shall be mailed certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last address of the officer shown on the PTO’s records; (3) At the hearing, the officer must be given an opportunity to address the Administrators and Community Chairs, either orally or in writing; (4) Not less than five (5) days following the hearing, the Administrators and Community Chairs shall convene and vote whether the officer will be removed from office; (5) A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Administrators and Community Chairs shall be sufficient to remove the officer from office; (6) The removal vote shall be recorded in the Administrator and Community Chair meeting minutes and shall specify the number of voting in favor of and against such removal.”
ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The Administrator shall:
- Preside at all meetings of this local PTO;
- Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees of the PTO except the nominating committee;
- Coordinate the work of the officers and committees of this PTO in order that the purposes may be promoted;
- May appoint a parliamentarian, subject to the approval of the general membership of this PTO;
e. Perform such other duties as may be provided for by these bylaws, prescribed by the parliamentary authority, or directed by the Administrators and Community Chairs;
f. Be a current parent of MCCPS.
Section 2. The Financial Administrator shall:
- Have custody of all the funds of this PTO;
- Maintain a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures of this local PTO;
- Make disbursements as authorized by the president or Administrators and Community Chairs or this local PTO in accordance with the budget adopted by this local PTO;
d. Have checks signed by one person: the treasurer or another current officer.
e. Present a financial statement at every meeting of this local PTO and at other times when requested by the Administrators and Community Chairs;
f. Present an annual treasurer’s report to this local PTO at the annual meeting;
g. Have the accounts examined annually by an auditor elected by the membership or an audit committee of not fewer than three members who, shall sign a statement of that fact at the end of the report they are satisfied that the annual treasurer’s report is correct;
h. Have the accounts audited, when a person who has signature authority leaves the board. This is to be done by an audit committee selected by the Administrators and Community Chairs at least two weeks before the meeting at which the officers assume their duties;
i. Complete a form 990 or 990EZ with a Schedule A. If gross receipts exceed $25,000 annually, then submit the form to the IRS;
- File form PC with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office;
- Perform such other duties as may be provided for by these bylaws, prescribed by the parliamentary authority, or directed by the president or the Administrators and Community Chairs.
- Be a current parent of MCCPS.
Section 3. The Parent Community Chair shall:
- Record the minutes of all meetings of the MCCPS PTO;
- Be prepared to read the records of any previous meetings;
- File and retain all records;
d. Have a current copy of the bylaws;
e. Maintain a membership list, with names and contact information of members;
f. Perform such duties as may be provided for by these bylaws, prescribed by the parliamentary authority, or directed by the president, or the Administrators and Community Chairs.
Section 4. The Teacher/Staff Community Chair shall:
- review the budget with the treasurer in order to keep a fluent budget for upcoming enrichment and other budgetary items
- review incoming packets on fundraising events and sales
- actively work with parents, teachers, and other MCCPS professionals and community members to promote social activities suitable for MCCPS students and their parents/families
- be a current member of the MCCPS staff.
Section 5. The Open Seat Community Chair shall:
- work with/for task force chairs in looking for outside donations to keep expenses to a minimum
- enlist individuals with grant writing experience/interest
Section 6. No two members of the same immediate family may be on the signature card for this PTO’s bank account.
Section 7. All officers shall deliver to their successors all official materials no later than thirty days following the election of their successor, by
the close of the school year, or upon resignation.
ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES
Section 1. Only members of this local PTO shall be eligible to serve in any
elective or appointive positions.
Section 2. The standing committees of this local PTO shall be (list),
determined by the membership.
Section 3. The term of each standing committee chair shall be at least one
year or until the selection of a successor.
Section 4. The chair of each committee shall present a plan of work to the
Administrators and Community Chairs for approval. No committee
work shall be undertaken without the consent of the Administrators
and Community Chairs.
Section 5. When a committee chair fails to attend three consecutive meetings without an adequate excuse or when a chair is not fulfilling the responsibilities of the office as prescribed in the bylaws, or engages in conduct which the Administrators and Community Chairs determines to be injurious to the organization or its purposes, the Administrators and Community Chairs may by a two-thirds vote (2/3) affirmative vote, take such action as it determines appropriate, which may include: (1) asking for the resignation of the chairman; (2) making a formal recommendation that the chairperson be removed from office.
Section 6. Upon the expiration of the term of office or in the case of the
resignation or termination, each chair shall turn over to the Administrator, without delay, all records, books and other material pertaining to the chairmanship, and shall return to the treasure, without delay, all funds belonging to the association.
Section 7. The chairs and members of special committees shall serve until
their assignments have been completed.
ARTICLE IX: GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Section 1. At least nine regular meetings of the association shall be held
during the school year. Dates of the meetings shall be determined by the Administrators and Community Chairs and announced at the first regular PTO meeting of the school year. Three days notice shall be given to the general membership of any change of date.
Section 2. Special meetings of this local PTO may be called by the president
or by a majority of the executive board. Three days’ notice having been given.
Section 3. The annual meeting shall be in May, receiving reports of officers and committees, and conducting any other business that may arise.
Section 4. Nine members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business in any meeting of this local PTO.
Section 5. The privilege of making motions, debating and voting at local PTO
meetings shall be limited to current members of the PTO who are
present and whose dues are paid and who have been members of
the association for at least three days.
ARTICLE X: FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of this PTO shall begin July 1 and end on the following June 30.
ARTICLE XI: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern The PTO of MCCPS and in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with these bylaws.
ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at any regular general membership
meeting of The PTO of MCCPS by a two-thirds vote of the
members present and voting, a quorum being present, provided that notice of the proposed amendments has been provided to the membership thirty days prior to the meeting.
Section 2. A committee may be appointed by a majority
vote at a general meeting of this local PTO, or
by a 2/3 vote of the Administrators and Community Chairs of
this local PTO, to submit a revised set of bylaws
as a substitute for the existing bylaws.laws
