Charlotte Central School PTO Bylaws

adopted June 2005

amended November 2009

1. Name

The name of the organization is the Charlotte Central School Parent Teacher Organization (CCS PTO)

2. Mission Statement

The CCS PTO mission is to support the school community by providing the means to enrich the learning experience of all children at CCS.

3. Policies

   1. The CCS PTO shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.

   2. There shall be no membership dues.

   3. The CCS PTO shall maintain a minimum cash reserve of $3000 to be carried over to the following fiscal year.

   4. The name of the CCS PTO or the names of any member in their official capacities shall not be used in connection with any commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the Mission Statement of the CCS PTO.

   5. The CCS PTO shall not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office, or devote more than an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.

   6. The CCS PTO shall work with the school to provide quality education for all children.

   7. The CCS PTO may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but persons representing the CCS PTO in such matters shall make no commitments that bind the CCS PTO.

   8. No part of the net earnings of the CCS PTO shall insure to the benefit of or be distributed to its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the CCS PTO shall be authorized and empowered to pay compensation for services rendered or monies reimbursed.

   9. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the CCS PTO shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (1) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or (2) by any organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

   10. Should there come a time when there are no members wanting to assume Executive Board duties for the next fiscal year, the current year PTO Executive Board will continue for the next fiscal year, with the responsibility of actively recruiting a Board and with minimal duties to maintain financial viability. If, after one year, there is still no new Executive Board, the CCS PTO will be dissolved.

   11. Upon the dissolution of this CCS PTO, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the CCS PTO, the remaining assets shall be distributed according to majority decision of the most recent Executive Board, provided the funds are distributed in accordance with the CCS PTO Mission Statement.

   12. The fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30.

4. Membership

All parents and teachers of children attending Charlotte Central School are members of the CCS PTO.

5. Election of Officers and their duties

The Nominating Committee consists of three members, one being a member of the Executive Board. If there are no active members attending meetings, the existing Executive Board shall execute the duties of the nominating committee. Names for nomination will be solicited by word of mouth, through the school newsletter, and any other means of communication. The Nominating Committee will submit names to the Executive Committee prior to the last meeting of the school year. The list will be published prior to the last meeting of the school year. Elections will take place at the last PTO meeting of the school year with officers assuming their duties on July 1.

1. President: Coordinates the year’s events by establishing a timetable to help those programs to function smoothly; attends school board meetings or sends an appointed representative; gives assistance to volunteer coordinated committees when needed; presides over meetings.

2. Vice-President: Assumes the responsibilities of President when necessary; may take over as President the following year.

3. Secretary: Records the minutes of the meetings and provides a copy for reference. Submits a review of the prior meeting’s minutes at general PTO meetings. Takes care of all correspondence.

4. Treasurer: Maintains the books and issues checks; gives financial reports at all PTO meetings; prepares reports for tax related business; prepares financial summaries of the prior year’s events to be used in the assistance of the preparation of a budget for the following year.

5. Teacher Liaison: Chosen by the teachers, this person (s) attends all meetings and provides a channel of communication between the teachers and the parents.

6. Executive Board and its Duties

The Executive Board will consist of the officers of the PTO and the teacher liaison. The principal, or her delegate, of the Charlotte Central School will act as an advisor. The Board’s duties will include:

1. The transaction of necessary business in the intervals between meetings.

2. Appointing one of its members to the Nominating Committee.

3. Prepares a working budget for the following school year.

4. Oversees the election of the slate of officers for the following school year.

5. Sets the meeting schedule for the year.

6. Votes to approve enrichment grants which have been submitted with the principal’s approval.

7. Volunteer Coordinated Committees

Committees can be formed as needed and are subject to change annually after review. Each of these committees will hold organizational meetings and report its activities at regular PTO meetings. An annual record of those activities will be kept and submitted at the last general PTO meeting of the school year, written in enough detail to facilitate the success of that committee or event the next year. Every effort should be made by a member of the committee to find a replacement for his or her positions for the following year.

a. Fall BBQ: Organize kick off BBQ, traditionally held within the first three weeks of school.

b. Teacher Appreciation Luncheon: Organize pot luck lunch for our teachers! Held during teacher appreciation week in May.

c. Champ Run/Raffle/BBQ: Organize fundraiser, held first weekend after Memorial Day.

d Grocery Money Coordinator: Bi-annual commitment to count Boxtops and Hannaford certificates. These are then redeemed and will earn money for CCS.

e. Book Fair: 2 members organize this annual fall event, with the understanding that one will help again the following year for the sake of continuity.

f. Book Fair Dinner: One or two members coordinate the annual Pizza dinner, traditionally held on the Friday of the Book Fair.

g. Halloween: Organizes town wide party for kids up to grade 5, dance afterwards for kids in grades 6-8.

h. Kindergarten Coffee: Coordinates with principal’s administrative assistant to host coffee and bagels in Spring for incoming Kindergarten parents.

i. Welcome Breakfast in August: Coordinates with cafeteria manager to provide breakfast for teachers on the Monday of the first week of school.

8. Amendments

Any changes to the Bylaws must be approved by a majority of the Executive Board.