AMENDED & REVISED BY-LAWS

LIBERTYSCHOOL PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION
49 PROCTOR ROAD
BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS 02184

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Liberty School Parent Teacher Organization (Liberty PTO or the Organization).

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Liberty PTO are to:

  • Enrich and enhance the education of the students enrolled in LibertyElementary School (LibertySchool);
  • Strengthen communication between parents and staff of LibertySchool;
  • Encourage parent and public involvement in LibertySchool; and
  • Promote school spirit at LibertySchool.

ARTICLE III: POLICIES

Section 1. The purpose of the Liberty PTO shall be both educational and social, developed through conferences, committees, projects, events, and activities.

Section 2. The Liberty PTO may host or sponsor certain designated activities, including fundraisers to fund the Liberty PTO objectives, at LibertySchool or another designated facility.

Section 3: The Liberty PTO shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian, and non-partisan. No candidate for public office will be endorsed by it.

Section 4. The Liberty PTO shall not seek to direct the administration activities of LibertySchool or to control its policies.

Section 5. The Liberty PTO will request from the Liberty School Principal (Principal) permission and approval

  • For the use of any and all school facilities;
  • When planning any event or function in which students will participate, and;
  • For any communication(s) to parents whether in written or electronic form.

Section 6. The Liberty PTO may cooperate with other organizations and agencies active in child welfare, provided they make no commitments that bind the organization without the prior approval of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Persons eligible for membership are:

  • Parents, step-parents, legal guardian(s), or adults acting in loco parentis of any student enrolled in LibertySchool.
  • Any member of the teaching or administrative professional staff of LibertySchool.

Section 2: Any person eligible for membership shall become a member (Member) if such person has complied with the dues policy then in effect.

Section 3. Membership in the Liberty PTO may be voluntarily withdrawn. All rights, privileges and interest of a Member in or to the Liberty PTO shall cease on termination of membership. Membership shall be non-transferable.

Section 4. The privilege of holding office, introducing motions, debating and voting shall be limited to Members.

Section 5. Members of the LibertySchool teaching and administrative professional staff are automatically Members without the payment of dues.

Section 6. The annual dues for membership in the Liberty PTO for the coming school year shall be determined by the Executive Board at the June meeting of the previous school year. Dues may be varied from year to year.

Section 7. Annual dues shall be payable at the annual enrollment of members, but persons may be admitted to membership at any time.

Section 8. The fiscal year of the Organization shall be July 1 to June 30.

ARTICLE V: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers (Officers) shall be not more than two (2) of each of the following:

  • President
  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer

Section 2. Officers shall be elected annually at the Regular meeting in June.

Section 3. Officers shall assume their official duties at the close of the Regular meeting in June and shall serve for a term of one year and/or until their successors shall be elected.

Section 4. No Member shall hold more than one office at a time.

Section 5. No Member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office, unless otherwise agreed by the Members.

Section 6. Nomination for officers shall be made by a Nominating Committee comprised of three (3) members, one of which shall be appointed by the President, one elected by the Executive Board from its body, and one elected from its members by the Liberty PTO at the Regular meeting in April. The Nominating Committee shall elect its own chairperson by majority vote. It shall be the duty of this committee to present at the Regular meeting in May a single slate of nominees, listing one or two Member(s) per office.

Section 7. Only those who have consented to serve, if elected, shall be eligible for nomination, or elected to such office.

Section 8. At the Regular meeting in June, additional nominations will be accepted from the Members in attendance. If there are no further nominations, the slate of officers presented by the Nominating Committee will be elected by acclamation. If additional nominations are made for any office, then a vote shall be taken by written secret ballot for any office for which there is more than one nominee. A majority of the Members present and voting shall nominate or elect.

Section 9. A vacancy occurring in any office, shall be filled by a Member appointed by the Executive Board who shall serve for the balance of the unexpired term.

Section 10. An Officer may resign by delivering his or her written resignation to any member of the Executive Board. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless otherwise specified to be effective at some other time.

Section 11. Any Officer may be suspended or removed with cause by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Members at a duly called meeting and provided that the Officer has had an opportunity to be heard by the Members.

ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President or Co-President(s) shall:

  • Preside at all Member meetings and Executive Board meetings and communicate to the Vice President if unable to attend;
  • Designate a member of the Executive Board to take the minutes of the meeting in which the Secretary and Co-Secretary is absent,
  • Serve as primary contact for the Liberty School Principal;
  • Be a member ex-officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee;
  • Coordinate the work of the officers and committees in order that the objectives of the Liberty PTO may be accomplished;
  • Serve as an authorized signatory of all Liberty PTO accounts/checks;
  • Submit PTO News to the Principal for the monthly newsletter;
  • Cast the deciding vote in case of a tie at all Executive Board and Member meetings, otherwise the President is not allowed to vote;
  • Follow the financial procedures of the Liberty PTO then in effect;
  • Execute decisions of the Executive Board; and
  • Perform any such other duties as may be prescribed by these by-laws or assigned to him/her by the Organization or by the Executive Board.

Section 2. The Vice President or Co-Vice Presidents shall:

  • Attend Member meetings and Executive Board meetings and communicate with the President or Co-Presidents if unable to attend;
  • Serve as an authorized signatory on all Liberty PTO accounts/checks;
  • Act as an aide to the President or Co-Presidents and perform the duties that may be assigned by the President or Co-Presidents;
  • Follow the financial procedures of the Liberty PTO then in effect;
  • Assume the duties of the President or Co-Presidents in his/her temporary absence(s); and
  • Perform any such other duties as may be prescribed by these by-laws or assigned to him/her by the Organization or by the Executive Board.

Section 3. The Secretary or Co-Secretaries shall:

  • Attend Member meetings and Executive Board meetings and communicate with the President or Co-Presidents if unable to attend;
  • Serve as an authorized signatory on all Liberty PTO accounts/checks;
  • Keep a written record of all meetings of the Organization and of the Executive Board;
  • Keep a log of attendance for all meetings;
  • Publish and distribute copies of minutes for Organization approval;
  • Distribute approved minutes, meeting notices, and any Organization correspondence for publication in the LibertySchool monthly newsletter and other communications;
  • Send notices of all meetings to Members; and perform such other duties as they may commonly pertain to such office;
  • Have custody of all books and records pertaining to the business of the Organization, except the records of the Treasurer, and shall transfer them to his/her successor in office;
  • Preside in the absence of the President(s) and Vice-President(s) at any Liberty PTO Meetings;
  • Follow the financial procedures of the Liberty PTO then in effect;
  • Distribute the by-laws to all Executive Board members and other interested parties, upon request; and
  • Perform any such other duties as may be prescribed by these by-laws or assigned to him/her by the Organization or by the Executive Board.

Section 4. The Treasurer or Co-Treasurers shall:

  • Attend Member meetings and Executive Board meetings and communicate with the President or Co-Presidents if unable to attend;
  • Serve as an authorized signatory on all Liberty PTO accounts/checks;
  • Collect and deposit all dues and other income of the Organization;
  • Keep an exact record of all receipts and expenditures of the Organization; and make payments only as authorized within the approved budget, or by the Executive Board or such other persons as the Members may prescribe;
  • Present a financial statement at every Regular meeting and at other times when requested by the Executive Board;
  • Present a full report at the Annual Meeting and propose a budget for the upcoming fiscal year;
  • At the expiration of his/her term of office, the Treasurer shall deliver to his successor all books, money and other property of the Liberty PTO in his possession; and
  • Follow the financial procedures of the Liberty PTO then in effect.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held in the evenings at least six (6) times during the school year, four of such meetings to be held in September or October, April, May, and June, at dates and times designated by the Executive Board. Members must be given at least fourteen (14) days notice of any meeting.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Board upon at least seven (7) calendar days' notice to all members.

Section 3. The Annual Meeting shall be the Regular meeting in June, unless otherwise determined by the members at a duly called meeting.

Section 4. Ten (10) members shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Members of the Liberty PTO.

ARTICLE VIII: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the current Officers of the Organization and the Principal or the Principal’s designee. The members of the Executive Board shall serve until their successors are elected.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall be responsible for

  • Transacting necessary business in the intervals between Organization meetings;
  • Approving the plans of work of the standing committees;
  • Presenting a report at the Regular Meetings of the organization;
  • Appointing an auditor or an Auditing Committee;
  • Preparing and submitting for approval a budget for the coming fiscal year at the Regular meeting in June;
  • Approving routine bills within the limits of the budget; and
  • Such other business as may be referred to it by the Organization.

Section 3. Meetings of the Executive Board can be called by any member of the Executive Board, the date and time to be determined by the President or Co-Presidents. A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum and take action at all such meetings. Notice of all Executive Board meetings shall be provided to all Executive Board members at least 24 hours in advance.

Section 4. The Executive Board shall be empowered to spend up to $250.00 between meetings of the Organization on items that are not already budgeted without first obtaining permission of the Organization.

ARTICLE IX: STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing committees shall be created by the Executive Board as may be required to promote the objects and interests of the Organization. The Liberty PTO may, by resolution, delegate to these committees such authority as is reasonably necessary to successfully achieve its goals. The Executive Board may dissolve any such committee as deemed appropriate as the needs and objectives of the Organization change over time.

Section 2. The chairperson of each standing committee shall be a Member selected by the Executive Board. No one person may chair more than one committee unless otherwise voted by the Executive Board. Members of each of the standing committees may be selected by the chairperson. Terms of committee chairpersons and committee members expire at the end of the school year. Committee chairpersons and members may be reappointed.

Section 3. The chairperson of each standing committee shall report at Regular meetings of the Members. If a chairperson cannot attend a meeting, a written report should be given to the President(s) prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE X: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the Organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and/or any special rules of order the Organization may otherwise adopt.

ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

These by-laws may be amended, repealed or altered, in whole or in part, at any duly called meeting of the Organization by a three-quarters (3/4) vote of the Members present and voting, provided that notice of proposed changes are provided to the Members at least fourteen 14 days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE XII: LIABILITIES

No Member, Officer or agent of the Organization shall be liable for the acts or failure to act of any other Member, Officer or agent of the Liberty PTO.

ARTICLE XIII: FINANCES

Section 1. The Liberty PTO is a non-profit organization and shall use its funds only for objects and purposes specified in these by-laws.

Section 2. Persons entrusted with the handling of Liberty PTO funds may be required, at the discretion of the Executive Board, to furnish a suitable fidelity bond at the organization’s expense.

Section 3. The Treasurer’s accounts shall be examined annually by an auditor or Audit Committee of no less than three members, who, satisfied that the Treasurer’s annual report is correct, shall sign a statement of that fact at the end of the report. The auditor or Audit Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Board at least two weeks before the Annual Meeting. No auditor or member of the Auditing Committee may be a member of the Executive Board.

Section 4. At the Annual Meeting in June, Members present shall vote on the proposed budget for the coming year. The full report from the previous school year will be given by the Treasurer at the first regular meeting of the organization in the school year.

Section 5. In order to fund the start-up activities of the following year, a residual amount of money must be left in the Liberty PTO account(s) at the close of each fiscal year. This residual amount will be no less than $5,000.00 (after having paid or accounted for all actual or estimated fiscal expenses of the previous year). The residual amount may not be more than $15,000.00, unless otherwise agreed by the Members.

Section 6. Financial procedures for the current school year shall be voted on annually at the first Regular Meeting of the school year.

ARTICLE XIV: DISSOLUTION

Section 1. In the event of the closure of LibertySchool, the Liberty PTO will automatically dissolve.

Section 2. In the event of dissolution of the Liberty PTO, and after paying all authorized debts, all remaining assets of the Liberty PTO shall be distributed pro rata to one or more of the elementary schools parent teacher organizations that LibertySchool students in grades K-4 are assigned to for the coming school year. If no such organization(s) exist, all remaining assets shall be distributed to the Braintree Public School Department to be used to fund special programs for elementary school students in Braintree.

Section 3. No assets shall be distributed to, nor inure to the benefit of, any individual Member.

Section 4. For purposes of clarity, a redistricting of the LibertySchool District will not serve to dissolve the Liberty PTO. In the event of any such redistricting, all assets of the Liberty PTO will remain with the Liberty PTO.

Approved at a meeting of the Liberty PTO on _____, 2008.

Effective ______, 2008

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