By-Laws for Paris Elementary School

Parent-Teacher Organization

Article I:     Name

The name of this organization is the Paris Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization(“PTO”), Paris, Tennessee.

Article II:    Purpose     The objectives of the organization are:

a.  To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school and community by upholding the school’s mission statement.

b.  To provide funds for certain needs of our school as seen fit by the executive committee.

c.  Shall abide by all applicable Federal, State and local laws, ordinances and regulations in its activities.

Article III:   Membership

a.  Membership in this PTO shall be made available without regard to race, color, creed or national origin.

b.  The organization shall conduct an annual enrollment of members, but person may be admitted to membership at any time.

c.  Each member of the organization shall pay annual dues of $2.00 to the organization.  Such annual dues shall be used by the PTO as the organization sees fit to benefit the school.

d.  The dues shall be collected by the treasurer.

e.  Only members of the organization shall be eligible to participate in the business meetings.

Article IV:   Officers and their election

Section I    Nominating Committee

a.  There shall be a nominating committee composed of the principal, president and vice president who shall meet one month prior to the election of officers.

b.  Any PTO member who is interested in holding an officer position should submit his/her name to the executive committee prior to April 1. The executive committee will pass the name on to the nominating committee before it meets.

c.  The nominating committee shall nominate an eligible person who has given his/her consent to serve for each office to be filled.  They shall report the nominees at the regular executive May month meeting.

Section II

a.  The officers shall consist of president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and representative(s) from each grade level.

b.  The president shall have had a child attend PES for a least one school year in order to be considered for the president’s office.

c. Officers shall be elected by voice vote by the executive committee in the month of May.

d.  Officers shall assume their official duties after the May meeting and shall serve for a term of one year.

e.  A president shall not be eligible to consecutively serve more than one term in the same office. The treasurer cannot serve more than two consecutive years in the same office.

Section III   Vacancies

a.  Vacancies in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the nominating and executive committee.

Article V:  Duties of Officers

Section I   

The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the executive committee and shall appoint chairmen of all committees; be a member ex officio of all committees and shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees.  The president will step down after his/her term and become the new vice-president for the following year.

Section II

The vice president shall act as aid to the president and shall perform the duties of the president in his/her absence.

Section III

The secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings of the organization and of the executive committee. She/he shall have a current copy of the by-laws, shall maintain a membership list, and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her.  A log book of all minutes should be submitted to the principal by July 10^th for the current year.

Section IV

a.  The treasurer shall have custody of all funds of the organization, shall keep a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures and shall make disbursements as authorized by the president, executive committee or the principal.

b.  Checks or vouchers shall be signed by the treasurer. 

c.  If the treasurer becomes incapacitated, another officer of the committee will be appointed by the president to fulfill the duties of the treasurer until the point that the treasurer is able to return to normal duties. If she/he cannot return, refer to Article IV, Section III, vacancies.

d.  At a minimum the committee’s treasurer and one other eligible officer will be listed as a signatory on the committee’s bank account.

e.  The treasurer will ensure that deposits are made on a timely and regular basis into the PTO’s checking account.

f.  The treasurer will balance the PTO’s checkbook in accordance with the account bank statement on a monthly basis and will perpetually maintain a balance sheet showing the PTO’s receipts and disbursements.  A current copy of said balance sheet will be reported at each monthly PTO meeting.

g.  A school representative may not act as a treasurer or bookkeeper for the PTO or be a signatory on the checks.

j.  The treasurer will submit a detailed statement of receipts and disbursements to the school principal and office of the PSSD Director of Schools by July 10^th for the preceding school year.

l.  All physical and financial assets of the PES-PTO will be safeguarded by the PES-PTO and will be housed on school property.  In the event of dissolution of the PES-PTO all assets will be turned over to the PSSD Director of Schools immediately.

Section V

Upon expiration of the term of office, each officer shall turn over to the school principal, without delay, a balance sheet of the current school year’s receipts and disbursements, all records, books, log book of minutes and other materials pertaining to the office.

Article VI:   Executive committee

a.  The executive committee shall be composed of the elected officers, the principal, the representative(s) for each grade level.

b.  The executive committee shall:

                  1. Have the power to act for the best interest of the organization & transact the

                      Business necessary in executive sessions.

                  2. Present a report at the monthly regular meetings.

Article VII:  Meetings

The executive committee will meet monthly throughout the school year.

Article VIII:  Committees

Section I

The executive committee shall create such standing committees as it may deem necessary to promote the objectives and carry on the work of the organization.

Section II

The chairman of each standing committee shall seek approval for plans of action from the executive committee.

Article IX:  Book Fairs

An agreed upon portion of any proceeds from any PTO sponsored book fair shall be used to purchase books for the school library and/or individual classrooms.  The principal and the Executive Committee shall meet to decide the amount that should be distributed to the library.

Article X:  Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the organization shall end May 30 and begin May 31.

Article XI:  Parliamentary Authority

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the association in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with these bylaws.

Article XII:  Amendments and Review of By-Laws

a.  These bylaws may be amended at any executive regular meeting of the organization by a two thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is voted upon.

b.  A committee may be appointed to submit a revised set of bylaws as a substitute for the existing bylaws only by a majority vote at a meeting of the organization of by a two thirds vote of the executive committee. The requirements for adoption of a revised set of bylaws shall be the same as in the case of an amendment.

Article XIII:  Fundraising

The committee shall obtain approval of the school principal before undertaking any fundraising activity.