Section 1. The name of this organization is Samuel Miles Frost Elementary School (hereinafter Frost PTO), It serves Samuel Miles Frost Elementary School located at 3306 Skinner Lane, Richmond, Texas.

Section 2. The “articles of organization” of this organization include (a) the approved by-laws of the PTO, and (b) the articles of incorporation (i.e. the charter), and (c) the certificate of incorporation.

Section 1. Purpose     

a.   The purpose of this organization is to promote academic and social enrichment of Frost children in the community, home and school.

a.   The organization is organized exclusively for the charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes with 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”). The PTO shall not carry on any 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.

b.   The organization shall not sponsor or publicly support any political candidate.

c.    No commercial enterprise or political candidate shall be endorsed by it.

d.   Any income or profit of the organization must be used solely to carry out its legal purposes and cannot be distributed to its members. The PTO shall, however, be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered or to make reimbursements for expenses paid in furtherance of the purpose of the PTO.

e.   This organization shall not seek direct the administrative activities of the school or to control its policies, but may express its opinion to the administration concerning school activities and policies.

f.    Upon the dissolution of the PTO, after paying or adequately providing for all debts and obligations of the organization, the remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more non-profit fund, foundations, or organizations which have established their tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

a.   General membership in the organization shall be limited to the parents and/or guardians of the students enrolled, to the faculty of Frost Elementary School and to all interested adults who subscribe to the purpose and policies of the PTO.

b.   The PTO shall conduct an annual membership drive, but persons may be admitted to membership at any time.

c.    Only members of the PTO shall be eligible to participate in the business meetings or to serve in any of the PTO’s elective or appointed positions.

d.   Dues shall be collected from each member. Dues are set annually by the elected Board of Directors.

a.   Voting members of the executive board shall include the elected officers of the organization and the principal of the school.

b.   The executive board shall also include teacher representatives(to be appointed by the principal of the school or by special appointment of the general membership) and the chairmen of the standing committees.

a.   To transact the necessary business of the PTO between the monthly meetings and such other business as may be referred to it by the organization. Voting may be done in person at a special Board meeting, by phone, personal polling, or email. Voting done between Board meetings must be incorporated into the minutes of the next regular Board meeting. The president and Secretary will be responsible for tabulation and reporting votes done by phone, personal plling and/or email. 

b.   To create standing and ad-hoc committees as it may deem necessary to promote the work of the PTO.

c.    To present a report of PTO activities and business at the meetings of the organization.

d.   To prepare a budget for the fiscal year(which shall be determined by the student school year) and to approve routine bills within the limits of that budget.

e.   To select a three member committee to audit the Treasurer’s accounts and records. This is to occur annually. If the review committee is satisfied that the Treasurer’s annual report is correct, they shall sign a statement reporting that all accounts and reports are in order. The elected Board of Directors shall appoint this review committee at least two (2) weeks prior to the last day of school. If the Treasurer is re-elected, that person may not serve on the review committee.

The executive board (also referred to as Board of Directors) shall meet at least once a month during the student school year. The time of these meetings shall be fixed by the board at it’s first meeting of the year. Additional meetings of the board may be called by the president or by majority of the members of the board. Chairman of all standing committees and ad-hoc committees shall attend board meetings.

a.   The board shall be empowered to create standing and ad-hoc committees and to appoint the chairmen of all such committees. If shall be the responsibility of each chairman to recruit members of the committee as needed.

b.   The chairman of each standing committee shall present a work plan to the board for approval. No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the board.

c.    Ad-hoc committees are created and appointed for specific purpose. When the work of the ad-hoc committees is complete, the committee is dissolved.

 Each officer shall be a member of the PTO. Only parents and/or guardians of Frost Elementary students may serve in elected positions.

a.   The elected officers of this organization shall consist of the following in order of succession:

President

Vice President

Treasurer

Secretary

Membership Coordinator

Historian

Volunteer Coordinator

Homeroom Mom Coordinator

b.   The officers shall be elected annually by the general membership at the spring meeting (or other meeting as designated by the Board of Directors). All officers shall pay dues in the organization.

c.    Officers shall serve for a term of one (1) year. No officer shall be eligible for the same officer for more than two (2) consecutive terms. If more than one-half of the term has been served, it shall count as a full term. The term will begin the day after the last official day of the student school year in which the officer was elected. The term will end on the last official day of the student school year in which the officer was elected.

d.   In the event that no one runs for a said office, the office holding the position may run for it again, even if they have fulfilled their two (2) year term. If this does happen, the officer can only hold the office for no more than tree (3) consecutive terms.

a.   A nominating committee of five (5) members appointed by the President shall make nominations for officers. No current officers may serve on the nominating committee. The committee shall elect it’s own chair.

b.   The nominating committee shall nominate an eligible person for each office to be filled and report its nominees to the membership by March 31 at a general meeting and/or by written notification. The consent of each candidate must be obtained before his/her name may be placed in nomination.

c.    If a nominee is running unopposed, then a vote by ballot is not required for that position. He/she will be deemed elected by acclamation.

d.   Any vacancy occurring in an office shall be filled by a majority vote by the Board of Directors.

e.   An officer or chairman may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the executive board for failure to perform duties. Missing three consecutive board meetings shall be sufficient cause for removal from office.

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Organization and of the Board of Directors, shall be a member ex-officio of all committees except nominating committee. The President shall perform all duties prescribed by these bylaws or assigned to him/her by the organization or executive board. The President shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees.   This position requires previous service on the board unless no other candidate is available.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall act for the President in the absence of that officer and shall perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board of Directors. This position requires previous service on the board unless no other candidate is available.

Section 3. The Treasurer shall receive all monies of the Organization, shall keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures and shall pay out funds as authorized by the elected Board of Directors upon orders signed by the President. The Treasurer shall present a statement of account at every meeting of the Organization and at other times when requested by the Board of Directors and shall make a full report at the annual meeting.

Section 4.  The Secretary shall keep correct records of all meetings of the Organization and the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties that may be designated by the Board of Directors. All minutes will be permanently recorded, signed by the Secretary and the original stored in a file/binder on school property.

Section 5. The Membership Coordinator shall be responsible for the annual membership drive, for helping generate member interest in the PTO activities and for keeping an updated membership file which is to be stored on school property. She/he shall also perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 6. The Historian shall compile and keep records of all activities and achievements of the PTO and make historical facts available to the officers and chairmen upon request. She/he shall also perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 7. The Volunteer Coordinator shall be responsible for organizing and coordinating volunteers of the school as needed by the faculty and staff of Frost Elementary. She/he shall operate within the guidelines set forth by the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District Volunteer Program. She/he shall also perform such other duties as designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 8. The Homeroom Mom Coordinator shall coordinate the Grade Level Leads in directing room mom duties such as parties, classroom help as well as assisting the VC in finding volunteers for PTO events. 

Section 9. The Principal of the school shall serve on the board to advise the board regarding matters of school needs and activities, school and district policies.

Section 10. Teacher Representatives shall serve on the board as liaisons between the teacher and the PTO. They shall perform all duties as are assigned to them by the Board of Directors.

Section 11. All officers and chairmen shall deliver to their successors all official material and/or equipment at the time the new officers assume their duties.

Section 12. Any single purchase of $500.00 or more must be approved by the Frost PTO prior to the purchase being made.

Section 1. During the school year, monthly meeting shall be held and shall be open to all. They shall be scheduled at a time voted upon by the executive board of the PTO. In months where this causes a conflict with school and/or other holidays, the executive board shall determine an alternate day. There shall be at least two (2) General Membership meetings held during the school year with meetings during the first six weeks and April or May as mandatory.

Section 2. Other meetings may be held at the discretion of the board of Directors or by petition of the membership. 

Section 1. It shall be the practice of the PTO to follow parliamentary procedures during meetings of the organization.

Section 2. Four (4) elected members present shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of conducting business at any Board Meeting or other special meeting called by the President and/or petition of the membership.

Section3. Fifteen (15) members present shall constitute a quorum for General Membership Meetings.

 

These bylaws may be amended by a two thirds vote of the members present and voting at a general meeting.