ARTICLE I.  NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Oakland School Parent-Teacher Organization (OPTO).

ARTICLE II.  PURPOSE

The purpose of the OPTO is to foster cooperation between Oakland parents and teachers, which supports and enhances the educational programs for students.  OPTO gives parents the opportunity to directly strengthen their children’s education through fund raising and giving of time and talents.

ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP

All parents or guardians of Oakland School students, the principal, teachers, and staff shall be members of the OPTO.  All members shall be eligible to vote to elect the executive board.

ARTICLE IV.  FINANCES

The OPTO shall be funded by fund raising activities recommended by the fund raising committee and approved by the executive board.

ARTICLE V.  GOVERNANCE

The OPTO shall be governed by the executive board.

ARTICLE VI.  OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION

The officers of this organization shall be a president or co-presidents, vice president or co-vice presidents, secretary, and treasurer.  These officers shall be elected annually by ballot at the May OPTO meeting.  However, if there is but one candidate for any office, by motion from the floor, the election may be by voice.  Officers shall serve for a term of one school year.  The vice president shall be expected to succeed the president for the following school year.  Nominations for officers shall by made by a nominating committee of not less than three members selected by the OPTO at the March business meeting.  The nominating committee shall report at the April meeting the names of at least one candidate for each office to be filled.  Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the April meeting.  The consent of each candidate must be obtained before their name is placed on the ballot.  Other vacancies occurring in offices may be filled by an appointment made by the executive board.  In the event that the president’s duties cannot be fulfilled, a president shall be selected from the board.  Preferably the vice president would succeed the president.

ARTICLE VII.  DUTIES OF OFFICERS

The duties of each officer shall be as follows:

A.     President

• Prepare an agenda and preside at all meetings.

• Serve as the official spokesperson for the OPTO.

• Coordinate the OPTO activities.

• Select all standing committee chairpersons.

• Prepare a monthly newsletter.

• Serve on the executive board.

B.     Vice President

• Fulfill the president’s duties in his or her absence.

• Assume the position of president if that officer resigns or leaves the school, upon appointment by the executive board.

• Serve as president the following year.

• Maintain the bylaws and keep them in accordance with current practice.

• Act as parliamentarian during the meetings.

• Serve on the executive board.

C.    Secretary

• Record and distribute minutes of all meetings to the OPTO executive board.

• Provide additional copies of the minutes, which shall be placed in the school office.  These may be picked up by OPTO members who wish to receive a copy.  A copy of the minutes shall also be posted on the OPTO bulletin board.

• Keep a file of all minutes and other documents.

• Prepare all official OPTO correspondence, subject to approval of the president.

• Serve on the executive board.

D.    Treasurer

• Bank all OPTO funds.

• Pay bills incurred by the OPTO.

• Present a written report of the OPTO financial standing at monthly meetings.

• Arrange for liability insurance carried to cover OPTO meetings and special events.

• Arrange for bonding of president and treasurer.

• Serve on the executive board.

The treasurer’s account shall be examined by an auditor or the executive board at least twice during the school year. After examination, they shall sign a statement of that fact at the end of each report.

ARTICLE VIII.  EXECUTIVE BOARD

The executive board shall consist of the elected officers and the principal of the school.  The executive board shall:

• Meet prior to the school year to review the budget and approve the fund raising necessary to sustain the budget.  This meeting should include the chairperson of the fund raising committee, who presents a recommendation for the coming year’s fund raising activities.

• Hold additional executive board meetings as necessary.

• Establish or approve the appointment of an auditor to audit the treasurer’s books.  Alternatively, the executive board will conduct the audit.

• Recommend the removal of any officer or committee chairperson not performing their duties as outlined in the bylaws.

• Ensure that bonding and liability insurance are in place.

• Attend all monthly meetings.

• Review committee structure annually and make changes as necessary.

• Act upon expenditure recommendations up to $500.00 for miscellaneous funds.  These may be submitted by committee chairpersons for expenditures that go beyond their budget or by OPTO members for “special” purpose expenditures not planned in the annual budget.  The president will review any such expenditures approved at the next monthly meeting.

ARTICLE IX.  EXPENDITURES

Miscellaneous Funds Account

It is anticipated that committee chairs will remain within their annual budget.  If additional funds beyond the budget in amounts of $500.00 or less are desired, the chairperson can recommend the expenditure to the president of the executive board.  The president will seek approval by a majority vote of the executive board as soon as practical.

If funds of more than $500.00 from the miscellaneous account are requested, a recommendation must be made to the president.  The president will present the request at the next monthly meeting.  A vote upon the recommendation will occur at the next month’s meeting.

ARTICLE X.  MEETINGS

Monthly Meetings

• Shall be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order.  The presence of three executive board members and representation from one third of the standing committees shall constitute a quorum.

• Main motions will be carried by a simple majority of the quorum except in the case of amendments to the bylaws (see Article XI).

• Shall be held at a time and place fixed by the executive board at the annual planning meeting which occurs prior to the beginning of each school year.  The monthly meetings will be held September through May.  At the September meeting the annual budget will be presented for approval by the membership.

• Attendance at monthly meetings is expected of executive board members and committee chairpersons.  If the chairperson cannot attend, a committee member should attend in their place.  Attendance is open to all other member of the OPTO.

Executive Board Meetings

• With the exception of the annual planning meeting to be held prior to the beginning of the school year, executive board meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis.  They may be held at the call of the president or a majority of the executive board.

• It is preferable that general business of the OPTO be conducted through the monthly meetings.  However, the executive board may use ad hoc meetings to expedite efficient operation of the organization.

• When the executive board conducts business of the OPTO, it will do so with a simple majority vote, except actions to remove an executive board member, which will require a two-thirds vote of the executive board members.  Any approved expenditures of funds from the miscellaneous funds account will be reported at the next monthly meeting.

ARTICLE XI.  AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the OPTO bylaws require a two-thirds vote of a quorum at monthly meetings.  A written version of the proposed amendments must be reviewed at a monthly meeting prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendments will be voted upon.