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By-Laws

Of

Stevenson School

Parent Teacher Organization

Revised January 27, 2009

Article 1

Name

Section 1. Name

The name of the organization shall be Stevenson School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), hereinafter referred to as the "organization".

Article 2

Charter

Section 1. Charter

The organization operates under a revocable Charter, granted to the organization by Bloomington Public School District 87, to provide support for the administration, faculty and students in their pursuit of academic excellence. 

Section 2. Dissolution of the Organization

In the event of the dissolution of the organization, its assets shall be placed in a trust administered by a committee of the building Principal and two other members selected by the Principal and approved by a majority of the outgoing Leadership Committee. The assets in said trust will be restricted to a simple, interest bearing savings account and shall be held not more than thirty-six (36) months. If at the end of thirty-six (36) months a new organization is not in place at Stevenson School, the funds will be equally distributed to programs that are operating at that time within Stevenson Elementary School. The only exception to this will be the permanent closure of Stevenson Elementary School.

Article 3

Mission

Section 1. Mission

The organization will work in partnership with the administration, faculty, staff, parents, guardians and students to create a community of lifelong learners by providing support, both financially and through the organization’s volunteers, for programs that supplement the learning potential of all students. The organization will also serve to expand and advance communication between parents, guardians, students and the administration and faculty at Stevenson Elementary School.

Article 4

Membership

Section 1. Classes of Members

The organization shall have four classes of members: Parent/Guardian, Administrative and Faculty, and Student and Extended Members.

Section 2. Qualifications and Rights

Parent/Guardian Membership is open to all parents and guardians listed on enrollment forms on file with District 87. Parent/Guardian members shall be eligible to vote, hold office and chair committees as long as their student continues to be enrolled at Stevenson School. 

Administrative and Faculty Membership is open to all administrators and faculty as long as they are employed by District 87 to work at Stevenson School. Administrative and Faculty members shall be eligible to vote, but shall be excluded from holding elected office. 

Student Membership is open to all students during the time of their enrollment at Stevenson School. Student members may attend meetings, but shall be excluded from voting, holding elected office and being appointed as a committee chairperson. 

Extended Members:  Family members limited to grandparents, aunts, uncles and adult siblings of legal age.  Extended members will have the same rights as regular members with the exception of holding a position on the leadership committee.

Section 3. Role of the Building Administrator

The building administrator shall be part of the organization’s membership (Administrative and Faculty class) with full voting rights.  The administrator shall act as a liaison between the organization and District 87.  It will be the duty of the administrator to bring to the attention of the organization such things as, but not limited to; State School Board policies and goals, District 87 policies and goals, and building policies and goals.  It is the administrator’s role to facilitate the recognition of those goals and to assist the organization in focusing its energies on achieving those goals.   The administrator shall assist the organization by helping to bring projects requiring District 87 approval to the attention of the District in a timely manner.  The administrator shall provide to the organization a monthly report on the progress toward recognized goals and any reaction from the District on proposed projects. 

Section 4. Membership Goals

It is the goal of the organization to fulfill its charitable purposes and to provide educational, social, benevolent, and physical development services to people, regardless of their ability to pay, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or physical and mental handicaps.  In order to carry out the goals listed above and others deemed appropriate by the Leadership Committee, the organization will solicit, apply for, receive, hold and disperse grants, gifts, bequests, endowments, and other funds, to permit the organization to perform any purpose which not-for-profit organizations are authorized under the Nonprofit Corporation Act of 1991.

Article 5

Finances

Section 1. Miscellaneous Funds

The President’s discretionary funds will be $200.00 and Leadership $400.00.  Discretionary funds should only be utilized when the expenditure cannot wait until the next regularly scheduled PTO meeting.  An “accounting” of any expenditure made by the President and/or Leadership Team must be reported at the next regular PTO meeting.    Any requests exceeding $400.00 are to be presented and voted upon at the next PTO meeting.

Section 2. Educational Event Reservation Loan for Faculty

Funds will be made available by the organization for the purpose of securing reservations to events attended by the student members of the organization. The events may include, but are not limited to theatrical performances, concerts, science fairs, and art festivals. The amount of the funds available will be limited to $300.00 with repayment to be made within sixty (60) days.  The faculty member requesting the loan will be required to sign a request form indicating the proposed use of the funds and acknowledge the date at which the funds will be returned to the organization. At no time will the loan amount exceed $300.00 without a vote to increase that amount, nor will the organization seek to collect the outstanding loan from its student members who are unable to repay the organization. Any circumstance not be covered will be brought to the attention of all members by the Leadership Committee.

Article 6

Meetings of Members

Section 1. Regular Meetings

The organization shall meet on the first Tuesday of each month during each school year. The time and place of the meetings shall be posted on the school bulletin board, the school marquee and in the organization's newsletter, Tiger Talk, at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. 

Section 2. Annual Meeting

An annual meeting of the voting members shall be held in April of each school year for the purpose of electing the Leadership Committee and for the transaction of other such business placed on the agenda for that meeting. If the day fixed for the annual meeting is a legal holiday in the State of Illinois, said meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day. 

Section 3. Special Meetings

The President, a majority of the Leadership Committee, or a quorum of the voting members may call special meetings. 

Section 4. Informal Action by Members

Any action may be taken without a meeting of the members if a written consent is set forth for the action and signed by a quorum of the voting members with respect to the specific matter.

Section 5. Quorum

Voting members represented in person, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting.

Section 6. Voting List

The Recorder of the organization shall validate the accuracy of all members entitled to vote at any meeting of the members.  Any member, with a written request to the leadership committee, may inquire about the validity of the voting status of another member.  Within a reasonable time after a written request is made, the leadership will validate the status of that member.

Article 7

Nominations and Elections of Leadership Committee

Section 1. Nominating Committee

The President at a regular meeting of the Leadership Committee shall appoint a Nominating Committee, consisting of five (5) members, at least ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting. The Nominating Committee shall meet prior to the annual meeting of the organization to consider possible candidates to be nominated for next year’s Leadership Committee. Notice of the time, date, and place of the meeting shall be posted on the school bulletin board and in the organization’s newsletter, Tiger Talk, inviting all voting members to attend and make suggestions as to nominations. 

Section 2. Nominations

No less than thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting of the organization, the Nominating Committee shall post the slate of candidates on the school bulletin board and in the organization’s newsletter, Tiger Talk. After the slate has been posted, the voting members may propose other nominations to the Nominating Committee and the Nominating Committee shall immediately post the additional names with those already nominated. The consent of a candidate must be obtained before that name is placed in nomination.

Section 3. Election

The election of officers shall take place at the annual meeting. All voting members of the organization may participate in the election. The Nominating Committee shall present the slate of nominees, at which time additional nominations may be made from the floor. The names of all nominees shall be posted in sight of all present at the meeting. The election shall be by written ballot and a simple majority of the voting members present shall be necessary to win.  A simple majority shall be defined as the recipient of the highest number of votes cast in the affirmative.  

 Section 4. Term of Office

The term of office of the Leadership Committee shall be one (1) year.  Newly elected Leadership Committee officers shall begin their term at the first regular meeting of the organization following the election and shall hold office until their successors have taken office.

Section 5. “Co” Positions

The positions of President, President-Elect, and Vice President have the option to run with a “co” position.  A co-position is shared by two individuals who split the position's responsibilities.

Article 8

Duties of Leadership Committee Officers

Section 1. President(s)

The President(s) shall be the principle executive officer(s) of the organization and subject to the control of the Leadership Committee and the direction of the membership, shall in general supervise and control all of the activities of the organization.  The President(s) shall be a member of the Leadership Committee and, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the Leadership Committee and all meetings of the membership.  The President(s) shall select and coordinate the chairpersons of all Standing and Special Committees and be ex-officio of all committees of the organization.  The President(s) will mentor the President-Elect(s) to aid him/her in assuming the President(s) position the following year.

Section 2.  President-Elect (s)

The President-Elect(s) shall be a member of the Leadership committee and, in the absence of the President(s), shall perform the duties of the President(s).  The President-Elect(s) shall perform such other duties as are assigned by the President(s) or the Leadership Committee.  The President-Elect(s), after having served one year, shall automatically become the President(s) of the organization.  To be eligible to serve as President-Elect(s), the person must have served on a committee for at least one year.

Section 3. Vice President(s)

The Vice President(s) shall be a member of the Leadership Committee and shall assist the President(s) and President-Elect(s).  The Vice President(s) shall perform the duties of either the President(s) or President-Elect(s) should he/she be unable to do so.

Section 4. Recorder

The Recorder shall be a member of the Leadership Committee.  The Recorder shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of the membership and the Leadership Committee, shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with these Bylaws and in general perform all duties incident to the office of Recorder and such duties as may be assigned by the President or the Leadership Committee.

Section 5. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be a member of the Leadership Committee.  The Treasurer shall have charge of and be responsible for all funds of the organization and shall receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the organization from all sources and shall deposit such funds in such banks or other organizations as are selected by the Leadership Committee.  The Treasurer shall make disbursements as authorized by the President, Leadership Committee or members in accordance with the budget adopted by the membership.  The Treasurer shall present a financial report at each Regular Membership meeting and at other times as requested by the Leadership Committee.

Section 6. Board at large

The Board at Large are members of the Leadership Committee. Their duties include having voting rights.

Section 7. Teacher Liaison

The Teacher Liaison is part of the Leadership Committee. Their duties involve having voting rights and to attend Leadership meetings.

Section 8. Transition

The President, Vice President, and Recorder of the Leadership Committee will provide the newly elected officers all papers and reports relevant to the office no less than one week prior to the newly elected officers taking their seat on the committee. All materials shall be current in nature.  The Treasurer will provide materials to the Auditing Committee in time for the review to take place prior to the October meeting.

Article 9

Leadership Committee

Section 1. Membership

The membership of the Leadership Committee shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Recorder, Treasurer and not more than five (5) Board at Large members. Each officer shall be elected for a one (1) year term and shall have one (1) vote on all matters submitted for voting.

Section 2. Meetings

The Leadership Committee will meet monthly at a time and place to be determined by the Leadership Committee. Special meetings may be called by the President or by written request of three (3) Leadership Committee officers.

Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities

The Leadership Committee shall manage the affairs, activities and operation of the organization, which may include appointing committee chairpersons as necessary. All contracts, debt or obligation shall be binding only under the authority of the Leadership Committee and ratified by the organization.

Section 4. Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy on the leadership committee, at the current meeting, nominations shall be accepted from the floor. A vote by written ballot shall be conducted immediately following the nominations with a simple majority (as stated in Article 7 section 3) being required to fill the position. The person filling the vacancy shall assume all rights and responsibilities of the position for the duration of the term. In the event of a tie, the principal will cast the deciding vote.

Section 5. Quorum

A majority of the elected Leadership Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting of the Leadership Committee.

Section 6. Restrictions

No member may serve in any official capacity for the organization if they have ever been convicted of a felony criminal offense or if they have received a deferred adjudication of probation for such offense.

Section 7. Vote of No Confidence   

A call for a vote of No Confidence may be placed on the agenda when presented in writing, with no less than ten (10) members’ signatures accompanying, to the Leadership Committee.  The request will explain the reason for the call of a No Confidence vote. Upon receiving said request the Leadership Committee will create a review committee of not less than five (5) or more than nine (9) members to ensure the request has merit.  Those members calling for the vote and the Leadership Committee member on whom the vote has been called will be excluded as voting members of the review committee.

Section 8. Results of the Review Committee

The results of the review committee will be presented to the Leadership Committee no more than 30 days after it convened.  If in the review, it is determined that the allegations have merit, the Leadership Committee will place the call for a vote of No Confidence on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the organization.

Section 9. Removal by a Vote of No Confidence

A majority vote of No Confidence by the members will remove any Leadership Committee member.  

 Section 10. Email-electronic forum

The PTO board, Leadership Committee and any chairperson of any standing committee are authorized to meet by email as long as all members may participate. All members of the meeting are to be listed in the “to” part of the email. When you reply, you are to reply to all, so all of the participants have the same information.

Article 10

Removal

The Leadership Committee, by majority vote, may remove any member thereof or any chairperson of any standing committee, for just cause, provided that the individual sought to be removed is provided an opportunity to contest such action. Any vote of the Leadership Committee shall be final.

Article 11

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, shall govern the organization in all areas of business not covered by these By-laws, and any special rules of the organization.

Article 12

Amendments

These By-laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, by a majority vote of the voting members at any regular or special meeting. The proposed amendments shall be read at the meeting with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present required to ratify the amendments. 

Article 13

Periodic Review

A review committee will be established at least once every five (5) years to make recommendations to the Leadership Committee regarding these by-laws.