Weston Intermediate School

 

Parent Teacher Organization Bylaws

 

 

 

Article I-Name

The name of the organization shall be the Weston Intermediate School Parent Teacher Organization, Incorporated (hereinafter referred to as the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. the PTO, or the Organization).

 

Article II-Purpose

The principal purpose of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. shall be to promote quality education at the Weston Intermediate School, Weston, Connecticut (the School).

 

 

 

To this end, the Organization shall have the following stated goals:

 

 

 

A.  To facilitate and improve communication among students, faculty, parents, administration and the community.

 

B.  To address issues affecting the quality of the educational environment at the School and within the Weston Public Schools and make recommendations for improvement, and

 

C.  To assist in enriching the School’s educational environment by providing, from time to time, various support services.

 

 

 

Article III-Policies

Section 1:  The Organization shall be non-profit and all funds raised shall be used to carry out the purpose of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc.

 

 

 

Section 2:  The Organization shall be non-commercial.  This provision shall not preclude or prohibit the Organization from engaging in its own fund-raising activities.

 

 

 

Section 3:  The Organization may take a position on any matter that is consistent with its stated purpose.

 

 

 

Section 4:  The PTO is not formed for pecuniary or financial gain, and no part of the assets, income, or profit of the PTO is distributable to or inures to the benefit of its members, directors, or officers.  No substantial part of the activities of the PTO shall consist of carrying on propaganda (as that term is defined in Internal Revenue Code section 501 (c)(3)) or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the PTO shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

 

 

 

Section 5:  The Organization and its members shall not be held legally or financially liable in connection with any of its activities or undertakings.  The PTO shall maintain insurance to protect itself and its members from liability.

 

 

 

Section 6:  Any public statement issued on behalf of the PTO or a committee formed that affects the general welfare of the PTO must be presented to and approved by a majority of the Executive Committee (as defined in Article VI, Section 1).  "Public Statement" shall include statements issued or posted electronically.

 

 

 

Section 7:  No Officer or PTO Board member may receive, directly or indirectly, any salary or other remuneration from the Organization.

 

 

 

Section 8:  The fiscal year of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. shall begin August 1st and end on July 31st of each year.

 

 

 

Article IV-Membership and Dues

Section 1:  The members of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. shall consist of parents or guardians of enrolled Weston Intermediate School children and pay the annual dues.  Annual dues will be waived for teachers, administrative officers and employees of the School, who apply for membership.

 

 

 

Section 2:   The amount of the annual dues shall be determined by the PTO Executive Committee.

 

 

 

Article V-Meetings of the Membership

Section 1:  Regular meetings of the membership shall be held at least once every two months from September to May.  The time and place of such meetings shall be determined by the PTO Executive Committee, provided at least seven days advance notice of each meeting has been given.  Regular meetings shall be open to the general public.

 

 

 

Section 2:  Special meetings of the membership may be called by either the President or five (5) Board Members; notice for which shall be published in the local newspaper, School newsletter, or by special flyer at least three (3) days prior to meeting.

 

 

 

Section 3:  The annual meeting of the membership shall be in April of each year.

 

 

 

Section 4:  The members shall vote for the election of the Board, shall approve the annual budget, shall act on all proposed significant non-budget Organization expenditures and major Organization programs or events and may consider any other matters brought to the members by the Executive Committee for their approval.

 

 

 

Section 5:  Ten (10) members of the Organization, at least five (5) of whom shall be non-Executive Committee members, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the general membership.

 

 

 

Section 6:  The affirmative vote of at least a majority of the members present at any membership meeting, at which a quorum is present, shall constitute action by the members (except for Bylaws amendments which require a two-thirds (2/3) vote in accordance with Article XIII).

 

 

 

Section 7:  All members of the Organization shall have voting privileges; provided, however, that in the event more than one parent or guardian of a Weston Intermediate School child is in attendance at a meeting of the membership, only one of such parents or guardians shall be entitled to vote.

 

 

 

Article VI-Officers/Executive Committee

Section 1:  The Officers of the Organization shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Past President, Grade Coordinator, Communications /Webmaster, Philanthropy Chair and Board of Education Representative (hereinafter referred to as the Executive Committee).

 

 

 

Section 2:  Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Organization in April.  Officers shall assume their official duties at the end of the school year, with the exception of the Treasurer, whose term shall run for the fiscal year, from August 1st to July 31st.  In such years as co-officers for any given office are elected, as authorized by Article X, Sec. 4 below, the co-officers shall share equally in the performance of all duties as defined in Article VII, or may together agree upon a distribution of such duties between themselves (References to any officer shall hereinafter include co-officers, when applicable).

 

 

 

Section 3:  The Executive Committee may remove a Board member for cause, after reasonable notice, by two-thirds vote of those present (assuming a quorum) of the Executive Committee members then in office.

 

 

 

Section 4:  The Executive Committee, and other persons designated by that Committee, shall meet with the Principal of the School and any interested faculty members once each month during the School year to the extent practicable in order to communicate matters of current business, concerns, suggestions, and goals of the Organization (hereinafter called the Executive Committee Meeting).

 

 

 

Section 5:  The Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. Executive Committee shall be responsible for managing the general business affairs and funds of the Organization and shall function as a planning and policy making body to promote the stated purpose of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc.  In this regard, the Executive Committee may take stands on issues and make policy statements and the like which are consistent with this purpose and may delegate the implementation of same to the President or other authorized Organization member.  The Executive Committee shall consider, approve and present an annual budget to the general membership at the September membership meeting and shall not authorize significant non-budget expenditures or major Organization programs or events without membership approval.

 

 

 

Section 6:  The Executive Committee may conduct business regarding previously approved projects in the absence of a membership meeting.  The action taken must be presented to the full membership at the earliest time for their approval.

 

 

 

Section 7:  The Executive Committee may approve Philanthropic requests in amounts under $250.00, the total of which may not exceed $2,000.00 annually, without the approval of the general membership.  All items of expenditure must be reported at the next general meeting.

 

 

 

Section 8:  The Executive Committee must approve all contracts that purport to bind the PTO prior to their execution.  All contracts must be signed by an officer.

 

 

 

Article VII-Duties of Officers

Section 1:  President

 

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc., Executive Committee Meetings, and at all regular and special meetings of the general membership of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc., and shall perform all other duties usually pertaining to the office.  This Officer, with the Vice President, shall be responsible for faculty liaison.  The President shall review and sign monthly financial statements as received from the Treasurer.  The President, in concert with the presidents of the other Weston Parent Teacher Organizations, shall propose to the Executive Committee a candidate to fill the position of District Website Manager; any such appointment shall be subject to ratification at the next regular meeting of the membership.  The President shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees, excepting the Nominating Committee; and may establish Project Committees and Committee Chairpersons as deemed necessary with the approval of the PTO Executive Committee.

 

 

 

Section 2:  Vice President

 

The Vice President shall be responsible for all duties of the President in his/her absence.  This Officer, with the President, shall be responsible for faculty liaison.  The Vice President shall provide tours of the school as requested, chair the Long Range Planning Committee, and shall be responsible for the collection of all reports in duplicate via email from the PTO Board members by the May regular membership meeting.  The Vice President shall be responsible for organizing a committee to review the governing Bylaws of the Weston Intermediate School Parent Teacher Organization throughout the year, as well as assisting the President in any other areas deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.

 

 

 

Section 3:  Secretary

 

The Secretary shall keep the records of all meetings, assist with administrative responsibilities, and conduct correspondence as directed by the PTO Executive Committee including correspondence with the Executive Committee and General Board.

 

 

 

Section 4:  Treasurer

 

The Treasurer shall receive and disburse, as set forth below, all funds of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc.; and keep an accurate account of said funds.  The Treasurer shall prepare and submit a proposed annual operating budget and a closing financial statement to be presented to and approved by the Executive Committee and the regular membership at their September meetings, and, upon request of the Executive Committee, shall make a monthly financial report at each regular membership meeting.  The Treasurer shall be responsible for filing all tax returns for the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc.  The Treasury shall be maintained in an account with a Connecticut banking institution.  Only the Treasurer and President shall be authorized to make withdrawals of funds from the Organization’s account.  The President and Treasurer shall be required to co-sign for any withdrawal in excess of five thousand dollars ($5000.00).  The Treasurer shall be a member of the Philanthropy Committee.

 

 

 

Section 5:  Grade Coordinator

 

The Grade Coordinator shall coordinate and supervise three (3) Grade Chairpersons who shall be responsible for all Organization sponsored grade and class activities at the school.  The Grade Coordinator shall supervise room parent assignments, Back To School Night, Field Day and such other matters, which are proposed by the Grade Chairpersons.

 

 

 

Section 6:  Communications/Webmaster/Publicity

 

The Communications/Webmaster shall edit, produce and distribute all PTO correspondence electronically to the PTO membership.  Shall also distribute any other material to the general membership as requested by the Executive Committee and/or school administrators. Responsibilities will also include maintaining and updating the PTO website with current WIS and district information.  The Communications/Webmaster will work closely with the PTO Webpage Manager and the District Website Manager to continue to develop and maintain the WIS PTO webpage (the "Webpage"), currently contained within the combined PTO district website at www.westonpspto.org (the "district Website"), including maintaining the Webpage with current and timely information.

 

 

 

Section 7:  Philanthropy Chairperson

 

The Philanthropy Chairperson shall be responsible for organizing a committee open to the general membership to ascertain the best possible use of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. funds.  The Executive Committee shall be responsible for making expenditure recommendations at the PTO general meetings.  Any proposed significant expenditures shall be subject to approval by the membership.

 

 

 

Section 8:  Board of Education Representative

 

The Board of Education Representative shall be responsible for attending Town of Weston Board of Education regular and special meetings in order to report back to the Executive Committee and the membership and to express the ideas, concerns, and recommendations of the Organization to the Board of Education.

 

 

 

Section 9:  Immediate Past President of the Organization

 

The Immediate Past President of the Organization shall be a voting member of the Executive and Philanthropy committees without specific duties; however, the Immediate Past President shall, whenever possible, serve as the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, and their role becomes an advisory one if they are in this position for two years.

 

 

 

Article VIII-Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. Board

Section 1:  The Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. Board shall consist of the following positions:

 

 

 

President

 

Vice President

 

Secretary

 

Treasurer

 

Grade Coordinator

 

Communications/Webmaster/Publicity

 

Philanthropy

 

Board of Education Representative

 

Immediate Past President of the Organization

 

Principal of School

 

Faculty Representative

 

Standing Committee Chairpersons

 

Grade Chairpersons (One per grade)

 

 

 

Section 2:  Regular meetings of the PTO Board shall be held at least once every two months during the school year, the dates and times to be fixed, to the extent practicable, by the Board at its first meeting of the year.  Preferably, the PTO Board meetings shall be held in conjunction with the scheduled monthly membership meetings to enable the Board to include the general membership in its proceedings.  Special meetings of the PTO Board may be called by the President or by a majority of the members of the PTO Executive Committee.

 

 

 

Section 3:  Each Board member, upon completion of his/her term of office, shall turn over all duties, records and correspondence to his/her successor and assist him/her in the assumption of the duties of his/her office.

 

 

 

Article IX-Standing Committees, Project Committees and Grade Chairperson

Section 1:  The PTO Executive Committee may create such Project Committees as it may deem necessary to promote the purpose and carry on the work of the Organization. The term of each Project Chairperson shall be one (1) year.  The Chairperson of each Project Committee shall report to the PTO Executive Committee as and when requested.  No Project Committee should commence implementation of a proposed activity or event without the prior approval of the PTO Executive Committee.  The President shall be member ex-officio of all Project Committees, except the Nominating Committee.

 

 

 

Section 2:  The addition or deletion of a Standing Committee necessitates change in the Bylaws.  The following Standing Committee Chairs are hereby established:

 

 

 

A.  Art & Display:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for all PTO art displays throughout the school.

 

 

 

B.  Book Fair:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for coordination of this fundraising event.

 

 

 

C.  Community Service:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for coordinating community service projects.

 

 

 

D.  Directory/Membership:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for compiling and publishing the Weston Intermediate School student body directory.  The Chairperson shall be responsible for the Annual Membership Drive and for contacting parents or guardians of new Weston Intermediate School students throughout the year.

 

 

 

E. Fundraising Chair:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for coordination of this fundraising event.

 

 

 

F.  Hospitality:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for providing refreshments for membership meetings and other PTO related events.

 

 

 

G.  Junior Great Books Coordinator:  The Chairperson shall recruits volunteers from each grade to train in the Great Books program, learning how to conduct the 8-session program. The Chairperson shall organize the training with the Great Books Foundation, mentor volunteers and help them to logistically set up the program for each grade.  They will also coordinate the dates of the program, training and purchasing of books.

 

 

 

H.  Learning Resource Center:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for organizing all volunteer activities with the LRC staff and maintaining the parent and professional library.

 

 

 

I.  Lost and Found:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for collecting lost items from around the campus and periodically displaying them for all to see and then for disposing of unclaimed items in an appropriate manner.

 

 

 

J.  Memorial Day Fair:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for coordination of this fundraising event, whenever possible with the Chairperson representing the Hurlbutt Elementary School PTO.

 

 

 

K.  Programs:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. sponsored programs.  All such programs shall be consistent with the stated purpose of the Organization.

 

 

 

M.  School Pictures:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for coordinating school photo day.

 

 

 

N.  School Supplies:  This Chairperson shall be responsible for coordinating, ordering, and delivering beginning of the year school supplies.

 

 

 

O.  Staff Appreciation:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for all staff appreciation events.

 

 

 

P.  Staff Luncheon:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for planning and organizing the staff luncheon at the beginning of the school year.

 

 

 

Q.  Talent on Tap:  The Chairperson shall coordinate, research, book and schedule local education programs that fit within each grade’s curriculum

 

 

 

R. Yearbook:  The Chairperson shall be responsible for the compilation, sale and distribution of the School Yearbook.

 

 

 

S.  District Website Manager:  The District Website Manager shall act as liaison between the WIS PTO and the other Weston PTOs and the web host site technical group for the district Website, ensure data integrity and data privacy for the PTO members on the district Website, work with the Membership and Directory Chairpersons, and initiate a yearly renewal of the web domain name and yearly renewal of the web host site technical group subject to the approval of the PTO membership.  This Chairperson will be appointed jointly by the Weston School District PTO presidents and will be filled by a parent from one of the four schools in the district.

 

 

 

T.  Grade Chairpersons (one per grade): The Grade Chairpersons shall be assigned, one each, to grades 3 through 5 at the Weston Intermediate School.  The Grade Chairpersons shall be responsible for all their respective Organization-sponsored grade and class activities/needs, such as room parents, class lists, field days, grade trips, etc. and any other activities or needs which they or the Grade Coordinator may deem appropriate or desirable.

 

U. SPED Liaison- The Special Education Liaison serves to help facilitate communication and understanding between Special Education families and the larger PTO membership. The role is to bring awareness to and support our school community by helping to identify opportunities for inclusion in school-related matters, and to facilitate support for families with special needs at PTO-sponsored and school-related events, if appropriate and requested. The Liaison will also help to identify issues at the District level that the PTO feels need to be addressed, and help to coordinate roundtable meetings, learning opportunities, and social events with District support and participation when appropriate.

 

 

Article X-Nomination of Board Members

Section 1:  The Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. Nominating Committee shall consist of four (4) members.  Two (2) members (including the alternate) shall come from the general membership.  The alternate shall attend all Nominating Committee meetings but shall not have voting rights unless a regular member is absent.  Two (2) members (including the Chairperson) shall come from the PTO Board.

 

 

 

Section 2:  The Chairperson of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President no later than by the January Executive meeting of the PTO, and presented at the following general board meeting of the PTO.  The Board and general membership shall select their representatives for the Nominating Committee at the following meeting of the general membership.

 

 

 

Section 3:  Any member of the Nominating Committee under consideration for an Executive Committee position shall resign from the committee and a substitute shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the PTO Board.

 

 

 

Section 4:  The Nominating Committee shall present its slate of proposed Board members including Officers, Grade Chairpersons and Standing Committee Chairpersons, at the March meeting of the PTO general membership.  When the slate is presented to the membership, nominations may be accepted from the membership.  The Nominating Committee may propose that a position be filled for a given term by two or more persons jointly and concurrently as co-officers or co-chairpersons.

 

 

 

Section 5:  Prior to the April membership meeting, the slate of proposed board members shall be made public by publication in the PTO Newsletter (The Whistle) or the PTO electronic communication.

 

 

Section 6:  Officers of the Organization, members of the PTO Board (except the Principal of the School and Faculty Representative) and Standing Committee Chairpersons (a) shall serve for a term of one year and until the election and qualification of their successors and (b) shall not serve in the same office for more than two (2) consecutive terms, unless the position remains vacant at the time the slate is presented to the general membership.

 

 

 

Section 7:  Only members of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. shall be eligible to serve in any elective or appointed positions within the Organization.

 

 

 

Article XI-Election of Board Members

Section 1:  Board members shall be elected by vote of the membership of the Organization.  Elections shall take place at the April annual membership meeting.  Election of Board members shall be by secret ballot and by a majority of the members present and voting at which a quorum is present.  However, if there is only one nominee for any office, election for that office may be by voice vote.  In cases where it is proposed that a given position be filled by two or more persons as co-officers or co-chairperson, they shall be considered as one nominee for voting purposes.

 

 

 

Section 2:  A vacancy in the Office of President shall be filled by the Vice President.  Vacancies among other Board members occurring during the year shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the PTO Executive Committee.

 

 

 

Article XII-Conflict of Interest Policy

Section 1:  The Executive Committee shall adopt a Conflict of Interest Policy ("Policy") to ensure compliance with the standards set by the Internal Revenue Service for maintaining the tax-exempt status of the PTO and for other appropriate corporate purposes.

 

 

 

Section 2:  The Executive Committee will conduct periodic reviews of its Policy and will revise the Policy as needed.

 

 

 

Article XIII-Bylaws

Section 1:  The Vice President and the Bylaws Committee, which is open to the general membership, shall review the governing Bylaws of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. during the year and may present suggested amendments at any meetings of the PTO Executive Committee and general membership.  Proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be made available for inspection to the general membership via PTO electronic communication prior to the membership meeting at which the amendment shall be voted upon.

 

 

 

Section 2:  The voting requirements for amending the Bylaws shall be a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at a duly held meeting of the members, at which a quorum is present.

 

 

 

Article XIV-Dissolution

Section 1.  Upon the dissolution of the PTO, the PTO shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the PTO, (i) dispose of all the remaining assets of the PTO exclusively for the purposes of the PTO in such manner as the Executive Committee may determine, consistent with applicable law, or (ii) distribute all of said assets to the Town of Weston's Board of Education or (iii) distribute all of said assets to such other organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

 

 

 

Article XV-Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc. in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws of the Weston Intermediate School PTO, Inc.

 

 

 

 

* Amended May 2022

*Amended March 2009

 

**Amended May 2015

 

***Amended June 2016