Bylaws

BYLAWS OF THE HALL-DALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION, INC.


ARTICLE ONE:  NAME; DESCRIPTION; LOCATION

The name of this volunteer, nonprofit corporation shall be the Hall-Dale Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, Inc. (“HDES PTO”) and its principle place of business shall be at Hall-Dale Elementary School, 26 Garden Lane, City of Hallowell, County of Kennebec and State of Maine.

ARTICLE TWO:   MISSION STATEMENT

The HDES PTO is dedicated to nurturing an environment that enriches learning through communication, information, and support for the HDES community.

ARTICLE THREE:   PURPOSES

Section 1.   The purposes of the HDES PTO are

  1. to serve as a forum for communication among parents, caregivers, teachers, administrators, and the Kids Regional School Unit #2 (“RSU 2”) school board;
  2. to raise funds for and facilitate the enrichment of the HDES community;
  3. to provide a forum for community meetings focusing on specific topics of concern to parents, teachers and students of HDES.

Section 2.   The HDES PTO is organized exclusively for the charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code (hereinafter referred to as “IRS”).

ARTICLE FOUR:  BASIC POLICIES

Provisions for the regulation of the internal affairs of the corporation, distribution of assets on dissolution or final liquidation and the requirements of the IRS Code section 501(c) are as follows:

  1. The nonprofit corporation shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
  2. Membership is open to all parents, guardians, and caregivers of children enrolled at HDES and all teachers and staff at HDES.  The HDES PTO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, or national origin.
  3. No part of the net earnings of the nonprofit corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers, or other  private persons except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered, and to make payments and distributions for purposes that are exclusively charitable, scientific, literary and/or educational within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.
  4. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Corporation shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office, but nothing herein shall preclude the Corporation from expressing its views with respect to legislation which may affect its operation, assets or finances.
  5. Notwithstanding any other provision in these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other 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.
  6. Upon dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all of the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law), as the Board of Directors shall determine.  Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Superior Court of the county in which the principal office of the Corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes, or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE FIVE:  MEMBERSHIP

All parents, guardians, and caregivers of children enrolled at HDES and all teachers and staff at HDES are eligible to be members.   There shall be no required dues to be members of the HDES PTO.  Eligible persons who choose to include their name in the HDES PTO membership book at any point during each school year are considered members and shall have the right to vote.

ARTICLE SIX:  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The HDES PTO Board of Directors shall be a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and teachers’ representative.   The board of directors shall be chosen by the members of the organization in May of each year and the term of office for the board of directors shall be one year.  The board of directors shall receive no compensation for services on the board.

ARTICLE SEVEN:  DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1.  The president shall

  1. Preside over and facilitate meetings
  2. Act as a liaison between the PTO and the school administrators
  3. Help coordinate activities of other chairpersons
  4. Appoint additional committees as necessary
  5. Preside over and call meetings of the board of directors when necessary
  6. Ensure, with the treasurer, that the HDES PTO remains a tax exempt, charitable organization in good standing

Section 2.  The vice president shall

  1. Participate in meetings and assist the President in her or his duties
  2. Assume the duties off the President when she or he is not present
  3. Serve as a member of the board of directors

Section 3.  The secretary shall

  1. Keep accurate minutes of the PTO meetings and distribute them to the Board of Directors and the PTO
  2. Serve as a member of the board of directors

Section 4.  The treasurer shall

  1. Prepare and present monthly financial reports at all PTO meetings
  2. Keep records on all income and expenditures
  3. Write reimbursement checks to individuals for PTO expenses
  4. Serve as a member of the board of directors
  5. Assist with the preparation of annual filing of Form 990 or 990EZ with the IRS and ensure that filings and fees to the Secretary of State’s Office and the State of Maine Office of Licensing and Registration are current and timely

Section 5.  The teachers’ representative shall

  1. Act as a liaison between the PTO, other teachers and schooladministrators
  2. Assist as a member of the board of directors as necessary

ARTICLE EIGHT:  STANDING COMMITTEES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS

Section 1.            The following shall be the standing committees of the HDES PTO:

  1. Finance
  2. Programming
  3. Fundraising
  4. Volunteer
  5. Enrichment

Section 2.            Finance Committee

The duty and function of the finance committee is to create a yearly budget for HDES PTO earnings and expenditures.  The committee shall present an annual draft budget to the board of directors and the entire PTO for its approval at each first regular September meeting.

Section 3.            Programming Committee

The duty of the programming committee is to coordinate a theme or topic for presentation & discussion at assigned PTO meetings and to maintain the HDES PTO bulletin board with appropriate & timely information.

Section 4.            Fundraising Committee

The duty of the fundraising committee is to present programs and ideas to PTO members that will raise funds consistent with Article III and Article IV of these bylaws and to help coordinate fundraisers.    

Section 5.            Volunteer Committee

The duty of the volunteer committee is to maintain and distribute a volunteer list and recruit volunteers as necessary for events sponsored by the PTO throughout the year.  Such programs and events supported by this committee include Star of the Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, Classroom Parents, etc.

Section 6.            Enrichment Committee

The duty and function of the enrichment committee is to explore options for enrichment opportunities and to create a draft plan for allocating monies budgeted by the PTO for enrichment activities.

ARTICLE NINE:  MEETINGS

Section 1.            The HDES PTO shall meet monthly on the second Tuesday of the month, except when school activities, holidays, or vacations conflict or when there is consensus to move or cancel the regular meeting date.

Section 2.            Roberts Rules of Order shall be loosely applied to the running of each meeting, where applicable and not in conflict with these by-laws, special rules of order or the HDES PTO Articles of Incorporation.

ARTICLE TEN:  FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the HDES PTO shall begin on July 1 and end the following June 30.

ARTICLE ELEVEN:  AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be amended at any monthly meeting by a majority of those in attendance voting in favor of the modifications where not in conflict with applicable state and federal laws governing this nonprofit corporation.

Date adopted by the HDES PTO:  November 14, 2006

Date amended by the HDES PTO: May 10, 2011