By-Laws of the Parent Teacher Student Organization of Heritage Community Charter School

Article I. NAME

The name of the organization shall be The Parent Teacher Student Organization of Heritage Community Charter School, hereinafter referred to as the “PTSO.”

Article II. INSTITUTION AND CHARTER

The PTSO was chartered by the parents committee, under the Heritage Community Charter School (hereinafter referred to as “HCCS”) administration, as approved by the HCCS Board and as required by the school charter (tab 5, pg. 43 of the approved charter).

Article III. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of the PTSO is to:

Support the education and serve as an advocate of children at HCCS through volunteering and fundraising.
Promote the general welfare of HCCS.
Foster closer working relationships among school, parents, faculty, and the Board of Directors of HCCS.
Provide a forum for the sharing of ideas that will benefit HCCS.

Article IV. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1. Membership

Every parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled in HCCS, every full-time employee, and full or part-time teacher or administrator at HCCS is a member of the PTSO and shall have individual voting rights.
Membership allows each parent or legal guardian a single vote.
Every student holding a student government office at HCCS is a non-voting member of the PTSO.

Section 2. Dues

Dues will be $10 per individual member per school year. The payment of dues is voluntary. However, only dues-paying members may accept a nomination for any PTSO officer position. Additionally, only dues-paying members or full-time HCCS employees whose school activities preclude their attendance may vote via proxy ballot. Dues collected after May 1st will be applied to the following school year. Changes in the dues amount will be determined by the Executive Committee and will never change more than once per school year. Dues are not refundable.

Section 3. Revocation of Membership

If a parent/guardian no longer has student(s) enrolled at HCCS, their membership in the PTSO is revoked immediately. Similarly, if an employee, teacher, or administrator no longer works at HCCS, their membership is revoked immediately.

Article V. OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers/Duties

The officers shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. If not enough people are willing to fill these four positions, two of the four can be filled by one person. At least three officers must be elected to have a valid PTSO. Additional non-elected officer positions may be filled by majority vote of elected officers and include: Elementary School Parent PTSO Representative, Elementary School Teacher PTSO Representative, Middle School Parent PTSO Representative, and Middle School Teacher PTSO Representative. Elected officers may meet independently of the full Executive Committee as needed.

President

Shall organize and preside over the meetings of the PTSO. Shall report to and consult with the HCCS Head Administrator regarding the activities and policies of the PTSO.
Shall appoint all committee chairs and serve as an unofficial member of all committees.
May nominate candidates to fill any vacancy that occurs during the year in any officer position. Candidates so nominated by the President must be confirmed by majority vote of the PTSO.
Shall assure building availability and access for all PTSO meetings and events.
Shall perform such other duties as may be provided by these by-laws or directed by the Executive Committee.

Vice President

Shall preside over all of the meetings of the PTSO in the absence of the President.
Shall assist the President in carrying out the duties of his/her office.
Shall assume the duties of President in the event that the President is incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform his/her duties.
Shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the Executive Committee.

Secretary

Shall record the minutes of the PTSO General and Executive Committee meetings.
Shall prepare and distribute the minutes from the previous meeting at the next meeting.
Shall be responsible for maintaining all correspondence and providing notice of all meetings.
Shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the Executive Committee.

Treasurer

Shall be the custodian of all funds of the PTSO.
Shall work with HCCS Administration to monitor and protect all funds placed in his or her custody, keeping accurate ledgers available for audit.
Shall be the sole liaison between the PTSO and HCCS business manager and bookkeeper. All receipts for reimbursement will go through the Treasurer.
Shall prepare an annual Treasurer’s Report for presentation at the annual meeting.
Shall perform such duties as may be directed by the Executive Committee.

Elementary School Parent PTSO Representative, Elementary School Teacher PTSO Representative, Middle School Parent PTSO Representative, and Middle School Teacher PTSO Representative. (Four separate officers)

Shall act as liaisons between their respective classes, the PTSO, and the school.
Shall represent the ideas and interests of their constituent members in the Executive Committee meetings and in the general meetings.
The Elementary School Teacher PTSO Representative and Middle School Teacher PTSO Representative must be a full or part-time teacher in the appropriate class during their term of service.
The Elementary School Parent PTSO Representative and Middle School Parent PTSO Representative must each be the parent or guardian of at least one student who will be in the appropriate class during their term of service.

Article VI. ELECTIONS

Section 1. Elections

Once a year, the PTSO will notify members of officer elections. Nominations for offices can be made from the floor. Any dues-paying member can run for election. Officers shall be elected for a term of one year, and may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office. The term of office shall be from the day after the last day of school following the election in which the officer was elected until the last day of the next school year.

Section 2. Vacancies

If a vacancy occurs during the school year in the office of President, the Vice President shall automatically become the President. At the next regular scheduled meeting of the PTSO, a new Vice President will be elected. If a vacancy occurs in any other office, the PTSO President will nominate someone to fill the vacancy. Additional nominations from PTSO members will be accepted up to and at the next regularly scheduled or special meeting at which the election will be held for the vacant position.

Section 3. Removal

An officer can be removed with or without cause by a two-thirds vote of the members present (assuming a quorum) at a regular meeting of the PTSO if their intent to vote on the removal is on the agenda posted.

Article VII. PTSO MEMBER MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings

The regular meeting of the PTSO shall be held each month during the school year at such time and place as determined by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall prepare a calendar of regular meetings of the PTSO for the membership no later than the end of the first full month of school. The annual meeting of the PTSO will be held in the spring. The annual meeting is for receiving reports, electing officers, and conducting any other business that should arise. A quorum of the PTSO shall be deemed to be present if at least 10 voting members of the PTSO are present.

A quorum is required for election or removal of officers.
General meeting business may be conducted with a greater than 50% vote of the members present.

Section 2. Meeting materials in Spanish and English

The Executive Committee is charged to make all documents for the annual election of officers as well as meeting notices available. Documents may be provided in Spanish upon request.

Article VIII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Membership/Duties

The Executive Committee of the PTSO shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Elementary School Parent PTSO Representative, Elementary School Teacher PTSO Representative, Middle School Parent PTSO Representative, and Middle School Teacher PTSO Representative.

The duties of the Executive Committee shall be to transact business between meetings, create standing rules and policies, prepare and submit a budget to the HCCS administration and approve routine bills and expenditure via a majority vote which will be sent to administration for approval.

Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held as needed at the time and place to be determined by the Executive Committee. A majority of the current Executive Committee constitutes a quorum.

Article IX. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Membership

Committees may consist of general body members and Executive Committee members, with the President acting as an unofficial, non-voting member of all committees. Each year, the officers can appoint whatever committees they think are necessary. If parents want an activity/event/program they must volunteer to serve for that activity/event/program.

Article X. FINANCES

Section 1. Budget

A tentative budget of the PTSO shall be drafted in the fall by the Executive Committee for each school year and approved by a majority vote of the PTSO members present at a meeting of the PTSO and submitted to the Head Administrator for approval

Section 2. Approval of Expenses

The Executive Committee shall approve all PTSO expenses by a majority vote.

Article X. AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended at any regular or special PTSO meeting. Amendments must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, and then submitted to the full membership at the next meeting. All amendments must be approved by HCCS administration.

Heritage Community Charter School

PTSO (Parent, Teacher, Student Organization)

Heritage Community Charter School

Heritage Community
Charter School