Omro PTO Bylaws

Created 10/13/10 & Revised 9/9/14

Article I – Name

The name of the organization shall be the Omro Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).

Article II – Purpose

Thepurpose of the Omro PTO shall be to aid the students, faculty and staff of the OmroSchool District in their educational and recreational needs. Through fund-raising, fun activities and family activities, we will promote an open communication between the administration, faculty, parents and the community to enhance our children's educational environment.

Article III – Members

Section 1. Members. Any parent, step-parent, grandparent, or guardian with a student in the school district may be a member and shall have voting rights. The principal, teachers and any faculty employed at the school may be a member and have voting rights.

Section 2. Voting Members. All regular members who have attended 3 or more meetings in the last two school years shall be designated as voting members, with the exception to new parents of students/staff to the school district. Voting members shall have the right to vote on all issues before the organization, to elect officers, and to hold office. The majority rules on all voting.

Article IV – Officers and Elections

Section 1. Officers. The officers shall be two co-presidents, secretary and treasurer.

  1. Co-Presidents. The co-presidents shall preside at all regular and if need be at special meetings. Coordinate the work of the officers and sub-committees in order that the objectives may be accomplished. Serve as an authorized signatory of all PTO checks. Serve as primary contact for the principal. He or she will also keep a copy on file of the bylaws.
  2. Secretary. The secretary will keep track of the attendance for the meetings. Keep all records of communication that is sent out to the parents, prepare the agenda, handle correspondence, work with the local paper for anything needed to be posted, and prepare the monthly PTO newsletter.
  3. Treasurer. The treasurer shall receive all funds of the PTO, keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures, and pay out funds in accordance with the approval of the officers and/or items voted on at our regular meetings by the members of the PTO. He or she will present at every meeting and at other times of the year when requested by the officers, a report of the funds in and out of the account. He or she will also make a full summary report at the end of the year.

Section 2. Nominations and Elections. Elections will be held at the first meeting of the school year. The current officers may nominate a candidate for each office and present the slate at the meeting. At the same meeting, nominations may also be made from the floor. Voting shall be by voice vote if a slate is presented. If more than one person is running for an office, a ballot vote shall be taken. All running candidates need to be present at the meeting.

Section 3. Eligibility. Members are eligible for office if they are members in good standing and have attended five or more of the meetings within a two-year period, with the exception to new students/staff to the school district or is an active volunteer with PTO events. Because the co-president and treasurer are authorized to sign checks, they will go through a basic background check. This background check is what is available to the general public. It is then the discretion of the officers currently in office and the voting members to determine whether or not the candidate can accept the position.

Section 4. Terms of Office. Officers are elected for a term of two school years. The term of the office shall end after the first meeting of the next school year. The new officers shall begin their term immediately thereafter. A person does not have to step down at the end of his/her term if they choose not to; elections will not be held for that office unless there are volunteers to move into that position other than the current officer. They will sign up for at least one year. The treasurer may not hold more than 2 terms for a total of 4 years. Officers not renewing their term must make it known to the other officers in writing no later than May.

Section 5. Vacancies. If there is a vacancy in any office, current officers have the option to move into that vacant office. Their time in office does not start over. If a current officer does not fill the vacancy, members will fill the vacancy through an election at the next regular meeting. We will follow the election rules in Section 2.

Section 6. Removal From Office. The removal of any officer shall be for gross incompetence, intentional neglect, or misconduct. An officer may be removed from office if absent from three consecutive meetings. A special meeting will be held to answer the complaint.

Article V – Meetings

Section 1. Regular Meetings. The regular meeting of the PTO will be determined by the current officers and shared with the parents. Only topics on the agenda will be discussed. If time permits we will vote on other topics wished to be discussed. All unfinished business shall be carried over to the next meeting. In the event of bad weather, meetings may be cancelled and rescheduled at the discretion of the co-presidents. The annual meeting will be held at the September regular meeting. The annual meeting is for financial reports, electing officers if needed, and conducting other business that should arise. The secretary will notify the members of the meeting in our first monthly newsletter handed out at open house.

Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the officers or sub-committee coordinators for events sponsored by the PTO that may need dedicated time separate than the regular meetings. Notice will be sent out to the members volunteering their time for the specific events.

Section 3. Quorum. The quorum shall be 2 members of the PTO.

Article VI – Sub-Committees

Section 1. Membership. A sub-committee consists of a member(s), with the co-presidents acting as an ex officio member of all committees.

Section 2. Standing Sub-Committees. The following sub-committees shall be held by the PTO: Box Tops, Labels for Education, Milk Moola, Market Day and Popcorn Days.

Section 3. Additional Sub-Committees. The co-presidents may appoint additional sub-committees as needed.

Section 4. Sub-Committee Chairperson(s). The sub-committee chair person cannot sign any contracts on behalf of the PTO. Contracts will only be honored if signed by a co-president

Article VII – Finances

Section 1. The treasurer shall keep accurate records of any disbursements, income, and bank account information.

Section 2. All deposits and/or disbursements shall be made within a maximum of thirty (30) days from the receipt of the funds and/or orders of payments.

Section 3. Two authorized signatures shall be required on each check. Authorized signers shall be one of the co-presidents and the treasurer.

Section 4. The treasurer shall prepare a financial statement at the end of the year, to be shared with the members at the first meeting of the next school year.

Section 5. No reimbursements will be made without a financial reimbursement form and valid receipts. Original receipts must be submitted, no copies will be accepted.

Section 6. Upon the dissolution of the PTO, any remaining funds should be used to pay any outstanding bills and, with the current membership’s approval, spent for the benefit of the school.

Section 7. The fiscal year shall coordinate with the school year. If a tax filing is not required for a certain year, an audit of the books will be completed.

Article VIII – Amendment of Bylaws

Section 1. These bylaws can be amended at any General Membership Meeting of the Omro PTO by a two-thirds majority vote of the voting members in attendance. Notice shall be given at least two weeks prior to the meeting and added to the agenda.

Section 2. These bylaws may be reviewed and/or revised by the Officers in Office as necessary to meet changing conditions in the school and community and brought to vote of the voting membership.

______

These Bylaws were adopted by the Omro Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) by a majority vote during a General meeting properly called on December 8, 2010 and shall

take effect immediately.

Bylaws created by 2010-2011 Officers.

Revised: 10/12/12, 9/9/14