BRUSHFORK ELEMENTARY

The name of this association is the Brushfork PTO. It is a local unit organized under the authority of the West Virginia Congress of Parents and Teacher, a branch of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers.

ARTICLE II: ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION

The “articles of organization” of the local PTO include (a) the by-laws of such organization and (b) the certificate of incorporation or articles of incorporation of such organization (in cases in which the organization is a corporation) or the articles of association by whatever name (in cases which the organization exists as an unincorporated association).

ARTICLE III: PURPOSE

Section 1: The objects of the association in common with the objects of the National PTO.

a. To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.

b. To raise the standards of home life.

c. To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.

d. To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.

e. To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantage in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.

Section 2: The Objectives of this association are promoted, in cooperation with the state PTO and the National PTO, through an educational program directed toward parents, teachers, and the general public; are developed through conferences, committees, projects, and programs; and are governed and qualified by the basic policies set forth in Article IV.

ARTICLE IV: BASIC POLICIES

The following are basic policies of this association:

a. The association shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.

b. The name of the association or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used in connection with a commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to the promotion of the Objects of the association.

c. The association shall not—directly or indirectly—participate or intervene in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office; or devote more than an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.

d. The association shall work with the school to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision making process establishing school policy, recognizing the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to the board of education.

e. The association may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare but persons representing the association in such matters shall make no commitments that bind the association.

f. In the event of the dissolution of the association, its assets shall be distributed for one or more of the exempt purposes specified as from time to time amended.

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP DUES

Section 1: Membership in this PTO shall be made available without regard to race, color, creed, or national origin, under such rules and regulations.

Section 2: The association shall conduct an annual enrollment of members but persons may be admitted to membership at any time.

Section 3: Each member of the association shall pay annual dues of $2.00 to the association.

Section 4: Only members of the association shall be eligible to participate in the business meetings or to serve in any of its elective or appointive positions.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION

Section 1: Each officer of the PTO shall be a member of this PTO.

Section 2: Officers and their election:

a. The officers of this association shall consist of president, vice president, secretary, and a treasurer.

b. Officers shall be elected by ballot in the month of May. However, if there is but one nominee for any office, election for that office may be by voice vote. Officers must win by a majority vote (51% of the voters present).

c. Officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the meeting in May and shall serve for a term of ONE year. Officers may serve for not more than two consecutive terms.

d. All expenditures shall require two(2) signatures (the president and the treasurer).

Section 3: Nominating Committee:

a. There shall be a nominating committee composed of three

members which shall be one parent, one teacher and one member of the LSIC(Local School Improvement Council). The officers shall be nominated by the committee at a regular meeting at least one month prior to the election of officers. The committee shall elect its own chairman(chairperson).

b. The nominating committee shall nominate an eligible person

for each office to be filled and report its nominees at the regular meeting in April at which time the additional nominations may be made by the floor.

c. Only those persons who have signified their consent to serve

if elected shall be nominated for or elected for such office.

d. Newly elected officers shall be ready to present school

business at the first PTO meeting in the Fall which shall include reading of the minutes, treasurer’s report, and all other committee reports and/or findings. Said officers should be seated in front of the PTO audience with audio equipment available.

e. All committees shall consist of only one Executive Officer.

Section 4: Vacancies:

A vacancy offering in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the executive committee, notice of such elections having been given. In case of vacancy in the Office of President, the Vice President shall serve notice of the election.

ARTICLE VII: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1: The president shall preside at all meetings of the association and of the executive committee; shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these bylaws or assigned to him/her by the association or by the executive committee; and shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees of the association in order that the Objects may be promoted.

Section 2: The vice president shall act as aide to the president and shall perform duties of the president in the absence or inability of that officer to act.

Section 3: The home room chairperson shall act as aide to the president and shall specifically handle the duties associated with home room parents and the Read Aloud Program.

Section 4: The secretary shall record the minutes of all the meetings of the association and of the executive committee, shall have a current copy of the by-laws, shall maintain a membership list and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her.

Section 5: The treasurer, who shall be a board employee, will have custody of all the funds of the association, shall keep a full and accurate account with receipts and expenditures, and in accordance with the budget adopted by the association, shall make disbursement as authorized by the president, executive committee or meeting association. Checks or vouchers shall be signed by two persons, the treasurer and the president. The treasurer shall present a financial statement at every meeting of the association and at other times when requested by the executive committee and shall make a full report at the meeting at which new officers officially assume their duties. The treasurer shall be responsible for the maintenance of such books of accounts and records. The treasurer’s accounts shall be examined annually by an auditor or an auditing committee of not less than three members, who, satisfied that the treasurer’s annual report is correct, shall sign a statement of that fact at the end of the report. The auditing committee shall be selected by the executive committee at least two weeks before the meeting at which new officers assume duties. In Mercer County all organizations are audited by the Mercer County Board of Education’s designated auditor.

Section 6: All officers shall: perform the duties outlined in these by-laws and those assigned from time to time. Upon the expiration of the term of office or in case of resignation, each officer shall turn over to the president, within ten days, all records, books and other materials pertaining to the office, and shall return to the treasurer, without delay, all funds pertaining to the office.

ARTICLE VIII: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1: The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the association, the chairpersons of the standing committees, and the principal of the school or a representative appointed by him/her. The chairpersons of the standing committees shall be selected by the officers of the association.

Section 2: The duties of the executive committee shall be:

a. To transact necessary business in the intervals between association meetings and such other business as may be referred to it by the association.

b. To create standing and special committees, including Fund Raising Committees, Social Activities Committee, and Membership Committee.

c. To approve the plans of work of the standing committees.

d. To present a report at the regular meetings of the association.

e. To select an internal auditor(must be a neutral individual) and submit all financial records to the Mercer County Board of Education for final audit. All groups associated with schools are required to submit a beginning financial statement to the Mercer County Board of Education.

f. To prepare and submit to the association for adoption a budget for the year.

g. To approve routine bills within the limits of the budget.

h. A financial report, as part of the treasurer’s report, shall be given at every PTO meeting. Should be a written report.

SUBMITTED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE BRUSHFORK FACULTY SENATE DESIGNATED ON OCTOBER 9, 2006