Meadow Wood Elementary
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION
BYLAWS
*ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this
organization is the Meadow Wood Elementary Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Area
11,
*ARTICLE II: Articles of Organization [1]
The articles of organization of this Local PTA include (a) the bylaws 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 in which the organization exists as an unincorporated association).
*ARTICLE
III: Purposes
Section 1. The Purposes of the Meadow Wood Elementary
PTA, in common with those of the National PTA and the Texas PTA, are:
a. To promote the welfare of
children and youth in home,
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
e. To develop between educators
and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and
youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual
education.
Section 2. The Purposes of the National PTA, the Texas
PTA and this Local PTA are promoted through an advocacy and educational program directed toward parents,
teachers and the general public; developed through conferences, committees,
projects and programs; and governed and qualified by the basic policies set
forth in Article IV.
Section 3. The organization 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 “Internal Revenue Code”).
*ARTICLE
IV: Basic Policies
The following are basic
policies of this Local PTA in common with those of the National PTA and the
Texas PTA:
*ARTICLE V: Constituent
Organizations
Section 1. The constituent
organizations of National PTA include:
Section 2. The national
board of directors shall determine criteria for establishing constituent
organizations and setting standards for continuing affiliation with National
PTA.
Section 3. There shall be
no proxy voting by any constituent organization of National PTA.
Section 4. The Purposes and
basic policies of National PTA shall in every case also be the Purposes and
basic policies of each constituent organization.
Section 5. Each constituent
organization shall adopt bylaws for the government of the organization. Such
bylaws shall not be in conflict with National PTA or Texas PTA bylaws. Such
bylaws shall include an article on amendments and shall include a provision
establishing a quorum.
*ARTICLE
VI: Relationship with
Section 1. This
Local PTA shall be organized and chartered under the authority of the Texas
PTA, in conformity with such rules and regulations, not in conflict with the
National PTA
A Local PTA in good standing
shall:
a. adhere to the Purposes and
basic policies of the PTA;
b. have a minimum of twenty
(20) members to retain membership in the Texas PTA;
c. remits the national and
state portions of dues for all dues received to the Texas PTA Office postmarked
on or before October 15;
d. have bylaws approved
according to the procedures of the Texas PTA; and
e. meet other criteria as may
be prescribed by the Texas PTA.
Section 2. Local PTAs whose national and state portions
of dues and names of all members enrolled shall be in the Texas PTA Office
postmarked on or before October 15 to be considered a Local PTA in good
standing and eligible for voting representation at state convention. Local PTAs whose national and state portions
of dues are not paid by March 15 shall be dropped from the state roster.
Section 3. This
Local PTA shall keep such permanent books of account and records as shall be
sufficient to establish the items of gross income, receipts and disbursements
of the organization including, specifically, the number of its members, the
dues collected from its members and the amount of dues remitted to the Texas
PTA. Such books of account and records
shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by an authorized representative of the Texas PTA or the National PTA.
Section 4. The charter of this Local PTA shall be subject to withdrawal and the status as a Local PTA shall be subject to termination, in the manner and under the circumstances provided in the bylaws of the Texas PTA.
Section 5. This Local PTA is obligated, upon withdrawal of its charter by the Texas PTA:
a. to yield up and surrender
all of its books and records and all of its assets and property to the Texas
PTA or to such agency as may be designated by the Texas PTA, or to another Local
PTA organized under the authority of the Texas PTA;
b. to cease and desist from the
further use of any name that implies or connotes association with the National
PTA or the Texas PTA; and
c. to carry out promptly, under
the supervision and direction of the Texas PTA, all proceedings necessary for
the purpose of dissolving this Local PTA.
Section
6. A Local PTA considering dissolving
its relationship with Texas PTA (and thereby National PTA) shall follow the
procedures for dissolution as adopted by the Texas PTA
a. a special called meeting of the membership
with thirty (30) days notice;
b. a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership, a
quorum having been established; and
c. notification of the state president at least
forty-five (45) days in advance of such meeting.
Any Local PTA failing to
follow the procedures may be required to forfeit all Local PTA books, records
and assets to Texas PTA.
Section 7. Each Local PTA shall include in its bylaws
provisions corresponding to the provisions of such of these bylaws as are
identified by a star (*).
*ARTICLE VII: Members and Dues
Section 1. Every individual who is a member of this Local
PTA is a member of the National PTA and the Texas PTA and is entitled to all
the benefits of such membership.
Section 2.
Section 3. This Local PTA shall conduct an annual
enrollment of members, but may admit persons to membership at any time.
Section 4. Only
members of a Local PTA who have paid dues for the current membership year may
participate in the business of that association. [3]
Section 5. Each member of this Local PTA shall pay
annual dues as follows: one dollar and seventy-five cents (1.75) for National
PTA dues, two dollars and twenty-five cents (2.25) for Texas PTA dues, and four
dollars (4.00) for the Local PTA dues. [4]
Section 6. The
Section 7. Names of members and national and state
portions of dues received shall be sent to the Texas PTA Office whenever
members are enrolled in the organization.
Section 8. The members of the Texas PTA are the
individual members of the Local PTAs whose names are on file in the Texas PTA
Office and for whom the national and state portions of dues have been received
by the Texas PTA. Individuals may expect
their dues to be received in the Texas PTA Office five (5) business days after
being received by the Local PTA. [6]
Section 9. Honorary Life Members
a.
An Honorary Life
b. Life membership shall be honorary
and shall carry neither the right to vote nor to hold office. A life member may also become an
all-inclusive member upon enrollment as a member in a Local PTA.
c. A Texas Honorary Life Member
may receive exemption from state portion of dues through one (1) Local PTA
only. The member shall be designated as
a Texas Life Member when the Local PTA annual membership list is sent to the
Texas PTA Office.
d. The annual national portion
of dues for a Texas Life Member shall be paid by said Texas Life Member.
*ARTICLE
VIII: Officers and Their Election
Section 1. Each officer shall be a member of this Local PTA.
[7]
Section 2. Officers and their election
a. The officers of this Local PTA
shall be a president, 2 vice president(s), a secretary, a treasurer, and a
parliamentarian.
b. Officers, with the exception
of the parliamentarian, shall be elected by ballot in the month of March. However,
if there is but one (1) nominee for an office, election for that office may be
by voice vote. The parliamentarian shall be appointed by the president subject
to the approval of the newly elected officers.
c. An individual shall be a member of the Local PTA prior
to taking office.
d. Officers shall assume their official duties following
the close of the
e. No officer shall serve in the same office for more than two (2)
consecutive terms. One who has served
more than one-half (1/2) of a term shall be credited with having served that
term.
Section 3. Nominating Committee
a. There shall be a nominating
committee elected by the membership at a regular meeting prior to the election
meeting. Elections shall be by
plurality. The committee shall be
composed of five (5) members. Two (2) alternates shall be elected to serve in
the event a member is unable to serve.
The committee shall elect its own chairman immediately following the
meeting.
b. No person shall serve two
(2) consecutive years on the nominating committee.
c. The nominating committee
shall nominate an eligible person [10]
for each office to be filled and report its nominees at the election meeting in
March at which time additional nominations
may be made from the floor. The report shall be publicized to the Local PTA
membership through regular publicity channels at least seven (7) days before the election meeting.
d. Only those persons who have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated for or elected to such office.
e. No member shall
automatically serve on this committee because of his office in the Local PTA or
position in the
f. The president does not serve as a
member of this committee, nor does he appoint any member of the committee.
Section 4. Vacancies
a. A vacancy occurring in any
elected office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a
majority vote of the executive board, at least three (3) days notice of such
election having been given.
b. In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the first vice president shall serve notice to the executive board of the election.
Section 5. Reason to remove
By
two-thirds (2/3) vote of the executive board, an officer or chairman may be
removed from office for failure to attend three (3) consecutive meetings,
failure to perform duties, failure to sign the adopted ethics/conflict of interest
policy, or criminal mi
ARTICLE IX: Duties of Officers
Section 1. The president shall:
*a. coordinate the work of the officers and
committees of the association in order that the Purposes may be promoted;
*b. confirm that a quorum is
present before conducting any business at any meeting of the association;
*c. preside at all meetings of
the association;
*d. appoint the parliamentarian,
subject to approval of the newly elected officers;
*e. appoint chairmen of special
committees subject to approval of executive board;
*f. be authorized to sign on bank accounts; [11]
*g. be authorized to sign contracts that have been
approved by the executive board;
*h. be listed as the principal officer and be authorized to
sign tax documents;
*i.
confirm the
executive board has reviewed and the membership has adopted the Texas PTA
PTA/PTSA Records Retention Policy annually;
*j.
call a meeting of the newly elected officers within thirty (30) days
after the election meeting for the purpose of approving appointments of
standing committee chairmen and such other business
as becomes necessary;
*k. appoint a member, subject to the approval of the
executive board, who is not authorized to sign on the bank account to open, review,
initial and date each bank statement;
*l.
represent the Local PTA as a delegate to Council PTA (when the Local PTA
is in membership with Council PTA);
*m.
file with the Council PTA secretary
the names of delegates and alternates from this Local PTA by the first regular Council PTA meeting and no later than October 1. A Local PTA joining or making changes after
October 1 shall submit any changes in writing prior to any regular meeting in
order to be eligible to vote;
*n. confirm that all officers
are graduates of the current Texas PTA Leader Orientation or have completed the
course by October 15 after the election;
*o. send the names and addresses
of the officers and chairmen to the Texas PTA office by May 1 each year;
*p. appoint the audit committee
subject to the approval of the executive board; and
*q. serve as an ex-officio
member of all committees except the nominating and audit committees.
Section 2. Vice President(s) [12]
a. First Vice President shall:
*1. be the aide-to-the-president
and serve as chairman of ways and means; and
*2. preside in the absence of the president.
b. Second Vice President shall:
*1. be in charge of programs; and
*2. preside in the absence of the
president and first vice president.
Section 3. The secretary shall: [13]
*a. record the minutes of all
meetings of the association;
*b. keep an accurate record of
attendance at executive board meetings;
*c. be responsible for
correspondence;
*d. collect and preserve
documents relating the history of the association;
*e. present a written report to
the association as the official history to be adopted at the annual meeting;
*f. have a current copy of the
bylaws;
*g. maintain a list of the names of Local PTA officers who have completed
the Texas PTA Leader Orientation, with the dates each course was completed;
*h. maintain the records retention policy;
*i.
maintain the adopted ethics/conflict of interest policy as signed by the current executive
board members; and
*j.
maintain a membership list. [14]
Section 4. The treasurer shall:
*a. have custody of all the
funds of the association;
*b. keep books of account and
records including bank statements, receipts, budgets, invoices, paid receipts
and canceled checks in
accordance with the records retention policy;
*c. make disbursements in
accordance with the budget adopted by the association;
*d. sign on bank accounts; [15]
*e. present a financial report,
both written and verbal, at every meeting of the Local PTA and as requested by
the executive board or the association;
*f. make a full report at the
annual meeting;
*g. be responsible for the
maintenance of such books of account and records as conform to the requirements
of Article VI, Section 3 of these bylaws;
*h. complete and file all
necessary tax documents; and
*i.
present books to the audit committee as requested.
Section 5. The
parliamentarian shall:
*a. advise the presiding officer
on questions of parliamentary procedure; and
*b. vote only when the vote is
by ballot.
*Section 6. All officers shall:
a. be a graduate of the Texas
PTA Leader Orientation or complete the course by October 15 after their election;
b. submit a Plan of Work to the
executive board for approval;
c. have a current copy of the Local
PTA bylaws; and
d. deliver to their successors
or the president all official materials within fifteen (15) days following the
date at which their successors assume their duties.
ARTICLE X: Meetings
*Section 1. This association
shall hold a minimum of three (3) meetings a year.
a. Regular meetings of the
association shall be held in the months of September, December, February, March
and May; time and date to be established by executive board at its first
meeting of the year. Five (5) days
notice shall be given if change of date is needed. [16]
b. The regular meeting held in March
shall be the election meeting.
c. The annual meeting in May shall
be for the purpose of receiving reports of officers and chairmen and for any
other necessary business.
Section 2. Special meetings of the Local PTA may be
called by the president or by a majority of the executive board, at least three (3) days notice having
been given.
*Section 3. Ten (10) members shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business in any meeting of this association. [17]
ARTICLE XI:
Executive Board
Section 1. The executive board shall consist of:
a. the officers of the
association;
b. the chairmen of standing
committees; and
c. the principal of the school
or a representative appointed by him.
*Section 2. A Local PTA member
shall not serve as a voting member of this executive board while employed by,
or under contract to this Local PTA.
Section 3. The duties of the executive board shall be
to:
a.
transact necessary business in the intervals between association
meetings and such other business as may be referred to it by the association;
b.
present a report at the regular meetings of the association;
*c. approve the Plans of Work of all officers and
committee chairmen;
*d. create standing and special committees;
*e. adopt the Texas PTA Council/Local
PTA/PTSA Ethics/Conflict of Interest Policy annually;
*f. review the records retention policy annually;
*g. prepare and submit a budget
for the year to the association for adoption;
h.
approve routine bills within the limits of the budget; and
*i. fill vacancies of officers and chairmen.
Section 4. The duties of each board member shall be to:
*a. attend all meetings of the association;
*b. sign the ethics/conflict of
interest policy, as adopted; and
*c. perform the duties outlined
in these bylaws and those assigned by the president or membership from time to
time.
Section 5. Meetings
a.
Regular meetings of the executive board shall be held prior to each
regular meeting of the association, the time to be determined by the board at
its first meeting of the year.
*b. A majority of the executive board members shall
constitute a quorum. [18]
c.
Special meetings of the executive board may be called by the president
or by a majority of the members of the board, at least three (3) days notice
being given.
ARTICLE XII: Standing and Special Committees
*Section 1. Only members of the association shall be
eligible to serve in any elective or appointive position.
*Section 2. The executive board
may create such standing and special committees as it may deem necessary to
promote the Purposes and carry on the work of the association. The term of each chairman shall be one (1)
year or until the selection of a successor.
*Section 3. The newly elected president shall call a
meeting of the incoming officers within thirty (30) days after the election for
the purpose of approving standing
committee chairmen and such other business as becomes necessary. [19]
*Section 4. No chairman shall
serve in the same office for more than two (2) consecutive terms. One who has served more than one-half (1/2) of
a term shall be credited with having served that term.
*Section 5. All standing
committee chairmen shall:
a. deliver to their successors or the president all
official materials within fifteen (15) days following the date at which their
successors assume their duties;
b. present a Plan of Work to the executive board for approval. No committee work shall be undertaken without
this approval; [20]
c. perform the duties outlined in these bylaws and those
assigned by the president or membership from time to time; and
d. have a current copy of the Local
PTA bylaws.
*Section 6. The president shall be
a member ex-officio of all committees except the nominating and audit
committees.
*Section 7. The quorum of any
committee shall be a majority of its members.
ARTICLE XIII: Council Membership
Section 1. (Applies only to Local PTAs holding membership
in a Council of PTAs, and shall correspond to Council PTA bylaws.) [21]
a. The association shall be
represented in meetings of the Spring Branch Independent School District
(SBISD) Council of Parent Teacher Associations by the president or alternate,
the principal or alternate and by one (1) delegate or alternate. [22] All representatives to the Council PTA shall
be members of the Local PTA they represent.
b. Delegates and their
alternates shall be appointed subject to approval by the executive board by
March.
c. Delegates to SBISD Council
of PTAs shall serve for a term of one (1) year.
Section 2. This association shall pay annual dues of fifty ($50.00)[23] to the SBISD Council of PTAs no later than October 15.
*ARTICLE
XIV: State Convention
This Local PTA shall be represented at the annual meeting of the Texas PTA by the president or appointed alternate and additional accredited delegates.
a. All delegates from this Local
PTA to the Texas PTA Annual Convention shall be members of this Local PTA.
b. Voting delegates and their
alternates shall be appointed subject to the approval of the executive
board in January.
*ARTICLE
XV: Fi
Section 1. The fiscal year of this association shall
begin June 1 and end on the following May 31.
Section 2. An
audit committee consisting of not less than three (3) members, [24] who are not authorized
signers, shall be appointed by the president subject to the approval of the
executive board at
least thirty (30) days before the last meeting of the year. [25]
Section 3. The audit committee report shall be adopted
by the association. [26]
*ARTICLE XVI: Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the
current edition of Robert’s Rules of
Order Newly Revised shall govern the National PTA and its constituent
organizations in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are
not in conflict with these bylaws, the bylaws of the Texas PTA, and the bylaws
of the National PTA or the articles of incorporation.
ARTICLE XVII: Amendments
*Section 1.
a. These bylaws may be amended
at any meeting of the association, provided a quorum is present, by two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the members present and voting.
Notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given at the previous
regular meeting or thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment
is voted on. [27] The amendment shall be subject to approval of
the Texas PTA.
b. A committee may be appointed
to submit a revised set of bylaws as a substitute for the existing bylaws only
by a majority vote at a meeting of the association, or by a two-thirds (2/3)
vote of the executive board. The
procedure for action on amendments in *Section 1.a. should then be followed.
c. After adoption by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at a meeting of the association, two (2) copies of bylaws and standing rules as amended or revised shall be sent for approval to the Texas PTA, 408 W. 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701-2113 or to the Texas PTA Web site at www.txpta.org.
d. A revision of the bylaws or any amendments shall go into effect when an approved copy is returned by the Texas PTA. [28]
*Section 2. This Local PTA shall submit a set of bylaws
to the Texas PTA for review every five (5) years.
*Section 3. The adoption of an amendment to any provision
of the bylaws of the Texas PTA identified by a star (*) shall serve
automatically and without the requirement of further action by the Local PTA to
amend its corresponding bylaws.
As adopted by the Texas PTA
* Articles or sections marked with a star (*) are requirements of the National PTA or Texas PTA. They do not require a vote of the association and should be incorporated promptly and verbatim into the Local PTA bylaws.
[1] In an incorporated organization the individual has additional protection for his personal assets against any lawsuits. The corporation entity provides this protection. In an unincorporated organization there is a greater potential for each and every member to be sued because there is no corporation entity. Protection against loss of funds can alternatively be gained if the PTA has sufficient officers and liability insurance. A lawyer or the office of the Secretary of State should be contacted for detailed information on the steps necessary to become an incorporated PTA.
[2] To be a member of Texas PTA, a student must be in the 9th grade or above.
[3] The membership year is October 15 through October 14. Dues paid after March 31 confer membership for the current and following membership year.
[4] The total amount of Local PTA annual dues is obtained by adding the per member National PTA portion, the Texas PTA portion and the per member portion desired for Local PTA use.
[5] The remittance to the Texas PTA shall be accompanied by a report in such form, as may be required by the Texas PTA, showing the name and address of the president of the PTA, the amount of dues collected during the period covered by the report and the number and names of the members of the PTA.
[6] A list of members’ names and dues shall be sent to the Texas PTA office before an individual is a PTA member.
[7] The question is frequently raised as to whether there is any age requirement for election as an officer of a PTA organization. The counsel of the Texas PTA has advised us that in his opinion:
“(a) In Texas the not-for-profit corporation laws do not specify an age qualification for persons who can serve as directors (members of the board of managers, etc.) of corporations.
“(b)
Where there is no specification in the state corporation laws, a person should
not be deemed to be eligible to serve as an officer unless the person is at an
age at which he is competent to make contracts.
[8] PTAs that do not follow a traditional year
[9] All positions not filled by election or
appointment become vacant at the close of the
[10] The National PTA, the Texas PTA and their parliamentary authority recognize that only one (1) person shall be elected to serve in any one (1) office.
[11] Two (2)
signatures shall be required on all checks. Each Local PTA shall have at least
three (3) authorized signers. Signers of the bank account shall not be related
by blood nor marriage and shall not reside in the same household.
[12] Vice presidents shall be named in order of precedence: first, second, third, etc. The first vice president shall be designated as the aide-to-the-president. Each additional vice president shall have specific administrative responsibilities, which shall be stated in the bylaws.
[13] If both a recording and corresponding secretary are elected, the duties of the secretary shall be divided.
[14] PTA membership lists shall not be released to outside interests by Texas PTA, Area PTAs, Council PTAs or Local PTAs.
[15] Two (2) signatures shall be required on all
checks. Each Local PTA shall have at least three (3) authorized signers.
Signers of the bank account shall not be related by blood nor marriage and
shall not reside in the same household.
[16] It is suggested that the membership be
notified through regular publicity channels of the date and time of all regular
meetings following the first meeting of the executive board at which time this
[17] It is suggested that the quorum be set to reflect the number of members who could reasonably be expected at any business meeting. This should be a specific number (not percentage) of the total membership. Ten (10) members will be the least number accepted.
[18] In calculating a quorum, filled board positions rather than positions available will be counted.
[19] Texas PTA does not recognize more than one (1) person serving in the same capacity; therefore, there are no co-chairmen.
[20] Three (3) written copies of the Plan of Work shall be submitted at the first executive board meeting.
[21] If the Local PTA is in Council PTA membership, this Article XIII is necessary in the Local PTA bylaws. If the Local PTA is not in Council PTA membership, indicate “not applicable” and do not fill in the blanks.
[22] The number of delegates shall correspond with
the number stated in the Council PTA bylaws, Article VIII, Section 1.e.
[23] The amount of dues shall correspond with the
amount as stated in the Council PTA bylaws Article VII, Section 3.
[24] Members of the audit committee shall not be
related by blood nor marriage and shall not reside in the same household as the
authorized signers.
[25] An audit of the treasurer’s accounts is for the protection of the treasurer. It is the only means of assuring everyone that the accounts are accurate, and it relieves the treasurer of responsibility except in the case of fraud.
[26] The audit report is adopted by a majority
vote at the first regular meeting following the close of the
[27] Each amendment to the bylaws shall be provided to the membership through the regular publicity channels thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is voted upon or at the previous regular meeting.
[28] If not approved, they must be corrected and resubmitted.