PTO BYLAWS

ARTICLE I – Name, Description & Purpose

Section 1: NAME – The name of the organization shall be Progressive Education Program PTO, Inc. The PTO is located at 250A Overlook Road, Asheville, NC 28803.

Section 2: DESCRIPTION – The PTO is a non-profit organization that exists for charitable and educational purposes, including the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Progressive Education Program is a special program within the Buncombe County School system designed to serve children in Buncombe County, North Carolina with moderate to significant disabilities ages 5-21.

Section 3: PURPOSE – The purpose of the PTO is to enhance and support the educational experience at the Progressive Education Program, to develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parental/caregiver involvement, and to improve the environment at the Progressive Education Program through volunteer and financial support.

ARTICLE II – Membership

Section 1: MEMBERSHIP – Membership shall be automatically granted to all parents and guardians of Progressive Education Program students, plus all staff at the Progressive Education Program. There are no membership dues. Members have voting privileges, one vote per household.

ARTICLE III – Officers

Section 1: EXECUTIVE BOARD – the Executive Board shall consist of the following officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Officer positions can be shared. The Program Director, or his/her designee, is a voting member of the Executive Board.

Section 2: TERM OF OFFICE – Elections will be held at the first general meeting of the school year. The term of office for all officers is one year, beginning immediately upon election and ending upon officer election the following school year.

Section 3: QUALIFICATIONS – any PTO member in good standing may become an officer of the PTO.

Section 4: DUTIES –

Executive Board – Develop the PTO’s annual budget, establish and oversee committees to conduct the work of the PTO, establish fundraising programs, approve by majority vote of the Board unbudgeted expenditures of no more than $1000.

President – Preside at General PTO meetings and Executive Board meetings and serve as the official representative of the PTO. Manage communications and marketing for the PTO including, but not limited to PTO newsletters, email broadcasts, website, bulletin boards, etc.

Vice President – Oversee the organization of parent volunteers, assist the President and chair meetings in the absence of the President.

Secretary – Record and distribute minutes of all Executive Board meetings and all General PTO meetings, prepare agendas for official PTO meetings, hold historical and official records for the PTO.

Treasurer – Serve as custodian of the PTO’s finances, collect revenue, pay authorized expenses, report financial activity every month, prepare year-end financial report, file necessary forms to IRS, facilitate an annual audit, and hold all financial records.

Section 5: BOARD MEETINGS - The Executive Board shall meet monthly during the school year, or at the discretion of the President. Voting rights will be extended to all PTO members present.

Section 6: REMOVAL – An officer can be removed from office for failure to fulfill his/her duties, after reasonable notice, by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Section 7: VACANCY – If a vacancy occurs on the Executive Board, the remaining board members shall elect a PTO member to fill the vacancy, for the remainder of the officer’s term.

Section 8: Quorum – Three (3) board members constitute a quorum for voting.

ARTICLE IV – Meetings

Section 1: GENERAL PTO MEETINGS – General PTO meetings shall be held to conduct the business of the PTO. Meetings shall be held bi-annually during the school year or at the discretion of the Executive Board.

Section 2: VOTING – Each member in attendance at a PTO meeting is eligible to vote, one vote per household. Absentee or proxy votes are not allowed.

Section 3: QUORUM – Eight (8) members of the PTO present and voting constitute a quorum for the purpose of voting at a General PTO Meeting.

ARICLE V –Financial Policies

Section 1: FISCAL YEAR – The fiscal year of the PTO begins July 1 and ends June 30 of the following year.

Section 2: BANKING – All funds shall be kept in a checking account in the name of Progressive Education Program PTO, Inc., requiring two signatures of the Executive Board, either Treasurer, President or Program Director, and held at a local financial institution.

Section 3: REPORTING – All financial activity shall be recorded in a manual or computer-based accounting system. The Treasurer shall reconcile the accounts(s) monthly and report all financial activity monthly. A receipt or invoice is required for all disbursements. The PTO shall arrange an independent review of its financial records each year, performed by individuals who are not members of the board.

Section 4: CONTRACTS – Contract signing authority is limited to the President or the President’s designee.

ARTICLE VI – Bylaw Amendments

Amendments to the bylaws may be proposed by any PTO member. Amendments presented at a PTO meeting shall be considered for voting at a subsequent meeting. 2/3 approval of all members present, and voting is required to adopt an amendment to the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII – Dissolution

The organization may be dissolved with previous notice (14 calendar days) and a two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting. In the event of dissolution of the PTO, any remaining funds will be distributed according to the Articles of Incorporation of the Progressive Education PTO, Inc.

ARTICLE VIII – Parliamentary Authority

The authority for this organization shall be “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.”

ARTICLE IX – Conflict of Interest Policy

Conflicts of interest will be handled according to the attached policy.

These bylaws were adopted on 3/13/12.

Progressive Education Program

PEP Partners

By Laws

PEP Partners Executive Board

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PEP Partners Meeting Minutes