Hacker Valley Parents and Teachers Bylaws

ARTICLE I:  The name of the group is:  Hacker Valley Parents and Teachers.

ARTICLE II:  The articles of the Hacker Valley Parents and Teachers shall consist of the bylaws.

ARTICLE III:  Purpose of the Hacker Valley Parents and Teachers is:

To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, and community.
To raise the standards of home life.
To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth in Hacker Valley.
To develop, between educators and the general public, such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, social, and spiritual education in cooperation with the Hacker Valley Elementary School.
The objects of this group are promoted through an educational program directed toward parents, teachers, and the general public through conferences, committees, projects, programs, and fund raising activities and are governed by the basic policies set forth in Article IV.

ARTICLE IV:  Basic Policies of Hacker Valley Parents and Teachers are:

The group shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, nonpartisan, and unincorporated.
The name of the group or the names of any member in their official capacities shall not be used in any connection with commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the objects of the group.
The group 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.
The group shall work with the school to provide a quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education.
The group shall not reimburse nor pay for any teacher’s requested purchases until that teacher’s request is voted upon and approved at a regular or special meeting.  (Teachers shall attend a meeting and ask for approval prior to ordering materials.)
The group may cooperate with other groups/organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but persons representing the group in such matters shall make no commitments that bind the group.

 A copy of the bylaws shall be sent home to every family in the school.  Also a copy shall be given to all teachers.

 All officers are to have a list of standing motions.

In the event of the dissolution of the group, its assets shall be distributed for one or more of the exempt purposes specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as from time to time amended.

ARTICLE V:  Membership

Every individual who is a member of this group is, by virtue of that fact, entitled to all the benefits of such memberships.
Definition of Member:
a.	Membership of this group shall be made available without regard to race, color, creed, or national origin.
b.	To be a member, one must be a teacher, a parent, or the legal guardian of a student at Hacker Valley Elementary School.
c.	One can also petition the organization to become a member.  This method of becoming a member requires receiving a two-thirds vote in favor of such membership.  Once a member under Article V, one must attend at least three (3) regular meetings of the group each fiscal year to maintain his/her membership.
Only members of the group shall be eligible to participate in the business meeting or to serve in any of its elective or appointive positions.

ARTICLE VI:  Officers and Their Election

Each officer of this group shall be a member of this organization.
The officers of this organization shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.
1.	Officers shall be elected in the month of September by whatever method preferred by the members present.
2.	Officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the election in September and shall serve a term of two (2) years or until their successors are elected.
3.	Only those persons who have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated for or elected to such office.
A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the executive committee/board.  In case a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the vice-president shall serve notice of the election.

ARTICLE VII:  Duties of Officers
	
1.  The president shall preside, or arrange for another member of the executive committee/board, to preside at all meetings of the group and of the executive committee/board; shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these bylaws or assigned to him/her by the organization or by the executive committee/board; shall be a member of the ex officio of all committees and shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees of the group in order that the objects may be promoted.
 The vice-president shall act as an aide to the president and shall perform the duties of the president in the absence or inability of that officer to act.  The vice-president shall also serve as chairman of the program committee.
The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings of the organization and of the executive committee/board, shall have a current copy of the bylaws, and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her.
The treasurer shall have custody of all of the funds of the organization, shall keep a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures, and shall make disbursement as authorized by the president, executive committee/board, or organization.  Checks or vouchers shall be signed by two (2) persons, the treasurer and one (1) other member of the executive committee/board.  At least one signer must not be employed by the Webster County Board of Education.  The treasurer shall present a financial statement at every meeting of the group and at other times when requested by the executive committee/board and shall make a full report at the meeting at which new officers officially assume their duties.  The treasurer’s accounts shall be examined annually by an auditor or an auditing committee of not less than three (3) 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/board at least two (2) weeks before the meeting at which new officers assume duties.
All officers shall perform the duties outlined in these bylaws and those assigned from time to time.  Upon the expiration of the term of office or incase of resignation, each officer shall turn over to the president without delay, all records, books, and other materials pertaining to the office, and shall return to the treasurer, without delay, all funds pertaining to the office.
All officers are bound by the following:
a.	Any officer missing two (2) regular meetings in a term shall be replaced unless the absence is an emergency.  If you must be absent, you must call another officer and let them know.
b.	All officers shall be given a copy of the bylaws and they will need to keep them.

ARTICLE VIII:  Executive Committee/Board

The executive committee/board shall consist of the officers of the organization, the chairman of standing committees, and the principal of the school or a representative appointed by him/her.  The chairman of the standing committees shall be selected by the officers of the organization.
The duties of the executive committee/board shall be:
i.	 to transact necessary business in the intervals between the group meetings and such other business as may be referred to it by the group;
ii.	to create standing and special committees;
iii.	to approve the plans of work of the standing committees;
iv.	to present a report at the regular meeting of the organization;
v.	to select an auditor or an auditing committee to audit the treasurer’s account.

2.  Regular meetings of the executive committee/board shall be held during the year, the time to be fixed by the committee at its first meeting of the year.  A majority of the executive committee/board members shall constitute a quorum.  Special meetings of the executive committee/board may be called by the president or by the majority of the members of the committees.

3.  The officers, in executive meeting, can only spend up to $100.00 and ALL officers must agree.  If they do not agree, it must be brought to the regular or special meeting.

ARTICLE IX:  Meetings

1.  At least six (6) regular meetings of this organization shall be held during the school year.  Dates of meetings shall be determined by the executive committee/board and announced at the first regular meeting of the year.  Three (3) days notice shall be given of a change of date.

2.  Special meetings of the group may be called by the president or by a majority of the executive committee/board with three (3) days notice having been given.

	3.  The election meeting shall be held in September.

4.  Five (5) members consisting of at least two (2) officers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business in any regular meeting of this group.

ARTICLE X:  Committees

1.  Only members of the organization shall be eligible to serve in any elective or appointive positions.

2.  The executive committee/board may create such standing committees as it may deem necessary to promote the objects and carry on the work of the group.  The term of each chairman shall be one (1) year or until the selection of his/her successor.

3.  The chairman of each standing committee shall present a plan of work to the executive committee/board for approval.  No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the executive committee/board.

4.  The power to form special committees and appoint their members rests with the organization and the executive committee/board.

	5.  The president shall be a member ex officio of all committees.

ARTICLE XI:  Parliamentary Authority

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with these bylaws.

ARTICLE XII:  Amendments

1.  These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the group by a two-thirds vote of the members present, providing that notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is voted upon.

 A committee may be appointed to submit a revised set of bylaws as substitute for the existing bylaws only by a majority vote of the group or by a two-thirds vote of the executive committee/board.  The requirements for adoption of a revised set of bylaws shall be the same as in the case of an amendment.


CERTIFICATION

These bylaws were approved at a meeting of the group by a two-thirds majority vote on April 11, 2006.

________________________________, President

________________________________, Vice-President

________________________________, Secretary

________________________________, Treasurer