BY-LAWS (currently under revision)
Article I
Name:
The name of this organization shall be: Woodbrook School Parent-Teacher Organization, also known as Woodbrook PTO.
Article II
Purpose:
The purpose of the organization shall be:
A. To promote the welfare of Woodbrook School;
B. To help improve the facilities of the school;
C. To assist the staff at Woodbrook School in providing the best program of education available;
D. To provide a regular communication forum where parents, staff, and students of Woodbrook School can freely discuss issues of concern to the school community in an atmosphere of mutual respect;
E. To forge a partnership of parents, staff and community members that sustains a long-range vision of excellence for Woodbrook School and actively works toward that goal.
Article III
Policies:
Section 1. This organization shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian, and non-partisan. It shall not endorse any commercial enterprise. This organization will annually file Articles of Incorporation, Virginia NonStock Corporation, with the Commonwealth of Virginia. The name of the organization or the names of any of its members shall not be used in any connection with a commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any other purpose than the regular work of this organization.
Section 2. This organization shall not participate directly or indirectly in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
Section 3. In the event of dissolution of this organization, all of its assets shall be turned over to the principal of Woodbrook School.
Article IV
Membership and Dues:
Section 1. Any person whose child/children attend Woodbrook School or who is employed at Woodbrook School is a member of the Woodbrook Parent-Teacher Organization.
Section 2. There shall be no membership dues, but parents will be given the opportunity to financially support the organization and its activities through various fundraising activities throughout the year.
Article V
Officers and Their Election:
Section 1. (A) The officers of this organization shall be a president, first vice-president, second vice president, secretary and treasurer.
(B) Officers shall be elected annually by ballot, or voice vote, at the last regular business meeting of the school year.
(C) Officers shall assume their official duties at the close of the last regular meeting and shall serve for a term of one year.
(D) A person shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
(E) An office may be shared by two people.
Section 2. (A) The executive committee shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of at least five members, one of whom shall be a member of the executive committee and one of whom shall be a teacher. The president shall appoint one member to serve as chairman.
(B) The nominating committee shall select on nominee for each office to be filled and report at the last regular meeting.
(C) Following the report of the nominating committee, an opportunity shall be given for nominations from the floor.
Section 3. A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the remaining members of the executive committee, due notice of such election having been given. In case a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the first vice-president shall fill the unexpired term, the second vice-president shall fill the unexpired term of the first vice-president, and a new second vice-president shall be selected by the executive committee.
Article VI
Duties of Officers:
Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by these by-laws, shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees, and shall act, in conjunction with the principal, as an advocate for the school.
Section 2. (A) The first vice-president shall act as aide to the president in absence or inability of that officer to serve. The first vice-president shall also be in charge of ways and means and of establishing committees (both standing and special event).
(B) The second vice-president shall be in charge of communications and community relations.
Section 3. The secretary shall record and distribute the minutes of all meetings and shall handle all correspondence of the organization.
Section 4. The treasurer shall receive all monies of the organization; shall keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures; and shall pay out funds in accordance with decisions made by the members of the organization. No money in excess of $100.00 shall be spent unless approved by the executive committee. An officer may approve an expenditure of $100.00 or less. The president and/or treasurer shall be authorized to sign checks of the organization. The executive committee may decide from year to year whether an audit of the treasurer’s book is necessary or feasible. This audit may be done by a three-member committee appointed by the executive committee. The treasurer must keep such records as to present a true picture of the status of the funds of the organization and in such order that these records may be seen by any member of the organization upon written request.
Section 5. All officers shall deliver to their successors all official material within 10 days following the meeting at which they are elected.
Article VII
Meetings:
Section 1. (A) Meetings of the organization shall be held at least four times a year during the school year. Five days notice shall be given of a meeting date.
(B) Special meetings may be called by the executive committee with two days notice.
(C) The privilege of holding office, introducing motions, debating and voting shall be limited to members of the organization.
Article VIII
Executive Committee:
Section 1. The executive committee shall consist of the current officers of the organization, the chairman of the standing committees, the principal of the school, 2 teachers, and two members at-large. The members at-large shall be elected by the membership of the organization at the first general meeting of the school year.
Section 2. The duties of the executive committee shall be (a) to transact necessary business in the intervals between regular meetings of the organization, (b) to create standing committees, (c) to approve the plans of work of the standing committees, (d) to present a report at the regular meeting of any actions taken in the executive committee.
Section 3. Meetings of the executive committee shall be held at least four times during the school year, the times to be fixed by the committee at its first meeting of the year. Special meetings of the executive committee may be called by the president or a majority of the members of the committee.
Article IX
Standing and Special Committees:
Section 1. Such standing committees shall be created by the executive committee as may be deemed necessary to carry on the work of the organization. The chairman of the standing committee shall be selected by the officers of the organization and the principal of the school or his /her representative. His/her term shall be one year.
Section 2. The chairman of each standing committee shall present a plan of work to the executive committee for approval. No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the executive committee.
Section 3. The power to form special committees and appoint their members rests within the members of the organization. Motions to form special committees may be made at any regular meeting. Any special committee automatically goes out of existence when its work is done and its final report is received.
Section 4. The president shall be ex-officio member of all committees.
Article X
Parliamentary Authority:
Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall govern this organization in all cases to which they are acceptable.
Article XI
Amendments:
Section 1. These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided notice of the proposed amendment shall be given at the previous meeting.
Section 2. Amendment motions may be made by any member in writing to the secretary of the organization.
Revised: May 15th, 1985
Amended: October 15th, 1992
Amended: June 3, 1993