COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY PTO BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be: the Columbia Parent Teacher Organization.
CE PTO.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

Section 1.
The Columbia PTO is organized exclusively for charitable and educational
purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations
that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Section 2.
CE PTO shall be a non-commercial, non-sectarian, and non-partisan, except in
matters relating to education.
Section 3.
No part of the net earnings of the Columbia PTO shall inure to the benefit of, or be
distributed to its members, trustees, officers, or private persons, except that the
organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation
for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the
purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities
of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting
to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in
(including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on
behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted
to be carried on (A) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under
section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any
future federal tax code, or (B) by an organization, contributions to which are
deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or
corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

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ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1.
Membership of this organization shall be composed of persons residing within the
boundaries of the Kings Local School District, or those interested in the welfare
and education of the students of the Kings Local School District.
Section 2.
The organization will conduct an annual enrollment drive at the beginning of each
school year. However, members may be accepted at any time during the school
year.
Section 3.
Membership dues shall be set by the board before the beginning of each school
year.
Section 4.
Only members of the CE PTO are eligible to vote. Further, only members are
eligible to serve in elective or appointed positions, and participate in business
meetings. Only one vote per family membership is permitted.

ARTICLE IV: GOVERNING BOARD AND OFFICERS

Section 1.
The CE PTO shall be governed by the Executive Board of Officers and the
governing board of Standing Committee Chairpersons. The Executive Board shall
be: President, Vice-President of Projects, Vice-President of Programs, Recording
Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and the Parliamentarian. The
governing board will consist of the Executive Board and the Standing Committee
Chairpersons, and in ex-officio (advisory) capacity, the immediate past president.
Section 2.
The Executive Board and their Respective Duties
A. President - The president shall preside at all meetings of the CE PTO. Further
the President shall:
1. Prepare and distribute the agenda for meetings.
2. Appoint standing committee chairpersons and parliamentarian, subject
to executive board approval.
3. Serve as ex-officio member on all committees, except the nominations
committee.
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4. Decide all parliamentary questions after consulting with the

parliamentarian and the parliamentary authority adopted by this
organization.
5. Call special meetings when the need arises.
6. Delegate duties to officers, committee chairpersons, and related
positions.
7. Have no vote except in deciding a tied motion.
B. Vice-President of Projects - will act as an aide to the president, and will
perform the duties of the president in the absence or inability of the president to
act. Further, the Vice-President will:
1. Research ideas and organize fund-raising projects.
2. Preside as the chairperson of the fundraising committee if that
committee is deemed necessary.
3. Appoint chairpersons for specific projects, and serve as ex-officio
members on all project related committees.
4. Succeed the office of the president and serve until the next election of
officers, should the office of president become vacant.
5. Submit a list of proposed fundraising projects to the CE PTO for
approval.
C. Vice-President of Programs - shall oversee all non-fundraising activities.
Further the Vice-President will:
1. Present an outline of possible programs to the CE PTO for their
approval, to be added to the annual calendar.
2. Schedule programs for the enjoyment and enrichment of the student
body, parents and CE PTO members.
3. Serve as chairperson of the program committee, if that committee is
deemed necessary.
4. Appoint chairpersons for specific programs when needed. Further, the
vice-president will serve an ex-officio member of all program related
committees.

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D. Recording Secretary The recording secretary will:

1. Record minutes of all CE PTO meetings and PTO Board meetings.
2. Provide a copy of the minutes to the president.
3. Keep a permanent record book of all minutes and by-laws and standing
rules. This permanent record is to be passed to the newly elected
secretary.
4. Record attendance of the PTO board and membership at meetings.
E. Corresponding Secretary - The Corresponding Secretary will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Conduct correspondence of the CE PTO.

Send notification of all meetings: CE PTO and PTO Board.
Read correspondence at meetings.
Keep a file of all correspondence and responses.
Perform duties as is customary for this office or as requested by the
president.

G. Treasurer - The Treasurer will:

1. Receive and disburse all funds of the CE PTO, keeping accurate records
of all receipts and expenditures.
2. Balance books monthly and present a financial report at monthly
meetings. File a copy of the report with the president and secretary at
each meeting.
3. Disburse only funds budgeted or allocated by the governing board
and/or the general membership of the CE PTO. Funds should be
disbursed in a timely manner.
4. Deposit funds received in a bank approved by the executive board.
5. Serve as chairperson for the finance committee. The finance committee
shall prepare a budget at the beginning of each school year for approval
by the CE PTO Governing Board and subsequently the CE PTO. The
finance committee shall have as its members: the treasurer, the
president, the vice-president of projects, the vice-president of programs,
and any other board member deemed necessary.
6. Preserve all vouchers, receipts, checks, bank statements, and other
appropriate papers in a permanent binder. Submit these papers with
yearly reports to an accountant selected by the executive board for audit.

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H. Parliamentarian - will serve on the executive board in an advisory capacity, and

does not have the right to vote on matters before the executive board. Further
the Parliamentarian will:
1. Act as an advisor to the CE PTO in matters pertaining to the
interpretation of the by-laws and to parliamentary usage.
2. Be chairperson of the By-Laws Committee, who shall review the bylaws
and present proposed amendments to the PTO Governing Board.
3. Serve as chairperson of the nominating committee and conduct the
election of the officers.
4. Be available to hold the position for a length of time as determined by
the president and/or the Executive Board. There is no limitation on the
number of terms in office.
Section 3
Further duties of the Executive Board:
A. Each member of the Executive Board will have voting privileges, with the
exception of the Parliamentarian, who will serve in an advisory capacity. The
President may only vote in deciding a tied motion.
B. Four members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.
C. Executive Board members, with the exception of the Parliamentarian, shall
assume their official duties following the close of the May election meeting,
and shall serve for a term of one year until the election of their successor..
D. An Executive Board member may resign from his duties and/or office by
submitting a written resignation to the President. Absence of three consecutive
PTO meetings will warrant the removal of a PTO Executive Board member.
Exceptions may be made by the consent of the Executive Board.
E. To perform duties prescribed by these by-laws and the parliamentary authority
adopted by this organization. The Executive Board shall have general
administrative supervision over the affairs of the organization, but shall refer all
proposed action to the Governing Board and/or the CE PTO members for their
decision.
F. To attend to administrative matters between meetings if necessary.
G. Approve routine bills not to exceed $100.00, and to refer any expenditures over
$100.00 to the Governing Board and/or the CE PTO members.
H. Fill vacancies in appointed positions.

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Section 4
Standing Committees and/or Appointed Positions
A. Duties of standing committees shall be fully defined in the standing rules.
B. General committee procedures will be:
1. Standing Committee heads will be appointed by the president, subject to
approval of the Executive Board.
a. All Standing Committee heads will be PTO members in good standing
as well as current CES student guardians. Exceptions will be made if all
other options have been exhausted.
2. Standing Committee members shall be required to attend a minimum of four
(4) PTO meetings per school year. Exceptions may be made by the consent of
the Executive Board.
3. The chairpersons of each standing committee will present a plan of work to the
PTO Board for approval.
4. Meetings of the CE Governing Board shall be held quarterly, the time and place
to be determined by the President in agreement with the PTO Governing Board.
5. A majority of the general membership present shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
6. Voting privileges of the Governing Board shall be one vote per office and/or
Standing Committee. In the instances of co-chairperson participation at
meetings, a roll-call vote per office and/or committee shall be taken.
7. A yearly notebook will be passed to each new officer or committee chairperson
by the person voting that office. The notebook is to include papers relating to
that office or committee, including a yearly report of activities conducted
during their term. This notebook is to be given to the new officer or chairperson
by the year end of the organization, June 30.
8. Ensure the all monies spent by the PTO Governing Board benefit the general
population of the CE staff and students.
9. Ensure that the outgoing board leave money equal to the unpaid bills or
obligations for which the CE PTO is responsible.
10. To relieve the duty of an officer not complying with the assigned duties of their
office, by a majority vote.
11. Additional or special meetings of the Governing Board may be called by the
president or written request of thee Governing Board members.
Section 5
Nominations
A. The nominations committee, formed in March shall be comprised of five active
members, three from the PTO Governing Board, and two from the general

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membership. The Parliamentarian shall serve as chair-person of this event.

B. No person sitting on the nominations committee may seek elective office. The
parliamentarian serves on this committee in a non-voting capacity. The
President shall not serve as member of this committee.
C. If the Parliamentarian chooses to run for an elected position he/she will appoint
a chairperson to conduct the nominations and elections.
D. The nominations committee shall prepare a slate of nominees for each office.
Those persons seeking the office of president must have served on the board for
one year prior to seeking office. The committee shall secure the consent of the
nominees and shall present the slate of nominees to the PTO Governing Board
at its April meeting.
Section 6.
Elections
A. Election of officers shall take place at the annual May meeting.
B. Elections shall proceed by ballot if there is more than one candidate for any
office. Election may be made by voice vote if there is only one candidate for
each office. Once a quorum has been determined, a majority of those present
shall elect.
C. The nominations committee shall prepare the ballot and conduct the election
D. A vacancy occurring in any elective position shall be filled for the unexpired
term by a person elected by a majority vote of the PTO Governing Board, once
a quorum has been determined. If a vacancy occurs in the office of president,
the vice-president of projects shall assume the duties of that office.
E. A person shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive years in the
same office. A person having served more than half of a term shall be credited
with having served that term.

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS
Section 1.
Meetings of the CE PTO shall be held monthly during the school year, the time and
place to be determined by the president in agreement with the PTO Governing
Board.

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Section 2.
A majority of the general membership present shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
Section 3.
The May meeting will serve as the annual meeting for the purpose of election anU
installation of officers, receiving the reports from out-going officers, and for other
relevant matters.
Section 4.
Special meetings of the CE PTO may be called by the president or by written
request often members of the organization.

ARTICLE VI: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern
the CE PTO in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are
consistent with these by-laws or any special rules of order the CE PTO may adopt.

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the by-laws may originate in the by-laws committee, be proposed
by a member of the PTO Governing Board, or be proposed by a member of the
CE PTO.
Section 1.
In February of each year the By-Laws Committee, chaired by the Parliamentarian,
and consisting of the President, Vice-President of Projects, Past President, and a
Governing Board member, shall meet to conduct an annual review of the By-Laws.
Section 2.
Any proposed changes to the by-laws will be brought to the Governing Board for
approval before presenting them to the CE PTO.
The by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those present at a regular
meetings of the CE PTO. Written notice shall have been presented to the CE PTO
thirty days prior to the meeting at which voting shall occur.

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ARTICLE IX: DISSOLUTION

In the event that the dissolution of the Columbia PTO becomes necessary, assets
shall be distributed for one or more exempt purpose within the meaning of section
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future
federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or
local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be
disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the country in which the principal
office of the organization is located, exclusively for such purposes or to such
organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized
and operated exclusively for such purposes.

COLUMBIA ELEMENTARY PTO

STANDING RULES
1. An annual calendar will be approved and established by the incoming board prior to
the new school year.
2. A yearly notebook will be passed to each new officer by the person vacating that office,
including a yearly report of activities conducted during their term.
3. PTO fiscal year will run from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.
4. The outgoing board will ensure a minimum carry over balance of$1,000.00 of the
previous years expenditures for the incoming board.
5. Standing committees and their duties shall be:
A. Teacher Representative: acts as a liaison between CE PTO and faculty. Will
give input and ideas to CE PTO for their consideration and approval.
B. Newsletter: coordinates regular newsletter to be sent to the general
membership, informing them of activities of the CE PTO and CE.
C. Publicity: coordinates publicity that may be needed.
D. Membership: organizes annual membership drive. Keeps accurate records of
membership.
E. Helping Hands: coordinates volunteer workers to assist in the classrooms and in
other areas as needed.

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F. Staff Appreciation: organize and implement, on a regular basis, gestures of

appreciation to the faculty and staff of CE.
G. Dance: oversee the dance program and related funds.
H. Fright Night: serve as chairpersons of this event to organize and coordinate
volunteers as needed.
I. Puttin On The Hits: serve as chairpersons coordinating volunteers to organize
and execute this event.
J. Parliamentarian: SEE ART. IV SECTION 2.
6. Standing Committee Chairpersons do not have a limitation on term numbers.

Columbia Elementary PTO President

Columbia Elementary PTO Treasurer

Date

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