Bylaws

ALBEMARLE HIGH SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER STUDENT ORGANIZATION (PTSO) BYLAWS

 Approved May 27, 2004

I. NAME. The name of the organization is Albemarle High School (AHS) Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO).

II. PURPOSE. The purpose of the PTSO is to support students, faculty, staff, and parents in matters related to the educational experiences of students at AHS. Support shall be provided in, but not limited to, the following areas: communication, building school spirit, and expanding learning opportunities. The AHS PTSO is an organization of Albemarle High School and is not an incorporated body.

III. MEMBERSHIP. All parents of students enrolled at AHS, all AHS staff and faculty, and all students at AHS can belong to the PTSO. The PTSO Board may establish additional membership requirements.

IV. PTSO BOARD. The PTSO Board shall have the following positions: President(s), Secretary, Treasurer, Principal, Faculty Liaison, two Student Representatives, Communications Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Superintendent's Parent Council Representative. Each of these positions (with the exception of the Principal) may be held by two people sharing the responsibilities of the position if both persons agree to share the office. It is recommended, but not required, that the position of President be held by two Co-Presidents. The PTSO board has the authority to seek dues or donations and raise funds for appropriate school needs.

V. DUTIES OF THE PTSO BOARD MEMBERS. The duties of the board members shall be as follows:

A. President(s)- The President(s) shall assume responsibilities for coordination of all PTSO committees and activities. The President(s) will have authority to designate persons to chair committees and organize PTSO-sponsored activities. The President(s) will arrange for speakers and presentations from within and outside the school to create General Meetings that are informative and relevant to the process of educating our students at AHS.

B. Secretary- The Secretary will record the minutes of the General PTSO meetings and the PTSO work sessions. The secretary will preserve the documents of the PTSO, and will have copies of the bylaws, and Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised available for use at every meeting. The secretary will also write any thank you notes deemed necessary by the board.

C. Treasurer- The treasurer shall keep and maintain financial records of the PTSO in fiscal order. The Treasurer and the President shall be responsible for all financial transactions on behalf of the PTSO. The treasurer shall provide a monthly financial statement to the AHS bookkeeper.

D. Principal- The Principal or acting Principal of AHSshall report to the Board and the general membership at every PTSO Board and General PTSO Meeting. The Principal shall inform the board and the PTSO membership about relevant school issues, events, awards, needs, concerns, and activities

E. Faculty Liaison- The Faculty Liaison, a member of the AHS staff, shall attend the General PTSO meetings as well as PTSO Board work sessions. The faculty liaison serves as a link between PTSO parents and school staff.

F. Student Representatives- There will be two (2) representatives from the AHS student body who will attend the General PTSO meetings as well as the PTSO Board work sessions. The student representatives will present concerns and issues from the student body. The student representatives will act as the liaisons between the PTSO and the student body and will report information from the PTSO to the AHS Student Council Association (SCA).

G. Communications Coordinator- The Communications coordinator will coordinate committees that are designed to enhance communication between parents, teachers, students, and the community. The Communications Coordinator will work with the AHS Technology Staff to effectively communicate AHS school announcements, news and events to the PTSO membership, as well as publicizing PTSO General Meetings and their events.

H. Volunteer Coordinator- The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for recruiting volunteers to assist the school and the PTSO. They will organize and distribute relevant lists of volunteers to appropriate committee chairpersons and school staff. The Volunteer Coordinator will act as a liaison between the school and the community, and will be available to help recruit volunteers as needed throughout the school year.

I. Superintendent's Parent Council Representative- The Parent Advisory Council Representative will attend all council meetings. Information from these meetings shall be reported to the PTSO membership and will be made available to all AHS families.

VI. TERMS OF OFFICE. PTSO Board Members will be elected at the Annual General PTSO Meeting in April. Each office is for a one year term and limited to no more than two oyears in the same office. A person may run for consecutive terms of the same office. Written records and relevant information should be passed from each outgoing Board member to each new Board member at the work session in June. In the event of a vacancy in any PTSO office, the Board can appoint a member to serve the remainder of the term.

VII. ELECTION PROCESS. The following procedures for the elections shall be followed:

A. Nominating Committee - A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President at the April General Meeting. This committee will present the names of nominees for Board offices at the April Meeting. Nominations may also be taken from the floor at the April Meeting.

B. Elections - After all nominations have been accepted at the General Meeting, a majority vote of those present will determine new Board members.

VIII. COMMITTEES. Committees will be formed, continued, or disbanded by the PTSO Board as it deems necessary. The Board must approve all committee activities.

IX. MEETINGS. Meetings of the PTSO will be held four times a year. General meetings are open to all members and shall be announced well in advance. Weather can delay or cancel these meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President. The PTSO Board will also have work sessions as called by the President. PTSO meetings and work sessions are open to all parents, students, and staff.

X. QUORUM. A quorum of the AHS PTSO shall consist of five members present of which two must be Board Members and one of the Board Members must be the President or his/her designee.

XI. VOTING. Items requiring a vote may be voted in person, by written or verbal vote and will be carried by simple majority.

XII. AMENDMENTS. These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the PTSO by a two-thirds majority vote of all members present, provided the proposed amendment(s) has been previously submitted in writing (email is sufficient) to the general membership.

XIII. AUTHORITY. Parliamentary Authority for this PTSO shall be Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised."

Last updated October 2013.