PTA Bylaws

PTA Operating Procedures

General Membership

  • Approves the standing rules in the fall.

  • These rules govern our PTA unit and cannot conflict with the Uniform Bylaws of the state PTA, or state and federal governing corporations.

  • Approves the PTA budget in the spring for the next fiscal school year.

  • Approves recommendations by the Board or Executive Committee. Decisions that the Board or Executive Committee do not feel comfortable making on behalf of the whole membership can be referred to the General Membership for vote. In addition, if a non-budgeted expenditure of over $500 is requested, the Board or Executive Committee will refer it to the General Membership for approval unless it is not reasonable to wait until the next General Membership meeting.

  • Elects officers in the spring.

Committee Chairpersons

  • Are appointed by the Executive Committee (elected officers).

  • See to the completion of their committee work.

  • File reports with the PTA Board or Executive Committee as needed.

  • Submit a year-end report to be kept as a record and for reference by future committees.

  • Encourage and enlist the help of others.

Board Members

  • Consist of elected officers, chairpersons of on-going committees, Lowell School Principal and a teacher representative.

  • Conduct the business of the PTA during meetings.

  • Hold the legal responsibility for the operation of the corporation.

  • Are required to be acquainted with PTA policies and objectives.

  • Make responsible Board decisions with PTA policies and objectives.

  • Support the policies, programs and decisions of the Board.

Executive Officers

  • Consist of the President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Co-Treasurers (elected by the General Membership in the spring for a year-long term beginning July 1st).

  • Appoint Committee Chairpersons.

  • Prepare recommendations for the Board or General Membership.

PTA Standing Rules

Organization

  1. The name of this PTA local unit is Lowell PTA Bellingham Council #8-3-45. The Charter date is January 6, 1956. Its National PTA number is 23339.

  2. This PTA is registered with the Secretary of State under the Charitable Solicitations Act. The registration number is LOS.C88.320. The Treasurer is responsible for filing the annual registration prior to April 30th of each year.

  3. This is a non-profit corporation recognized by the State of Washington on April 14, 1982. It is the responsibility of the Treasurer to annually renew the Articles of Incorporation prior to April 30th. The incorporation number is 2-320345-8. The registered agent for this corporation is the Washington State PTA.

  4. This PTA’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 91-1218740.

  5. This unit was recognized by the IRS as a non-profit tax-exempt organization on December 15, 1997, under Section 501(c)(3).

  6. Lowell PTA shall establish one or more accounts in financial institutions as determined by the board of directors. Any such account shall require the signatures of at least two elected officers to make a withdrawal.

  7. This unit shall maintain a safe deposit box at the bank where its checking account is maintained. The original copy of any legal documents shall be kept in the safe deposit. Copies are to be made for the president and the secretary and kept in a legal documents notebook. All elected officers who are signers on the bank accounts shall have access to the contents of the safe deposit box.

  8. The PTA shall conduct an audit of its books and records at the close of the fiscal year as required by the Uniform Bylaws.

  9. Per the Washington State PTA Uniform Bylaws, we will annually review, complete, sign, and submit the WSPTA Standards of Affiliation Agreement by the required deadline.

  10. All reimbursement requests for authorized expenses must include a receipt and be submitted to the treasurer before the last day of the school year or they will be considered a donation to the PTA.

  11. Any expenses outside of the existing approved PTA budget must be voted on and approved before any work commences.

Membership

  1. The membership service fees of this unit shall be $8.00.

  2. Membership in Lowell PTA shall be open to all people without discrimination. Membership is open to all parents, teachers, staff, grandparents, guardians, students, community members, and any other persons that support and encourage the purposes of the PTA.

  3. General Membership of this unit shall be held to adopt the annual budget, approve the standing rules, elect a nomination committee, and elect officers. There shall be a minimum of 3 meetings during the year. Each member will receive written notice of the date, time, and place of the meeting not less than 10 days prior to the start of the meeting. All General meetings are open to the membership and other interested persons. Only members of the unit shall vote at General Membership meetings. At least 10 members must be present in order to conduct business.

  4. The students of Lowell Elementary School shall be considered honorary members of this unit without voice, vote, or privilege of holding office.

  5. The PTA shall approve its annual operating budget in the spring of each year.

  6. The Standing Rules shall be adopted annually by a majority vote at the spring General Membership meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, or if previous notice is given, by a majority.

  7. Requests for expenditures from the Special Projects Fund for which there is no specific allocation in the budget may be approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has the authority to refer the expenditure to the General Membership for further consideration.

  8. Membership drive will occur in conjunction with a donation drive, and parents can decide if they want to pass membership funds along to State and National organizations or keep their money at Lowell.

Board of Directors

  1. The Board of Directors of Lowell PTA shall consist of the elected officers, the school principal, one or two teacher representative(s), and the chairs of the following standing committees: Enrichment Programs, Art/Reflections, Giving Back/FACE, Garden/Food Ed, Volunteer, Membership, Field Trips, PACS, SEPACS, and Fundraising.

  2. All members of the Board of Directors must be members of the PTA. As Lowell PTA is a corporation, these people have the legal responsibility for the operation of the corporation as well as fulfilling the requirements of their individual positions.

  3. Board of Directors meetings of this unit shall ordinarily be held the second Monday of the month, or when called by the President, or by a majority of the Board, unless a General Membership meeting has been scheduled.

  4. All Board of Directors meetings are open to the General Membership unless in the Executive session. The General Membership shall have a voice at Board of Director meetings and may submit agenda items prior to the meetings. Only members of the Board of Directors shall vote at Board meetings.

  5. An office/chair shall be declared vacant if the member misses three (3) consecutive meetings unless excused by the President.

  6. The vote of the PTA for the position of Region Director shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

  7. If a majority of the Board of Directors determines that an issue merits further exploration, an ad hoc committee consisting of members of the Board of Directors and/or the General Membership shall be appointed by the Board of Directors to develop recommendations for the Board or General Membership consideration.

  8. The Board of Directors may approve requests for non-budgeted expenditures from the Special Projects Fund.

Officers

  1. The elected officers of this unit shall be the Co-Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Secretaries, and Treasurers. These elected officers shall constitute the Executive Committee and each position holder shall be entitled to voice and vote at all meetings. The Executive Committee shall appoint an interim officer to fill a vacancy until the next General Membership meeting, at which time an election shall be held.

  2. Any elected position may be held jointly by two people. Each co-position is entitled to one vote per position at a meeting, with the individual holders rotating voting privileges (every other meeting).

  3. Expenditures of $500 or less for which there is no specific allocation in the budget may be approved by the Executive Committee if it is not reasonable to wait until the next meeting to request approval by the Board.

  4. The signatures of designated elected officers shall be on the authorized signature card for this PTA’s bank account. The Bookkeeping Treasurer cannot be a signer on the bank account.

  5. Our PTA will comply with the training requirements necessary to remain in good standing, as specified in the most recent WSPTA Standards of Affiliation Agreement.

Elections

  1. The Nominating Committee of this unit shall be elected according to the State Bylaw. The Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three members from a list of five (5) or more members of the unit nominated from the floor. Only unit members shall be eligible to vote or serve.

  2. Election shall be at least thirty (30) days prior to the election of officers. The three (3) candidates getting the three (3) highest number of votes shall be elected, with the person receiving the highest number designated as chair. If a tie occurs, the chair will be elected by the committee at its first meeting.

  3. No one may serve more than two (2) consecutive years on the committee.