BY-LAWS of the PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION OF PS/IS 217, Inc.
Serving the Roosevelt Island School
The Purpose of the PTA
We, the parents and teachers of PS/IS 217m, do organize this independent
body to achieve the following objectives:
A. To promote an effective educational environment for all children attending the
school.
B. To develop an understanding of and participation in the decision-making process.
C. To establish a working relationship among parents, school administrators, teachers,
home and community.
D. To promote parent education.
ARTICLE I NAME
Sec. 1: The name of the organization shall be the Parent-Teacher Association of PS/IS
217m, Inc.
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1: Membership shall be open to any parent, guardian or person in parental
relationship to an enrolled student, or any teacher, in PS/IS 217m.
Sec. 2: Votes shall be taken by voice or roll call at the discretion of the presiding
officer.
ARTICLE III OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION
Sec. 1: The officers of the Association shall be a President, three Vice Presidents, a
Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, a Fundraiser(s), four or more
Parent Outreach Liaisons, and a Grants Officer. The President must have served on the
Executive Board for at least one term prior to assuming the position
of President.
Sec. 2: The officers of the Association, representatives to the UPA and the Youth
Program and the Chairpeople of all standing committees shall constitute the Executive
Board of the Association.
Sec. 3: No person shall serve as an officer of the Association unless he/she has a
child enrolled in PS/IS 217m.
Sec. 4: No individual shall serve for more than three consecutive terms in the same
office. A term shall be one year commencing July 1st.
Sec. 5: Nominations shall be made by a Nominating Committee which shall be selected by
vote of the membership at a meeting in March of each year. The Committee shall consist of
at least five people. The Committee shall present a slate of proposed officers at a
meeting in April, at which time nominations from the floor may also be added. The
Nominating Committee shall obtain biographies stating each candidate's qualifications no
later than two weeks before the May meeting and will distribute them in one package to the
membership prior to the May meeting.
Election of officers shall be by vote of the membership at the May meeting. The term of
office is from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. The name of the president elect
shall be forwarded to the Office of Community School District Affairs.
Sec. 6: In the event that any office becomes vacant because of death, resignation, or
disqualification of an officer, or any other cause, the membership shall fill such vacancy
by electing a successor by affirmative vote of a majority of those present at any meeting
held on seven days' notice to the membership of such special election. Such successor
shall hold office until the next annual election of officers.
An officer may be disqualified for malfeasance, misfeasance, or non-feasance in office.
Disqualification shall be had by a majority vote of those present at any meeting held on
seven days' written notice to the membership (including, without limitation, the officer
sought to be disqualified) that such disqualification shall be voted upon; provided,
however, that such officer, if in attendance at such meeting, shall be given an
opportunity to be heard, prior to such vote, as to why he or she should not be
disqualified.
Any special meeting called pursuant to this Section 6 to elect a successor to, or to
disqualify, the President may be called by any other officer notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 2 of Article VI of the By-Laws.
ARTICLE IV DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Sec. 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership, is an ex-officio
member of all committees, countersigns checks and acts as Executive Officer of the
Association. The President shall also serve on the school's School Leadership Team.
Sec. 2: Vice Presidents shall act as assistants to the President and preside in his or
her absence.
The 1st Vice President shall chair the committee of Parent Outreach Liaisons; shall be
empowered to sign checks; shall coordinate general meeting program content with the
President; and shall arrange parent/teacher hospitality gatherings.
The 2nd Vice President shall work with the Communications Committee to publish a
monthly newsletter to keep the membership and teachers informed of all pertinent PTA
matters including notice of all regular and special meetings of the Association; and shall
be empowered to sign checks.
The 3rd Vice President shall represent the PTA off-Island to the Community School Board
and the Parent Council of School District 2, and shall report to the other officers and
arrange communication to parents regarding District meetings, workshops, and special
events.
Sec. 3: The Corresponding Secretary shall attend to all correspondence including
receipts for donations; and shall keep the PTA contributors database current.
Sec. 4: The Recording Secretary shall keep records of all meetings and present copies
of the minutes to the Executive Board.
Sec. 5: The Treasurer shall have custody of all monies of the Association; shall keep
an accurate record of receipts and expenditures; shall report monthly and submit a
financial statement at the end of the year to the Executive Board or upon request; shall,
with the
President, 1st Vice President or 2nd Vice President, sign checks for the withdrawal of
funds authorized by the membership; shall assure that the Association meets all tax and
regulatory obligations and may consult with accounting or law professionals as necessary;
shall work with the new Treasurer at least until August 31 to complete all financial
matters for that fiscal year, and assist in preparing a preliminary projection for the new
fiscal year.
Sec. 6: The Fundraiser (s) shall oversee all PTA activities that generate income. All
funds collected must be deposited into the bank promptly. The Fundraiser(s) will decide,
with the Executive Board, the nature, schedule, and organization of the events for each
school
year. This responsibility may be met by one officer or a team of as many as three
officers.
Sec. 7: Four or more Parent Outreach Liaisons shall work with the 1st Vice President to
maintain class lists, work with teachers to recruit a contact parent(s) for each class,
gather and maintain parent- volunteer lists and maintain a calling chain to notify parents
concerning PTA activities.
Sec. 8: The Grants Officer will research and apply for grants, work with the principal
and others seeking funding, and work closely with the Treasurer to coordinate financial
activities concerning grants.
ARTICLE V FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 1: The fiscal year of the organization shall be from September 1 to August 31 each
year.
Sec. 2: Annual dues shall be $5 per family or teacher per year.
Sec. 3: Each September the Treasurer shall present to the Executive Board a statement
of resources and a preliminary budget projection. After discussion and consultation with
the Principal, the Executive Board shall recommend an annual budget and present it to the
membership for approval at a general meeting during October of each year.
Sec. 4: All unbudgeted expenditures over $500 must be approved by a majority vote of
the Executive Board at a regularly scheduled meeting and reported to the membership at the
next general meeting.
Sec. 5: Any officer may review the books and other financial records of the
corporation. Any member may request and participate in such a review. Tax and regulatory
filings shall be reviewed by an independent accountant to assure adequacy, completeness
and consistency. The Chancellor may conduct an audit.
ARTICLE VI MEETINGS
Sec. 1: A minimum of four general PTA meetings shall be held each year in October,
March, April and May with adequate notice to the membership in writing and/or by
telephone.
Sec. 2: The President may call special meetings in event of emergency.
Sec. 3: The quorum shall be 20 members.
ARTICLE VII THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND COMMITTEES
Sec. 1: The Executive Board shall meet regularly to manage the affairs of the PTA,
subject to approval by the general membership.
Sec. 2: There shall be standing committees of the Association as deemed necessary by
the Executive Board or the general membership.
ARTICLE VIII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Sec. 1: The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the
Association in all cases where they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
with these By-laws.
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS
Sec. 1: These By-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Association by a
majority vote of the members present of the Association (one more than half), provided
that the amendment has been presented by prior written notice to the membership.
Sec. 2: The President shall convene a committee to review these By-laws once every
three years, including Article II, Section 1 which permits teachers to be members.
ARTICLE X SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM
Sec. 1: The general membership will elect parent members to serve on the School
Leadership Team at the annual election meeting in May. At least five parent members will
be elected, in addition to the PTA
President. The number of parent members will be equal to the number of school staff
members on the School Leadership Team.
Sec. 2: Any parent or guardian of a student in the school is eligible to be elected to
the School Leadership Team.
Sec. 3: Parent members elected to the School Leadership Team will be considered to be
officers of the PTA Executive Board. Such members may hold another position on the PTA
Executive Board, but will be entitled to only one vote in Board decisions.
Sec. 4: The responsibilities of the parent members of the School Leadership Team will
be determined by the Team in accordance with the guidelines established by the Board of
Education. In addition to any such responsibilities, the parent members will report to the
PTA membership at PTA Executive Board and general membership meetings on the activities of
the School Leadership Team.
Sec. 5: In the event of a vacancy in a parent member position, if there are no elected
alternate members, the PTA membership shall fill such vacancy according to the same
procedures followed for other PTA Executive Board offices. In the event of an increase in
the number of school staff members on the School Leadership Team, the PTA membership shall
elect the same number of additional parent members.
Sec. 6: Parent members on the School Leadership Team, like other PTA officers, can be
disqualified for malfeasance, misfeasance or non-feasance in office by vote of the general
membership, as provided
in these By-laws.
ARTICLE XI
These By-laws were voted upon and became effective on November 3, 1975.
The By-laws, as revised, were subsequently reviewed and approved on May 3, 1978,
January 1985, June 6, 1991, May 1992, May 24, 1994, March 27, 1997, and May 2000.
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