EXISTING VERSION IN PROCESS OF BEING MODIFIED

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS SHIMEK PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION CONSTITUTION Article I. Name The name of this organization shall be the Shimek Parent-Teacher Organization. It shall be commonly known as the Shimek PTO. Article II. Purposes and Objectives The primary purpose of this organization shall be to continually promote and provide assistance to the quality educational programs at Shimek Elementary School. The objectives outlined below are set forth to support this purpose. Section 1. The PTO shall be an autonomous, independent decision-making group. The PTO shall work cooperatively with Shimek staff, the Districtwide Parents' Organization (DPO), and the Iowa City Community School District. The PTO shall support and encourage active participation of parents and staff. The PTO shall provide a broad-based source of information on matters of mutual interest to parents. The PTO shall provide an opportunity for all parents and staff to share ideas relating to school matters/functions and to the education of children. The PTO shall assist staff and students in providing appropriate extracurricular activities to enhance their academic, cultural, physical, and social development. The PTO shall provide financial assistance for activities and services beyond those provided by the school district, in accordance with current accepted policy.

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Article III. Membership Membership will be open to all parents or guardians of students enrolled at Shimek Elementary School and to the staff members of the school. Article IV. Officers Section 1. The officers of the PTO shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2.

All officers shall be elected for a term of one year with the Vice President having the option of serving the following year as President. The Treasurer may serve no more than two consecutive terms. The election of officers shall be by a simple majority vote of members present at the May meeting of the organization or voting absentee.

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Article V. Executive Committee Section 1. Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers and the principal. The Executive Committee shall supervise the general affairs and expenditures of the organization and provide direction for the organization when, because of lack of time, it is not feasible to have a meeting of the membership. The Executive Committee shall not have the power to make policy decisions or authorize non-budgeted expenditures over $100. The Executive Committee shall prepare the annual budget and present it to the membership for approval at the May meeting (prior to the election of new officers). The Executive Committee shall appoint or disband committees and their chairpersons as deemed necessary and appropriate. The Executive Committee may make recommendations to the membership for a vote of endorsement or objection to a specific issue related to Shimek (e.g., ICCSD or school policies).

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Article VI. Endorsements and Objections Endorsements or objections to any issue, policy, or law shall be adopted by the approval of two-thirds of the members voting at any general meeting of the PTO. Notice of intent to vote on an endorsement or objection shall be made to the membership at least two weeks prior to a vote. Article VII. Meetings Section 1. General meetings of the membership shall be called monthly by the Executive Committee unless by a majority vote of its members they decide to dispense with a meeting due to a lack of business to conduct. There shall be an annual meeting of the membership of the PTO in May to present the annual budget, elect officers, and transfer materials to new officers and committee chairs. Decisions about PTO activities and budget shall be made by a simple majority vote of the membership at general meetings. 2

Section 2.

Section 3. Section 4.

Quorum at all general meetings shall consist of 5 members (not including officers). The Executive Committee shall meet once each month, unless by a majority vote of its members they dispense with a meeting due to a lack of business to conduct. A quorum at Executive Committee meetings shall consist of 3 members. All meetings (general and Executive Committee) are open to the public. At all meetings, the current Robert's Rules of Order shall be the procedural rules.

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Article VIII. Committees The standing committees of the PTO shall consist of: membership, social, safety, kindergarten round-up, publicity-historian, fine arts, carnival/dinner, book publishing, T-shirts, pictures/yearbook, book fair, volunteer coordination, chess club, nature and landscaping, playground maintenance, foreign language, Shimek stars on stage, lunch-box learning, Shimek handbook, and welcoming committee. The PTO shall also include representatives to the Superintendent's Parents' Advisory Council and Districtwide Parents' Organization. This list of committees can be changed by a vote of the Executive Committee. Article IX. Amendments Amendments to the Constitution shall be adopted by the approval of two-thirds of the members voting at any general meeting of the PTO. Notification of amendment changes or additions shall be sent to all members two weeks prior to the vote.

BY-LAWS Article I. Admission of Members Section 1. Any staff member and any parent or guardian of a child attending Shimek Elementary School is eligible for membership. Each PTO member shall be entitled to one vote in the affairs of the organization. Elected officers shall each have one vote in business brought before the entire membership at a general meeting. The suggested amount for membership donations will be collected in the early part of each academic year but parents and staff members shall be considered members of PTO regardless of whether or not they choose to pay the suggested donation.

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Article II. Duties of the Officers Section 1. The President during his or her term of office shall: a. start his or her term of office on July 1, following the election at the May meeting; b. be the presiding officer at all meetings of the Executive Committee and general membership; c. be ex-officio member of all committees; d. perform such other duties as are customary and usual for a presiding officer or as required by the Executive Committee or general membership; e. provide two copies of a brief, written annual report of his or her office's activities before the end of the spring semester. Section 2. The Vice-President shall: a. start his or her term of office on July 1 following the election at the May meeting; b. in the absence of the President, preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee and general membership; c. serve on the Executive Committee; d. perform such other duties as requested by the Executive Committee or the President; e. assume the presidency immediately, if for any reason the President is unable to fulfill his or her term of office; 4

f. provide two copies of a brief, written report of his or her office's activities before the end of the spring semester. Article V. Nominations and Elections Section 1. Nominations a. Nominations may be made through the membership or through self-nomination for any office. b. The Executive Committee is responsible for nominating individuals for any vacancies still remaining after the open nominating process is concluded. c. To be eligible for President, the nominee shall have previously served the PTO as an officer or active member of a committee. d. A vacancy occurring in an office shall be filled by the Executive Committee after publicly announcing the vacancy and soliciting interest from the membership. Section 2. Elections a. Uncontested nominees may be elected by acclamation. b. For contested offices, voting shall be by secret ballot at the May meeting. Absentee ballots may be cast by members unable to attend the May meeting. These ballots must be requested from the President at least one week prior to the May meeting date and must be returned to the President no later than the day of the May meeting. c. A majority of the members voting shall constitute election. d. The results of the election shall be recorded in the minutes. Article VI. Amendments Amendments to the By-Laws that are not inconsistent with the Constitution shall be adopted by the approval of two-thirds of the members voting at any general or annual meeting of the PTO. Notification of By-Laws changes or additions shall be sent to the membership two weeks prior to the vote. Article VII. Dissolution The PTO may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of the membership present and voting at a general meeting. Notification of the dissolution vote shall be sent to all members two weeks prior to the vote. Any remaining PTO funds shall be given to Shimek Elementary School to be used for any educational purpose they choose unless a new parent-teacher organization will be formed within one year. In this case, all funds shall be given to that organization. 5

Article VIII. Adoption of Constitution and By-Laws This Constitution and By-Laws shall supersede any previous PTO By-Laws. They shall become effective immediately upon adoption by two-thirds vote of the PTO members at its general meeting of May 23.