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Saint Bridget School
832 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01702

Phone: (508)875-0181
Fax: (508)875-9552

Proudly Accredited by:
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)

PTO - By-Laws

PREAMBLE

St. Bridget School Parent Teacher Organization (“PTO”) exists in support of St. Bridget Grammar School. This organization provides assistance and expanded activities identified by the Pastor or School Principal. The PTO functions within the structure of St. Bridget Parish and is under the direction and guidance of the Pastor.

ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP AND PURPOSE

1. MEMBERSHIP
   Each parent/guardian of a student/students at St. Bridget School is welcome to become a member of the PTO upon payment of an annual dues fee and is invited to participate in the general meetings. The annual dues fee will be a set amount per family, regardless of the number of students within that family. Payment of the annual dues entitles each parent/guardian to membership in the PTO.
2. PURPOSE
   The purpose of the PTO will be:
   1. To support the Catholic tradition of education as stated in the St. Bridget School philosophy;
   2. To provide volunteer efforts for the operation of the school in coordination with the school Principal;
   3. To provide financial support for school needs;
   4. To plan and implement activities to enhance the spirit of learning and belonging as approved by the Principal.

ARTICLE II: OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS

1. EXECUTIVE BOARD
   The Executive Board will consist of the following positions: President, Vice-President, Vice President of Fundraising, Vice President of Enrichment, Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary.

   1. President
      1. Presides over PTO meetings;
      2. Represents the PTO and its views at designated meetings;
      3. Ensures that all PTO activities are conducted in good taste and in keeping with the stated purposes of these bylaws;
      4. Shall serve as an ex officio member of St. Bridget’s School Advisory Board;
      5. Has co-signature authority with the Treasurer and/or Principal;
      6. Shall serve as ex officio member of all PTO committees.
      7. Is not permitted to disburse more than $50.00 unless specifically authorized by a majority of the Executive Board.
      8. At the May meeting, the President will present the proposed budget for the following year.
   2. Vice President
      1. Shares responsibilities with the President;
      2. Performs the duties of the President in the absence of that officer;
      3. Assumes the office of President in the event the President is unable to serve his/her term.
   3. Vice President of Fundraising
      1. Oversees all school-wide PTO sponsored fundraising efforts;
      2. Presides over all Fundraising Committee Meetings;
      3. Oversees and receives reports from all committee chairperson(s) of the designated fundraising events.
   4. Vice President of Enrichment
      1. Oversees all school-wide PTO sponsored enrichment activities including both in-house cultural activities as well as school-sponsored, PTO funded field trips;
      2. Presides over all Enrichment Committee Meetings;
      3. Oversees and receives reports from the committee chairperson(s) of the designated enrichment activities.
   5. Recording Secretary
      1. Records and distributes minutes of all meetings;
      2. Records attendance at regular PTO meetings;
      3. Maintains a file of all meeting minutes and attendance records;
      4. Performs other secretarial duties as shall be assigned.
   6. Corresponding Secretary
      1. Prepares and submits the PTO portion of the weekly school memo;
      2. Prepares and submits any PTO information for the weekly Church Bulletin;
      3. Prepares and submits school news for the local newspaper;
      4. Prepares and releases publicity for school activities;
      5. Ensures that benefactors are thanked in a timely manner;
      6. Maintains a file of all correspondence.
   7. Treasurer
      1. Maintains an accurate record of receipts and expenditures;
      2. Presents a statement of account at the monthly PTO meetings and at other times as requested by the Executive Board;
      3. Is not permitted to disburse more than $50.00 unless specifically authorized by the Executive Board;
      4. Has co-signature authority with the President and/or the Principal.
      5. At the June meeting, the treasurer will present a detailed accounting for the year’s spending.

2. ELECTION AND TERMS
   
   1. The officers of the Executive Board will be elected by members of the general PTO, as defined in Article I Section A, who have paid their annual PTO dues. The officers will be elected by a plurality vote at the last meeting of the school year or as vacancies occur.
   2. Officers shall be elected for a one-year term in the spring and installed at the final PTO meeting of the school year. An officer may be re-elected for a second term, but may not serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
   3. Three consecutive absences from monthly PTO meetings shall result in dismissal of the Executive Board member from his/her position.
   4. No individual may accept nominations for more than one elected office.
3. ABSENTEE BALLOTS
   Absentee ballots will be allowed for the election of the officers of the Executive Board only, and under the following rules:
   1. The ballot will be a written ballot produced by the current PTO Executive Board and available two (2) weeks prior to the election.
   2. In order to receive an absentee ballot, a PTO member must make a written request to the PTO Recording Secretary.
   3. All Absentee ballots must be received by the PTO Recording Secretary or placed in the PTO mailbox located behind the front desk, by 10:00am on the day of the election.
   4. All Absentee ballots will be opened and counted at the Executive Board election.

4. TIEBREAKER
   1. Should an election for an office of the Executive Board end in a tie, an immediate call for a second run-off election between only those candidates involved in the initial tied election will occur.
   2. If this second vote does not end in a tie, the candidate receiving the most votes in the run-off election will be declared the winner. However, if the run-off election also ends in a tie, the winner of the election will be determined by a blind draw.

5. NOMINATIONS
   Nomination application forms will be available each year for self-nomination. These forms will be accepted until May 1st. A final candidate list will be published in May, for the final election to be held at the June Meeting.

ARTICLE III: COMMITTEES

The PTO Executive Board may form committees to work on specific tasks. These committees will:

1. Have a chairperson(s);
   1. Chairperson(s) shall serve a minimum of two (2) consecutive years and a maximum of three (3) consecutive years with a possibility of renewal after the third year should no other person be willing to chair that particular event.
   2. Chairpersons should have served on the committee in the past. However, if there is no committee but rather chairpersons only, then consideration for chairperson(s) will be given to any interested individual and will be elected by the PTO Executive Board.
   3. If there is more than one volunteer/nominee for chairperson of a given committee, they may choose to serve together as co-chairs of that particular event. If, however, they do not wish to serve together, the chairperson will be selected by a blind draw between the two volunteers/nominees.

2. Provide the Executive Board with a report on any plans the committee is formulating;
3. Prior to implementing any plans, all committees must have a budget approved by both the committee and the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS

1. A regular PTO meeting will be convened at least six (6) times per year;
2. A majority of the Executive Board must be present for a vote to be taken;
3. An Executive Board member may call a special meeting as deemed necessary;
4. The formal meeting portion should involve three (3) aspects; (a) Business; (b) School – things having to do with educational activities in school; and (c) Christian formation for parents and educating their children – parenting.

ARTICLE V: EMERGENCY DECISIONS

A majority of the officers, including the Principal of St. Bridget School, shall have the power between regular PTO meetings to make decisions relative to any emergency situation that may occur.

ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended at any regular PTO meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those PTO members present. Notification of the proposed changes shall be made available in writing to all PTO members at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the vote is to be taken.

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