The name of the organization is the Melissa Ridge (MR) Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO).

The PTSO is an integral part of Melissa Ridge. The organization exists for the sole purpose of serving its Mission, as detailed below in Article III. The organization is an association of members serving in a voluntary capacity, for the sole benefit of Melissa Ridge.

The Mission of this organization shall be to assist the educators of our youth in providing a positive educational experience and to enhance the educational facilities and opportunities for the students that are not otherwise provided for in the school district budget. This shall be accomplished through volunteer coordination, fund-raising, and the organization of family-oriented activities. The PTSO will work to promote and support the school in its ideas, programs, purposes, and philosophies of education.

The following are basic policies of this organization:

    A. The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.

    B. The name of the organization or the name of any in their official capacities shall not be
used in any connection with a commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any
purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the objectives of the organization.

    C. The organization shall not, directly or indirectly, participate or intervene (in any way,
including publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or
in opposition to, any candidate for public office, or devote more than an insubstantial part
of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.

    D. In the event of dissolution of the organization, its assets shall be distributed for educational
purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Each parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled at Melissa Ridge is automatically considered a member of the MR PTSO during the time any child is enrolled at Melissa Ridge.

    A. Persons authorized to sign on checking and savings accounts of the organization are the
President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. Two signatures are required.

    B. Money received will be counted and verified by more than one individual.

    C. PTSO officers must approve expenses over $100.

Section 1: Each officer of this PTSO shall be a member of this PTSO.

Section 2: Officers and their election:

    A. The officers of this organization shall consist of a president, a vice-president, a secretary,
a treasurer, an assistant treasurer, and two staff representatives.

    B. Officers shall be elected by ballot in the month of March for the coming year. However,
if there is but one nominee for any office, election for that office may be by voice vote.

    C. Officers shall be installed at the regular meeting in May. The term of office shall begin at
the close of the school year for a term of one year or until their successors are elected.

    D. A person shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 3: Nominating Committee:

    A. There shall be a nominating committee composed of seven members; at least four shall
be currently serving as PTSO Board members and the remaining members elected from
the membership at large. Volunteers and nominations from the floor will be accepted until
no further nominations are made. Elections of the Nominating Committee will be made by
written ballot at a regular general meeting in February. The Committee shall elect its own
chairman.

    B. The Committee shall remain intact until after the installation of officers.

Section 4: A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the executive committee, notice of such election having been given. In case a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice-President shall serve notice of the election.

Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization, and shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees of the organization.

Section 2: The Vice-President shall:

    A. Act as aide to the President and shall perform the duties of the President in the
absence or inability of that officer to act

    B. Act as Chairman of the Membership Committee and is responsible for assembling and
distributing the PTSO directory in the Fall.

    C. Act as Parliamentarian and shall advise the presiding officer in points of parliamentary law,
serve as authority on Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, and shall serve as chairman
of the Bylaws Committee.

Section 3: The Secretary shall:

    A. Record minutes of all meetings of the organization and of the Executive Committee

    B. Notify the Executive Committee members of at least three days prior to their meetings

    C. Keep a file of all official correspondence

    D. Keep the approved copy of the bylaws, all amendments to the bylaws and a current
membership list in the back of the secretary’s permanent record book

    E. Read all correspondence and communications of interest at the meetings of the Executive
Committee and the organization

    F. Prepare and provide a copy of the recorded minutes to each officer

Section 4: The Treasurer shall:

    A. Have custody of all of the funds of the organization

    B. Make disbursements as approved and authorized by vote

    C. Act as chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee

    D. May be a member of the Budget and Finance Committee for the year following term of
office

Section 5: The Assistant Treasurer shall:

    A. Keep a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures and shall make a full report
at the end of the current school year

    B. Present a financial statement at every meeting of the organization and at other times when
requested by the Executive Committee

    C. Be responsible for the maintenance of books of account and records

    D. Have books ready for audit by the Audit Committee within seven days of the close of the
fiscal year, or as predetermined and agreed upon by the President and Treasurer (The
accounts shall be examined annually by an auditing committee of not less than three
members, who will review the Assistant Treasurer’s annual report for accuracy and shall sign
a statement of that fact at the end of the report. The auditing committee shall be selected
by the Executive Committee at least two weeks before the meeting at which new
officers assume their duties)

Section 6: The Staff Representatives shall serve as liaisons between PTSO and staff.

Section 7: All Officers shall:

    A. Perform the duties described in the parliamentary authority in addition to those outlined
in these bylaws and those assigned from time to time

    B. Deliver to their successors all official material no later than the last day of school

    C. Shall direct and be responsible for the activities in their respective fields and shall cooperate
with the Publicity Committee in supplying items for publication

Section 1: The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the organization, the Principal, and the Chairmen of the Standing Committees. The Chairmen of the Standing Committees shall be selected by the Officers of the organization.

Section 2: The duties of the Executive Committee shall be:

    A. To transact necessary business in the intervals between organization meetings and such
other business as my be referred to it by the organization

    B. To create standing and special committees

    C. To approve the plans of work of the standing and special committees

    D. To present a report at the regular meetings of the organization

    E. To appoint an Auditing Committee of not fewer than three members at least two weeks
before the meeting. The Auditing Committee’s report shall be made at the regular meeting
of the organization in September.

    F. To assist the Budget and Finance Committee in preparation of the budget

    G. Present recommendations to the organization

    H. To approve extraordinary expenses incurred during the interval between organizational
meetings

Section 3: A majority of the Executive Committee members shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4: Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held during the school year, the time to be fixed by the Committee.

Section 5: Special meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held during the school year, the time to be fixed by the Committee.

Section 6: Any Executive Committee member who is absent from the Executive Committee meetings more than three in succession, without having notified the Secretary or President of a valid excuse, will be automatically replaced by the committee.

Section 7: In the event that a Committee Chairman is unable to attend an Executive Committee meeting, he/she may, after having contacted the President, send a member of his/her Committee to the Executive Committee meeting for the purpose of presenting a Committee report.>Section 8: Vacancies occurring after installation in May shall be filled by the newly elected Executive Committee.

Section 1: At least TWO regular meetings of this organization shall be held during the school year. Dates of the meetings shall be determined by the Executive Committee and announced at the first regular meeting of the year. Seven days’ notice shall be given of a change of date.

Section 2: Special meetings of the organization may be called by the President or by a majority of the Executive Committee, seven days’ notice having been given.

Section 3: The election meeting shall be held in March and the annual meeting shall be held at the close of the school year for the purpose of installing officers and reading the annual report.

Section 4: Fifteen members, inclusive of the Executive Committee, shall constitute a quorum for a regular meeting for the transaction of business in any meeting of this organization.

Section 1: Only members of the organization shall be eligible to serve in any elective or appointive position.

Section 2: The Executive Committee may create such Standing and Special Committees as it may deem necessary to promote the objects and carry on the work of the organization. The term of each Chairman shall be one year or until his/her successor assumes office.

Section 3: The Chairman of each Standing and Special Committee shall present plans of work to the Executive Committee for approval. No work shall be undertaken without the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 4: The Chairman of each Committee shall appoint the members of his/her Committee and report the names of the Committee members to the Secretary.

Section 5: The Chairman of each Committee shall notify the President in advance of all Committee meetings.

Section 6: No Chairman shall serve in the same office for more than two consecutive years. One who has served more than one half of a term shall be credited with having served that term.

Section 7: Student Representatives from each grade will be appointed by the teachers at Melissa Ridge and will serve as liaisons between the student body and the PTSO. There will be one committee for each building (Intermediate and Middle School).

Section 8: Each committee may cast one vote.

The fiscal year of this organization shall correspond with the Melissa ISD school year.

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with these bylaws.

Section 1: These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given at least thirty days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is voted upon.

Section 2: A Committee may be appointed to submit a revised set of bylaws as a substitute for the existing bylaws only by a majority vote at a meeting of the organization, or by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee. The requirements for adoption of a revised set of bylaws shall be the same as in the case of an amendment.

Parent Teacher Student Organization

Rule 1: The Standing Rules may be amended by a majority vote, provided notice of the proposed amendment be given at a previous meeting or published in the newsletter, or may be amended without notice by a 2/3 vote of the members present.

Rule 2: Provided the President is contacted beforehand, any person (member or non-member) may meet with the Executive Committee for the purpose of presenting a report or proposal for consideration by the Committee, but may not remain for the business meeting.

Rule 3: When contacting prospective officers, it shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to inform the prospective officers of their duties in general as cited in Article VII of the bylaws.

Rule 4: One copy of the student directory shall be delivered to each paying family.

Rule 5: The sum of at least $250.00 shall be retained in the treasury at the end of each fiscal year to be used as a contingency fund prior to the adoption of the budget and disbursed at the direction of the Executive Committee.

Rule 6: The properties of the PTSO shall be used by other organizations only with approval of the officers who are responsible for the property being loaned.

Budget and Finance: The Chairman shall be the Treasurer and members of the Committee shall include Ways and Means Chairman, the immediate past Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, the President, and a member of the Executive Committee. The Committee shall prepare and submit to the Executive Committee and the organization for approval, a budget for the fiscal year.

Bylaw: Bylaw amendments may be proposed by the Bylaw Committee, the Executive Committee, or by any members of the organization. The Chairman shall be the Vice President. The Committee shall receive all proposed amendments to the bylaws and present notice of such amendments to the organization.

Hospitality: The Committee shall develop a spirit of friendliness among members and guests; provide nametags, greet and introduce new members and guests; serve refreshments upon request; coordinate teacher luncheons; send cards of congratulations, condolence,and thank you; coordinate concessions at academic competitions; and any duties requested by the Executive Committee.

Program: The Program Committee shall present the year’s programs for approval to the Executive Committee no later than the August meeting, plan for evaluation of the programs, be responsible for obtaining all speakers, arranging publicity, and be responsible for extending courtesies before and after the programs.

Publicity: The Committee shall be responsible for the publication of the newsletter and preparation of any special flyers.

Ways and Means: The Ways and Means Committee shall propose and coordinate the fundraising activities of the organization and provide the Budget and Finance Committee with a budget for each activity planned.

Community Outreach: The Committee will serve as a liaison between the PTSO, School District, and the community or otherwise during difficult or crisis situations which may arise within the community, which may include but are not limited to such areas as “Toys for Tots”, food assistance, family losses, medical needs, etc.

Incentive Committee: The Committee shall solicit, collect, and distribute any and all incentives for students.

Volunteer Committee: The Volunteer Committee shall be responsible for the orientation andrecruitment of volunteers to include approvals and communication of volunteer opportunities.