The principal name and address of this organization is the BMR Hartnett Middle School Parent Teacher Organization, Inc., 35 Federal Street, Blackstone, MA 01504

The specific objective and purpose of this organization is to provide for the advancement of educational and recreational programs for students at the Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School. Said organization is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to the organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501©3 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

3.1 Membership is open to all parents, guardians and teachers of the Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School students, as well as the administrators of said school.

3.2 Members will have voting privileges after attending at least one meeting during the school year, or in the case of the first three meetings of a new school year, a member must have attended at least one meeting in the prior school year between January and June. A sign-up sheet is provided at each meeting.

4.1 The elected officers of this organization shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

4.2 The officers shall be elected for a term of one year.

4.3 The term of office is from July 1 to June 30 preceding the election.

4.4 The election will be held on the last regularly scheduled meeting of the school year.

5.1 President

(a) Shall organize and preside over the regular scheduled meetings of the organization.

(b) Shall prepare and distribute an agenda at each monthly meeting.

(c) Shall compose and forward any mailings home to parents.

(d) Shall authorize the opening of all bank accounts and oversee all financial matters and contract signing.

(e) Shall represent the organization in all official matters and dealings with outside parties. However, the President cannot enter into any building agreements for the organization without a majority vote of its membership.

5.2 Vice President

(a) Shall assist the President and report to the membership.

(b) Shall assume the responsibilities of the President in his/her absence.

(c) Shall be responsible for obtaining committee reports for inclusion in the PTO files.

5.3 Secretary

(a) Shall record the minutes of all the PTO monthly meetings.

(b) Shall deliver the monthly minutes to the President in a timely manner prior to the next meeting.

(c) Shall prepare and distribute the previous month’s minutes at the current monthly meeting.

(d) Shall be responsible for maintaining all correspondence.

(e) Shall notify and make available to all members a copy of any proposed changes to the bylaws.

5.4 Treasurer

(a) Shall be the custodian of all funds of the organization.

(b) Shall keep all funds in a financial institution in the name of BMR Hartnett Middle School PTO, Inc. subject to withdrawal by check.

(c) Shall disperse funds in accordance with the PTO bylaws.

(d) Shall keep ledgers correct and up-to-date and available for audits and public viewing.

(e) Shall prepare and distribute a Treasurer’s Report at each meeting.

6.1 A nominating committee shall make nominations for officers. This committee will contain three members appointed by the President, with one selected as chairperson. Anyone interested in running for an office should submit his or her name to this committee.

6.2 At the regular monthly meeting in May, the nominating committee will submit a list of candidates for the position of officers. Members may submit names prior to or at this meeting. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor.

6.3 Elections shall take place at the regular monthly meeting in June.

7.1 If for any reason the President is unable to continue his/her duties, the Vice President will assume the duties of the President. If the Vice President declines, a nominating committee shall be responsible to make a motion to elect a new President from a list of nominees.

7.2 In the event of a vacancy in any other office, a nominating committee shall be responsible to make a motion to elect another person from a list of nominees.

7.3 An officer must submit his/her resignation in writing to the Secretary or President.

8.1 Committees shall be formed on an as needed basis.

8.2 Each committee shall have a chairperson as appointed by the President.

8.3 Committees shall meet at the discretion of the chairperson.

8.4 The committee chairperson will submit all projects and proposals to the membership for approval prior to carrying out any action. If approval is needed prior to the next subsequent general meeting, the approval of the majority of officers will suffice.

8.5 Each chairperson is required to complete and update an information folder for their project or event. The folder should contain copies of all instructions, plans, correspondence, flyers, reports, lists and expenses. The project folders shall be given to the PTO Vice President for filing.

9.1 The regular scheduled monthly meetings will be held on the second Monday of each month, beginning at 6:30PM at the Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School. These meetings will be held from September through and including June.

9.2 A quorum consists of four members and is required for voting on items.

9.3 Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern any matter not covered by these bylaws.

10.1 All funds shall be deposited in the account of the BMR Hartnett Middle School PTO, Inc. and shall be disbursed by the Treasurer with the approval of the President.

10.2 No personal liability shall be attached to any member of this organization in connection with any of its undertakings.

10.3 The officers, with a majority vote, may spend up to $1,000.00 in between regular scheduled monthly meetings.

10.4 No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article Two hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

11.1 Upon the dissolution of the organizations, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

12.1 These bylaws may be amended as conditions arise by a majority vote of the members present. Suggested changes should be submitted at the prior meeting to the President and Secretary before being acted upon. The Secretary shall notify and make a copy of the proposed changes available to all members.
Revised 4-7-04

12.2 The PTO will consider a monetary donation for any current Hartnett family that suffers a tragedy. The PTO will donate whatever amount is reasonable given their current budget. These donations are for severe life changing tragedies, such as death in the family, fire, flood, etc. A donation is not guaranteed for each event and they will all be voted by the group as they arise. The PTO looks to be fair in all its charitable giving, but can't extend too much with the limited budget and increasing need in our school.
Voted 3-10-14