CONSTITUTION OF COTTAGE GROVE PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION Preamble The Cottage Grove Parent Teacher Organization is created to establish close cooperative relationships between the school and home as institutions; and parents and educators as individuals, and to establish a forum in order to aid the school and parents in providing for each student those experiences which will further their continued development as responsible citizens concerned with improving our society. In addition, the organization may provide informational and fiscal benefits and services to the school system through use of parental and staff volunteers working on projects, which result in gathering together families, school personnel and students. ARTICLE I Name The name of this organization shall be Cottage Grove Parent Teacher Organization. ARTICLE II Purpose The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the welfare of children and youth in attendance at Cottage Grove School and to bring into closer relation the school and it s community so that parents, teachers, and administrators may cooperate intelligently to insure the provisions of continuous educational opportunities. Constitution of Cottage Grove PTO Page 1 of 5
ARTICLE III Basic Policy 1.01 The organization shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan. Neither the name of the organization nor the name of any officer or director in his official capacity shall be used in any manner in connection with a commercial concern or on behalf of any candidate for public office. 1.02 The organization may seek to inform the public and school administration on issues relating to the school system and administrative policy provided that it shall not seek to direct, control or otherwise intervene in individual personnel decisions of the school system. 1.03 This organization may cooperate and/or work with other associations, organizations, and agencies to extend our purpose, provided no binding commitments are made, unless it has been duly approved by the Cottage Grove PTO Board. Any such commitment must be approved annually by the newly elected PTO Board. ARTICLE IV Membership 1.01 Qualification: Each parent or guardian of any child enrolled in the Cottage Grove Elementary School and each educator in the Cottage Grove School shall be a voting member of the organization. 1.02 Meetings: The organization will have no required meetings. Meetings of the membership may be called for any purpose or purposes by the President, Board or by a person designated in a written request of fifteen (15) members. Notice of any meeting may be given through the normal school/home communication methods or by mail and shall include a statement of the general purpose(s) for which the meeting is called. A regular meeting schedule may be established at the commencement of the school year. 1.03 Conduct of Meetings: The President, and in his/her absence, the Vice President, shall call the meetings to order and act as chairperson. Each member shall be entitled to one vote. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall constitute the act of the membership. Constitution of Cottage Grove PTO Page 2 of 5
ARTICLE V Amendment This Constitution and it s By-Laws may be amended as is deemed necessary by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at any regular or special general membership meeting called by the PTO President. Section 2 A Constitution Revision Committee shall review the Constitution and present suggested amendments to the PTO Board for their discussion and suggestions. The suggested revisions shall then be presented to the general membership for their approval. Section 3 The Constitution Revision Committee shall consist of: three PTO Board members and four members at large. The three PTO Board members shall either volunteer or be appointed by the PTO President. The four members at large shall be accepted on a volunteer basis, or if necessary, appointed by the PTO President. Section 4 Notice of suggested changes will be made available to the membership prior to voting. Section 5 Robert s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of all meetings of this organization except where this Constitution or it s By-Laws conflict. Document History Document created on November, 28, 1984. First Amendment on March 3, 2004. Second Amendment on December 8, 2008. Constitution of Cottage Grove PTO Page 3 of 5
First Amendment to the Constitution of the Cottage Grove PTO Dated March 3, 2004 Amend Article III,.01 as follows: The organization shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan. The organization shall be organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. Amend Article III. Add.04 as follows: No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in or otherwise intervene in any political campaign on behalf of a candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS code or 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 IRS code or corresponding section of any future federal code. Add Article VI, Assets, to read as follows: No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to it s members, trustees, officers or other private persons except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. Section 2 Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes set forth in our purpose clause hereof, within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to local government for public purposes. Any assets not disposed of shall be distributed by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the organization is then located. Cathy Gilmore-Nelson PTO Co-President Mary Salvi PTO Co-President Constitution of Cottage Grove PTO Page 4 of 5
Second Amendment to the Constitution of the Cottage Grove PTO Dated December 8, 2008 Amend Article I, as follows: The name of this organization shall be Cottage Grove Parent Teacher Organization ( Cottage Grove PTO or PTO ) located in Cottage Grove, Dane County, Wisconsin. Amend Article II, as follows: The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the welfare of children in attendance at Taylor Prairie School and Cottage Grove School and to bring into closer relation the schools and the community so that parents, teachers, and administrators may cooperate intelligently to insure the provisions of continuous educational opportunities. Amend Article IV,.01 as follows: Qualification: Each parent or guardian of any child enrolled in Taylor Prairie School and Cottage Grove School and each educator in the above-referenced schools shall be a voting member of the organization. Betsy Zande PTO President Constitution of Cottage Grove PTO Page 5 of 5