SANDY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL PTSO
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
(Revised May 4, 2010)

ARTICLE I
Name of the organization

The name of the organization shall be the Sandy Creek High School Parent Teacher Student Organization.

ARTICLE II
Nature of the Organization

The organization is non-profit, organized under the laws of the State of Georgia.

ARTICLE III
Objectives of the Organization

Objectives of this organization are:

Section 1
To provide a forum whereby parents, teachers, students and the administration shall have an opportunity to meet, discuss and have programs related to their mutual concerns for the education and welfare of the students of Sandy Creek High School. This forum shall be in the form of the regularly scheduled business-like meetings of the Parent Teacher Student Organization. The P.T.S.O. is a Parent Teacher Student Organization, and meetings should present information and educational topics of interest to parents, teachers, and students. Performances by students may be included as a portion of the P.T.S.O. program with prior approval of the Board of Directors. To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, and community. To bring into closer relation the home and the school in which parents, teachers, and students may cooperate intelligently in the educational process.To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for every student the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.

Section 2
The objectives of this organization are promoted through an educational program directed toward parents, teachers, students, and the general public; are developed through conferences, committees, projects, and programs; and are governed and qualified by the basic policies set forth in Article IV.

ARTICLE IV
Basic Policies

Section 1
The purpose for which the Sandy Creek High School P.T.S.O. is organized is exclusively religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational within the meaning of section SOl(e) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law.

Section 2
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this organization shall not carryon any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under section SOl(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law.

Section 3
The name of the organization or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used in connection with a commercial concern, or with any partisan interest, or for any purpose not appropriately related to promoting the objectives of the organization.

Section 4
The organization shall not directly participate or intervene in any political candidate's campaign for public office; or devote any of its activities attempting to influence legislation.

Section 5
The organization shall cooperate with the administration of the school to support the improvement of education and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decision has been delegated by the people to the Board of Education.

Section 6
The organization may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but persons representing the organization shall make no commitments that bind the organization.

Section 7
In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations described in sections SOl(C) (3) and 170 (C) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of corresponding sections of any prior or future Internal Revenue Code, or to the federal, state, or local governments for exclusive public purpose.

Article V
Membership and Dues

Section 1
Any individual who subscribes to the objectives and basic policies of this organization may become a member, subject only to compliance with the provisions of the by-laws. Membership in this organization shall be available without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religious preference, or national origin.

Section 2
The organization shall conduct an annual enrollment of members; however; persons may be admitted to membership at any time.
Section 3

Only members in good standing of the organization (i.e., currently enrolled, dues-paying members) shall be eligible to participate in its business meetings, or to serve in any of its elective or appointed positions.

Sections 4
Each member of the organization shall pay annual dues in the amount approved by the general membership as recommended by the Board of Directors except for Ufetime members whose membership is maintained on permanent media and posted at SCHS.

ARTICLE VI
Financial Management

Section 1
Finances shall be managed in an orderly and business-like way. Disbursements shall be made in keeping with an approved budget, with all checks signed by two of the approved officers designated by the Board of Directors, e.g., the Treasurer and one other elected official.

Section 2
The Board of Directors may approve expenditures not specified in the budget when funds are available.
Section 3

A procedure for accountability of funds donated to the PTSOshould be established at the beginning of each fiscal year. It should require at least one Board Member (Treasurer) and one or two additional appointed Board or General Members to count and record PTSOdues or donations in order to have a checks and balance in place.

Article VII
Officers, Board of Directors, and Their Election

Section 1

1. The officers of this organization shall consist of a president or co-presidents, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer.

2. The Board of Directors will consist of elected officers, two faculty representatives, two student body representatives and four members at large. The immediate past president and the principal and/or assistant principal will serve as ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.

3. Officers and Board members shall assume their official duties on June 1, and serve for a term of one year or until the election and qualification of their successors.

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

Section 2

1. There shall be a nominating committee composed of three members, one of whom shall be selected from the Board of Directors, and two of whom shall be appointed by the president of the organization, from the general membership. The chairman of the nominating committee shall be elected by the committee itself.

2. The nominating committee shall nominate one eligible person for president or co-president, vice president, secretary and treasurer and report its nominees at the second to the last meeting of the school year at which time additional nominations may be made from the floor.

3. Only those persons, who have signified their consent to serve, if elected, shall be nominated for or elected to such office or position.

Section 3
A vacancy occurring in any office or on the Board of Directors shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Article VIII
Duties of Officers

Section 1
The president or co-presidents shall preside at all meetings of the organizations and of the Board of Directors; shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed in these SCHSBy-Laws and shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees of the organization in order that the organization's objectives may be achieved. The current president shall submit a 990N (e-Postcard) following the Initial filing in 2010 which includes schedules, attachments, and supporting documents to the Internal Revenue Service at P.O. Box 12192, Covington, KY41012. Thereafter, if this 990N (e-Postcard) is not filed for three consecutive years, SCHSPTSOwill lose their tax exempt status. The president or co-presidents will have coordinating responsibilities for the Budget Committee, the By-Laws Committee, and the Projects Committee. The president serves as an ex-officio member of all committees of the organization.

Section 2
The vice president shall act as aide to the president and shall perform the duties of the president in the absence or disability of that officer to act. The vice president will monitor committees and report to the president and Board of Directors as appropriate. The vice president shall also keep current contact information of all PTSOmembers and validate voting privileges during board meetings.

Section 3
The secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings of the organization and the Board of Directors. The secretary is responSible for communicating meeting dates and any other pertinent information to board members and members-at-Iarge as requested by the President. The secretary is responsible for maintaining PTSOreference notebooks which are stored at SCHS. The secretary shall perform all other duties assigned to him/her by the President.

Section 4
The treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the organization; shall keep a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures; and shall make disbursements as authorized by the organization Or the Board of Directors: shall make regular reports to the Board and make a full report annually. The treasurer shall be responsible for the maintenance of complete books of account and records. The treasurer's account shall be examined annually by a financial audit committee of not less than two members, plus the principal of Sandy Creek High School. When the treasurer's records and accounts are found in proper order, this shall be so stated in a report from the financial audit committee to the general membership. An annual review of the treasurer's accounts is for the protection of the treasurer. It is the only means of assuring everyone that the accounts are accurate, and it relieves the treasurer of responsibility except in case of fraud.

Section 5

1. All officers shall perform their duties in a responsible and ethical manner to further the objectives of the organization.

2. Deliver to their successors all official material on June 1st.

Article IX
Meetings

Section 1
Regular meetings shall be held at least two times during the school year, and be announced through the school at least one week prior to the meeting.

Section 2
A quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of the Board members present at any Board meeting. A quorum of the general membership shall consist of the members present at any meeting announced to the general membership, through the school, at least one week in advance of the meeting date.

Section 3
The use of electronic means, in the form of email and/or conference calls, is permitted by the Board of Directors in conducting the business of the organization. Any such vote would require a majority of the full Board in favor.

Article X
Committees

Section 1
The Board of Directors may create such standing committees as it may deem necessary to promote the objectives and carry on the work of the organization. The term of each committee chairperson shall be one year or until the election and qualification of his/her successor.

Section 2
The chairperson of each standing committee shall present a plan of work to the Board of Directors for approval.

Article XI

Section 1
1. If funds are available, a SCHSPTSOScholarship will be offered.

2. The annual scholarship should be broadcast via daily school announcements (maybe once each week in January) and posted to the PTSOwebsite by the 31st of January - with a submission deadline of March 31st.If the 31st of March occurs on the weekend, the deadline will become the preceding Friday.
3. Eligibility requirements include: (1) 12th grade graduating senior - in good standing with Sandy Creek High School, (2) member of PTSO, (3) have a GPAof 2.8 or higher, and (4) the winner must be able to prove that he/she has been accepted into an institution of higher learning.

4. The Scholarship packet will be comprised of a cover letter, application, and an essay to include the name, (and/or student ID) grade, and contact information; and a typed, double-spaced essay. The applications will be dispensed by the Guidance department. Completed applications should be returned to Guidance; at which time Guidance will make a copy of each application. The Guidance department will remove the cover letter (to maintain student anonymity) and replace the cover letter with a grading rubric for the essay review team. On the grading rubric, Guidance will input the score for GPA, and then pass on the essays to the review team.

5. The review team will be comprised of two PTSOmembers, two teachers, and one counselor. PTSOmembers with graduating seniors are ineligible from serving on the review team. The participating counselor cannot (in any way) be involved in the process of preparing applications for review or assisting students with their essay. The two teachers are not allowed to assist any students with their essays.

6. Applications will be reviewed by the review team and evaluated in 5 areas - with a maximum of 4 points for each area, and each area (content, grammar, GPA, extra curriculum at SCHS,and community services outlined over an applicant's four years at SCHS) will be weighted equally. The review team will also review the application.

7. All application essays are to be reviewed by the 30th of April. If the 30th falls on the weekend, the deadline will become the following Monday.

8. The review team will meet (in a separate setting) during the May PTSOmeeting to tally the scores and determine the winner. The winner will be reported to the PTSOexecutive board that same day, and the information will be included in the minutes of that meeting. The Scholarship will be presented to the student during the Annual SCHSSenior Honors Award Banquet.

Section 2
Gifts &. Awards to Teachers, Students, and Administrators shall be administered within the IRS Guidelines for gifts and awards for a non-profit organization. Appreciation gifts to Board Members, Committee Chairman, and volunteers shall NOT be administered from the budget, but can be donated from participating PTSOofficers and members. If a award which exceed $600.00 is presented to a single person, the person must file an IRS form 1099 miscellaneous income {26 C.F.R. & 1.1501(C) (3) -1 - page 11-12}.

Article XII
Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall govern the organization in all cases in which they are applicable.

Article XII
Amendments

1. These by-laws may be changed or amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a quorum of the membership or by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting.

2. A committee may be appointed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors or a majority vote at a general meeting of the organization to submit a revised set of by-laws as a substitute for the existing by-laws. The requirements for adoption of a revised set of by-laws shall be the same as in the case of amendment.