The purpose of the Center for Learning, Inc. Parent Organization is to provide support for the school and our teachers. The Center for Learning, Inc. Parent Organization was established November 2005. Please see and read the Center for Learning, Inc. Parent Organization By-laws to find out more about our organization and how we are structured.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 @ 6:00 pm Virtual.
President
Bristal Austin
Vice President
Lee Allyson Thompson
Treasurer
Jennifer Abrams
Secretary
Denise Teasdell
Parliamentarian
Bernard Washington-Bowers
The name of the organization shall be the Center for Learning, Inc. Parent Organization.
The purpose of the organization shall be to aid the students of the Center for Learning, Inc. by providing support for their educational and recreational needs and to promote open communication between the administration, teachers and parents.
Membership shall consist of all parents and or legal guardians of students who currently attend the Center for Learning, Inc. and all faculty and staff of the Center for Learning, Inc. shall be eligible for membership in the organization. Paid members shall have the right to vote on all issues before the membership, to elect officers to hold office. Members must pay the yearly dues.
Section 1. At least four regular meetings of the membership shall be held during each school year. The time and the place of the meetings shall be announced at least five (5) days prior to the meeting.
Section 2. Additional meetings of the organization may be called, either by vote of the Executive Committee or by petition of a two-thirds (⅔) of the members. The time and the place of all Special Meetings shall be announced at least five (5) days prior to the meeting.
Section 3. Those persons present at a properly called membership or Special Meeting shall be designated as a quorum and shall be entitled to take action on behalf of the organization.
Section 4. A two-thirds (⅔) of the vote of the present members at any meeting shall be required for all action to be taken by the organization.
Section 1. The officers of the organization shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and parliamentarian. The officers are required to attend all meetings, unless the president is notified prior to the meeting. To be eligible to serve as an officer of the Center for Learning, Inc. Parent Organization, a person must be a parent or legal guardian of a student that is currently enrolled.
Section 2. The President shall be the principle executive officer of the organization. The direction of the membership shall, in general, supervise and control all the activities of the organization. The President shall be a member of the Center for Learning, Inc. Parent Organization and when present shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee and all meetings of the Parent Organization. The President shall vote only in the case of a tie in a vote of the Executive Committee. The President shall select, appoint or accept nominations for the chairpersons of all Standing and Special Committees and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees of the organization. The President shall sign all checks with the Treasurer and the President shall sign all Parent Organization related contracts and /or documents along with the Secretary. After submitting appropriate documentation for approval to the Director of the Center for Learning, Inc.
Section 3. The Vice-President shall be a member of the Executive Committee, and in the absence of the President, shall perform the duties of the President. The Vice-President shall perform other duties as are assigned by the President or the executive Committee.
Section 4. The Secretary shall be a member of the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of the membership. The Executive Committee shall receive from the Treasurer the list members who have paid dues and are prepared the official list of members. The Secretary ensures that all notices are duly given in accordance with these Bylaws. The Secretary shall work closely with the Treasurer regarding collections of any sort. The Secretary shall communicate to the parent liaison to distribute the parent meeting notices. The secretary shall prepare minutes and meeting agendas for distribution. The Secretary shall keep the official history of the organization and keep an annual record of all activities of the organization.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall have charge and be responsible for all funds of the organization and shall serve as accounts payable and receivable manager for monies due and payable to the organization from all sources. All monies shall be deposited the next business day to the designated financial institution. The Treasurer shall make disbursements as authorized by the President, Executive Committee, or membership in accordance with the budget adopted by the membership. The Treasurer shall maintain monthly account activity including revenues, expenditures, end of the month balances of accounts, and obligated, but not disbursed funds. The Treasurer shall sign all checks with the President. The Treasurer shall collect all membership dues established by the organization and shall certify to the Secretary an accurate list of paid membership dues of the organization. The Treasurer shall present a written financial report at each meeting of the membership and at other times as requested by the Executive Committee.
Section 6. The Parliamentarian shall ensure that all meetings and elections are conducted in an orderly manner. Parliamentary procedures will be used to transact the business of the organization using Robert’s Rules of Order Revised. These rules enable the members of any meeting to transact the business with the least possible friction, with the expedience, efficiency and in a manner that is fair to all.
A. Procedure. The election of the officers shall take the place at the first meeting each year. The election for officers shall be open to all members fulfilling all financial obligations as outlined in Article 3- Membership of the Bylaws. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers for election. Further nominations may be received from the floor. The election of the slate, if non-contested, may be by voice vote. Any contested election shall be by written ballot.
B. Term of Office. The term of each officer shall be one year, beginning on September 1 and ending on August 31 of the following year. No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms.
C. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for receiving all suggestions for persons to serve as officers. The committee shall prepare a slate of officers to present for election by membership. The committee shall contact all persons who will be nominated to confirm their willingness to serve. The committee shall ensure that all nominees are members and otherwise eligible to serve in the office. The committee shall receive and account for all proxies submitted at the meeting and include all proxies submitted.
D. Selection. A majority of the votes a cast by the members shall be necessary for election. Should no person receive a majority of the votes cast, a run-off between the two (2) persons who receive the largest number of votes shall immediately be held.
E. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the office because of death, resignation, termination or inability to serve shall be filled by the Executive Committee for the un-expired portion of the term. However, should a vacancy occur in the office of the president, the vice-president should immediately assume the office. If a vacancy occurs for any reason all records and documents of that office must be surrendered to the administration of the Center for Learning, Inc.
A. General Powers. The Executive Committee shall manage the affairs, activities and operations of the organization. The Executive Committee shall transact necessary business during the intervals between meetings of the membership and such business as may be referred to by the membership of these By-laws. It may create Standing and Special Committees; approve the plans and work of Standing and Special Committees, present reports and recommendations at the meetings of the membership, prepare and submit a budget of the membership for approval, and in general, conduct the business and activities of the organization.
B. Membership. The membership of the Executive Committee shall consist of the president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, parliamentarian, and all chairs of each committee.
C. Meetings. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held during the year, the time to be established at the first meeting of the year. Special meetings may be called by the president or by two-thirds majority if the Executive Committee. Adequate notice of all meetings shall be given to all members of the Executive Committee, and in the absence of an emergency, at least five (5) days in advance. Any member may attend a meeting of the Executive Committee, but shall vote on matters before the body.
D. Quorum. A majority of the members on the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
E. Voting. The act of the members and ex-officio members of the Executive Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be required for all action to be taken by the Executive Committee.
A. Nominating Committee. The nominating Committee shall be comprised of three persons who shall be selected by the Executive Committee at the beginning of each year. In addition, the president-elect shall be ex-officio member of the committee. The committee shall carry out its responsibilities as specified.
B. Other Standing Committees. The Executive Committee may establish such other standing committees as it deems necessary. The president shall appoint the chairperson of all standing committees, who shall serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. The chairperson of each committee shall recruit the members for his/her committee. Any Parent Organization member may serve as committee member. The chairperson shall report to the Executive Committee the plans and activities of the committee.
A. Budget. The Executive Committee shall present at the first regular meeting of the year a budget of anticipated revenue and expenses for the year. The budget shall be used to guide the activities of the Executive Committee during the year. Any deviation from the budget must be approved in advance by the membership of the Center for Learning, Inc. Parent Organization.
B. Obligations. The Executive Committee may authorize any officer or officers to enter into contracts or arrangements for the purchase of materials or services on behalf of the Organization. The officers shall not have the authority, however, to enter into such agreements on behalf of the Center for Learning, Inc.
C. Loans. No loans shall be made by the Organization to its officers or members.
D. Commercial Paper. All checks, drafts, or other orders for payment of money on behalf of the Organization shall be signed by the Treasurer and the President; however, in the absence of the President any other person given written authorization by the Executive Committee shall cosign with the Treasurer.
E. Deposits. The Treasurer shall deposit all funds of the Organization the next business day to the designated financial institution.
F. Financial Report. The Treasurer shall present a signed written financial report at each meeting of the Organization and shall prepare a final report at the close of the year. The Executive Committee shall have the report and the accounts examined annually by an auditor or an informal audit committee, who, if satisfied that the Treasurer’s annual report is correct, shall sign a statement of the fact at the end of the report. The overview of this process will be the responsibility if the administration of the Center for Learning, Inc.
The organization shall authorize and collect membership dues to be used for the operation of the Organization and student activities. Any change in the amount of the dues shall be approved by a vote of the members acting in the manner prescribed.
These By-laws may be amended and revisions adopted by the members at any regular or Special Meeting.
If any part of the By-laws shall conflict with the decisions, policies or procedures adopted by the administration for the Center for Learning, Inc. they shall be deemed null and void.
