PTO ELECTIONS

Dear Parents of Wornick Students,

Once again, we have come to the time of year when we must elect new officers for the Wornick school Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). We are very fortunate to have been served so well by the incumbents, and we seek equally high caliber candidates to serve on the PTO for next school year (2007-8). Our school PTO is vibrant and thriving thanks to the efforts of the people who participate in its leadership and membership. The PTO is notable for bringing outside enrichment programs to students in all grades, and for spearheading many special events through the year, as well as discussing and helping to create policies which impact our school community.
We encourage you to apply by nominating yourself or someone you think would do the job well, by the deadline for nominations, next Thursday, April 26th.
Please take into account the job descriptions below, and use the paper nomination slips available at the school front desk.
Please direct any questions about the nomination or election process to Rachel Kardos or Zoe Scheinman. Please direct questions about the jobs themselves to the incumbents.
The election will be held on Wednesday, May 30th by paper ballot.
Thank you in advance for your ongoing support for the PTO and for the students. Your participation is what makes this school and the PTO so special.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

Section 1: President
The duties of the PTO President(s) shall be to:  
a) Oversee the running of the PTO.
b) Set the agenda for and preside over all PTO general and Executive Committee meetings. 
c) Report regularly to the Head of School and Board on the activities of the PTO.
d) Meet regularly with the Head of School to discuss school issues and concerns voiced by the PTO membership.
e) Ensure that PTO officers and committees perform their duties.  
f) Ensure that the PTO Executive Committee fulfills its duties in a timely manner.
g) Co-sign PTO checks over $500 and sign PTO checks under $500 in the absence of the Treasurer for disbursements as authorized by the PTO.
h) Perform other duties as assigned through the PTO Executive Committee. 
i) Serve as an ex-officio member of the Board and attend monthly Board meetings. 

Section 2: Vice President
The duties of the PTO Vice President(s) shall be to: 
a) Assist in all President duties and perform the duties of the President when the President is unavailable.
b) Attend all PTO general, special and Executive Committee meetings.
c) Coordinate the work of PTO committees. 
d) Review the plans of each PTO committee and present to the Executive Committee for approval. 
e) Co-sign PTO checks over $500 in the absence of the President for disbursements as authorized by the PTO.
f) Perform other duties as assigned through the Executive Committee.  

Section 3: Secretary
The duties of the PTO Secretary(s)shall be to: 
a) Attend all PTO general, special and Executive Committee meetings. 
b) Record    the minutes of all PTO general and special meetings and disseminate them to all PTO members.  
c) Keep records of attendance for each meeting and a roll of PTO officers and committees.  
d) Maintain a central repository for PTO information at a designated location in the school. 
e) Perform other duties as assigned through the Executive Committee.  

Section 4: Treasurer
The duties of the PTO Treasurer shall be to:
a) Attend all PTO general, special and Executive Committee meetings. 
b) Manage all financial accounts and funds of the PTO.
c) Keep accurate records of PTO membership and dues. 
d) Collect funds from all PTO events and other revenue sources.
e) Co-sign PTO checks over $500 and sign PTO checks under $500 for disbursements as authorized by the PTO.
f) Provide a detailed written report of the financial condition of the PTO in semi-annually and present each report at general meetings.
g) Provide a summary report, including beginning and ending balances, at each meeting.  
h) Coordinate the preparation of all required state and federal filings
i) Perform other duties as assigned through the Executive Committee.   


ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS 

Section 1: Nominating Committee
1. A Nominating Committee shall be formed no later than March 15th of each year to assist in the election process for PTO officers for the following year.
2. The Nominating Committee shall consist of at least two (2) and no more than four(4) parent/guardian members of the PTO, at least one of whom is currently serving as a PTO officer.  
3. The Nominating Committee members shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and elected by simple majority vote of the PTO members present during a general meeting no later than March 15th of each year. 

Section 2: Nominating Committee Duties 
The duties of the Nominating Committee shall be to:
1. Oversee, with the assistance of the current PTO Executive Committee and the Head of School, all aspects of PTO officer elections for the following school year.
2. Present to the PTO membership a detailed description of each officer position and an application for parent/guardian members of the PTO to indicate interest in a particular office.  This information shall be presented to the PTO membership no later than April 15thof each year and at least 30 days prior to the scheduled election. 
3. Ensure that there are candidates for each office and recruit candidates to share offices and fill vacant offices as necessary.
4. Meet with the Head of School to review applications of those interested in running for PTO offices.  
5. Provide notice given to the PTO membership of the date of the election for PTO officers no later than April 30th and at least fourteen days prior to the scheduled election. 
6. Prepare a ballot listing the candidates for all offices.
7. Manage the election of PTO officers at the general meeting, including distributing and collecting ballots from the membership.

Section 3: Requirements for Candidates
1. All candidates for PTO offices should have attended a majority of the PTO general meetings during the election year to be eligible for nomination.
2. All candidates for PTO offices are expected to be active members of the PTO during the election year to be eligible for nomination.
3. All candidates for PTO offices are subject to veto by either the Head of School or the Board.  

Section 4: Election Procedures
1. Officers shall be elected by secret, written ballot at a general meeting no later than May 31st of each school year. Election shall be by simple majority vote of the members present during that general meeting.
2. If there is an uncontested candidate (or co-candidates) running for any office, election for that office shall be held by hand unless a secret ballot is requested by any PTO member. 


Thank you and good luck in the election!