MAC Bylaws

DENALI MONTESSORI ADVISORY COMMITTEE
AMENDED BYLAWS (11 91)

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Denali Montessori Advisory Committee is to strengthen the Denali Montessori community so that the Montessori program can evolve with purposeful cooperation and common vision. To this end, the committee will: advocate for the program in the community, engage in planning with the school administration to set program goals, work with teachers and school administration to meet program goals through fund raising and volunteer participation in the classroom, provide parent education in Montessori principles, and foster a spirit of community among those in the program.

II. MEMBERSHIP

The members of the committee are the parents, step parents and guardians of the children enrolled in the Montessori program, and the program’s teachers. Each member has one vote at meetings of the Committee and at elections.

III. MEETINGS

A. Regular Meetings
The Committee will hold at least seven scheduled monthly meetings during the school year, to discuss Committee affairs and take appropriate action. Notice of, and an agenda for, each meeting will be posted at the school and sent home with members’ children at least two days prior to each meeting.

B. Special Meetings
Special meetings can be called for by the chair, or by written request of five members delivered to the Secretary. Notice of the meeting must be given to the members at least one day before the meeting, and it must specify the purpose for which the meeting is called. Action at the meeting is limited to the purpose stated in the notice.

C. Quorum
The quorum for action at a Committee meeting is ten members. This must include at least one member of the teaching staff (or the principal) and one elected officer.

D. Rules
The Committee chair will preside over meetings. Procedure may be informal, but action shall be taken by voting upon motion. To pass, a motion must be approved by a majority of members present. However, it is a goal of the Committee to achieve consensus on actions taken. Meetings shall not exceed two hours unless extended by two thirds of the members present. Minutes of each meeting shall be prepared, posted at school, and sent to members. Meetings are open to the public.

IV. BOARD AND OFFICERS

A. Board Functions

The Committee Board is made up of the elected officers and the directors. The Board shall set the agenda for membership meetings, implement plans and decisions made at membership meetings, and take emergency action as required between membership meetings. Emergency actions shall be ratified at the next membership meeting. The board’s powers may be expanded by vote of the members.

B. Board Meetings

The Board shall meet prior to each membership meeting and on other occasions when called for by the chair. The quorum for Board meetings is three, including two elected officers. Procedure may be informal, and minutes need not be kept. Each Board member has one vote.

C. Officers

1. Chair - The chair has the following responsibilities:

Conduct membership and Board meetings;
Carry out the advocacy role of the Committee with the school district and the community at large;
Appoint the ad hoc sub committees;
Lead planning efforts;
Direct the functioning of the committee;
Oversee the Nominating, Planning, Legislative and PTA Liaison sub-¬ committees.

2. Vice Chair - The vice chair has the following responsibilities:

Stand in for the chair when the chair is absent;
develop the agenda for membership meetings;
coordinate parent orientation and education, and volunteer participation in the classroom;
maintain communication with the teachers and principal about internal program matters;
oversee the orientation, parent education, materials and volunteer coordination sub committees;
perform other duties as assigned by the chair.

3. Secretary - The secretary has the following responsibilities:

Maintain, post and distribute minutes of membership meetings;
prepare and give notice of membership meetings;
maintain Committee records;
conduct correspondence;
prepare an annual report for the program, presented to the membership in October, summarizing program statistics and activities for the preceding year;
distribute a directory of students to members;
oversee the Directory/Historian and Periscope subcommittees;
perform other duties as assigned by the chair.

4. Treasurer - The treasurer has the following responsibilities:

Coordinate fund raising efforts;
collect, deposit, manage and disburse Committee funds as authorized;
present an annual budget to the membership for approval;
report on the financial status of the Committee at each regular membership meeting;
submit a final financial report at the end of each fiscal year (September);
oversee the fund raising and budget sub committees;
perform other duties as assigned by the chair.

D. Directors

Directors are members appointed by the board to chair standing sub committees. They serve approximate one year terms from appointment to the following October.

E. Terms of Officers

Officers serve approximate one year terms, from the date of election to the date their successors are certified as elected.

F. Vacancies

A vacancy on the Board is created when a Board member is no longer eligible for membership in the committee, when the Board member resigns, or when the board member fails to attend three consecutive membership meetings. An elected officer vacancy shall be filled for the remaining term by vote of the members present at the next regular membership meeting. If necessary, the Chair may appoint a member to fill the vacancy until that meeting. Director vacancies shall be filled by the Board.

V. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Regular elections will be conducted in April of each year by a three member nominating subcommittee, appointed by the Board. The sub committee will seek nominees for each board position by sending a written request home with the children at least two weeks prior to the election, and by any other appropriate recruiting method. Nominations may be made at the April membership meeting as well. The sub committee shall send home a ballot with the names of all nominees who have consented to run for office, and shall make ballots available at the office. Each member shall have one vote; the sub
committee may take whatever steps it deems necessary to ensure against duplicate voting. The sub committee shall count the ballots on the election date set by the subcommittee, which shall be at least one week after the ballots have been sent home. If a runoff is necessary it shall be conducted immediately. The sub committee shall certify the results to the members at the next regular meeting, and those elected will take office.

VI. SUB COMMITTEES

Sub committees may take action (i.e., fund raising) or make recommendations to the membership (i.e., planning) but they may not represent the Committee to others without membership authorization. The Board appoints the chairs and members of standing sub committees; the Chair appoints the chairs and members of any ad hoc sub committees which are created. Elected officers may also chair sub committees; a member may chair more than one sub committee.

Standing sub committees include:

1. Nominating: Runs elections under Article V.

2. Planning: Plans for the future needs of the program.

3. Legislative: Monitors school board, municipal and state budgets and legislation on matters of interest to the Denali community.

4. Orientation: Provides parent tours and open houses.

5. Parent Education: Sets up parent workshops and lectures and maintains parent library.

6. Volunteer Coordination: Recruits and assists classroom coordinators from each class, sets up phone tree, and organizes volunteers for program wide efforts.

7. Directory/Historian: Prepares and distributes a student directory in October each year and maintains a yearly scrapbook of Committee documents, pictures, newspaper clippings and other material reflecting each year’s activities.

8. Periscope: Publishes a bi weekly newsletter for members.

9. Fund raising: Raises money for the program.

10. Budget: Prepares an annual budget in April for the fiscal year beginning the following September, and prepares revisions as necessary.

11. PTA Liaison: Coordinates with Denali PTA and monitors city and state PTA activities.

12. Materials: Prepares Montessori materials as needed.

13. Audit: Reviews the financial books and records at the time of the election of the treasurer, and otherwise as required.

VII. BY LAWS

These bylaws may be amended by a two thirds vote of the members present at a membership meeting if proper notice has been given of the meeting and the proposed amendments have been provided to the members. Only editorial changes to proposed amendments may be made at the meeting.

VIII. NON PROFIT STATUS

This organization is organized exclusively for educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, 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 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding section of any future United States Internal Revenue law) or (b) by an organization contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law).

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

It is planned to use all receipts in the year received or shortly thereafter. In the event receipts exceed operating expenses despite this intent, they will be utilized or donated exclusively for educational purposes within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code.

Adopted November 14, 1991
Amended January 23, 1992