Greater Portland Christian School Parent Teacher Organization Charter Document Last Updated November 19, 2014 Linda Bolland Board of Directors, PTO Liaison 1
Table of Contents Background, Mission and Vision... 3 Authority... 3 Membership... 3 GPCS Officers... 3 GPCS PTO Executive Committee... 4 GPCS PTO Officers and Executive Committee Service Guidelines... 4 Vacancies & Standing Committees... 5 Officer Duties... 5 Meetings... 5 Annual Review... 5 PTO Development Timeline, Recommendations for First Two Years... 6 Appendix A GPCS Statement of Faith... 7 2
Background, Mission and Vision Greater Portland Christian School currently has no means to delegate community development and fundraising opportunities to parents, grandparents, teachers and staff. One of this school s greatest strengths is its people. From the dedicated faculty, staff and administration, to the involved parent community, there is a need to continue to build enthusiasm for the school s mission of developing Christ-centered servant leaders. The mission of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to engage and connect our constituents allowing them the opportunity to invest and contribute to the goals of the school. Greater Portland Christian School Parent Teacher Organization (GPCS PTO) will be a fellowship ministry, Koinonia, Christ In Community that connects and creates opportunities for fellowship, learning, and raising funds towards the annual operating budget and other financial needs such as playground equipment, classroom enrichment, or technology. The vision of the PTO is that every parent will be actively involved in using their spiritual gifts and talents by serving teachers, staff, and the school family. This will facilitate building up the entire school body in Christ. Authority The PTO shall report to the HOS under authority of GPCS Administration. Membership All parents whose children are enrolled at GPCS and all association members of GPCS are automatically members of the GPCS PTO. Parents of current students, association members, and faculty of the school who have signed the GPCS Statement of Faith are allowed to become PTO officers or executive committee members. GPCS Officers GPCS PTO Officers will not simultaneously be current school board members. Officers can Include the following positions: PTO President - Officer PTO Incoming President - Officer PTO Vice President - Officer PTO Treasurer - Officer PTO Secretary - Officer Nominations or volunteers for Officers are submitted by the association. The GPCS PTO Officers are selected out of that pool of nominations or volunteers by the HOS and approved by the Board of Director Officers. There will not be any vote by the association for PTO Officers. 3
GPCS PTO Executive Committee Except for the Immediate Past President, who serves in an advisory role, GPCS PTO Executive Committee members can be school board members and can include the following positions: PTO Events Coordinator(s) PTO Volunteer Coordinator GPCS Lower Grade Faculty Liaison (1) GPCS Middle School Faculty Liaison (1) GPCS High School Faculty Liaison (1) GPCS Board Member Liaison Like the PTO Officers, nominations or volunteers for the executive committee (except for the PTO Immediate Past President) are submitted by the association. The GPCS PTO Executive Committee are selected out of that pool of nominations or volunteers by the HOS and approved by the Board of Director Officers. There will not be any vote by the association for PTO Executive Committee members. GPCS PTO Officers and Executive Committee Service Guidelines GPCS PTO Officers & Executive Committee members shall be: A parent, guardian, or faculty member who agrees with and supports the Statement of Faith [Appendix A]. A parent, guardian, or faculty member who demonstrated qualities of spiritual maturity and are in agreement with the philosophy, doctrine, by-laws, and administrative structure of GPCS. A parent, guardian or faculty member who has demonstrated positive involvement and support for GPCS. Officers and Executive Committee members shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive oneyear terms. After the first completed term cycle, if agreed upon in the GPCS PTO By-Laws, the PTO President can serve one year as Immediate Past President, in an advisory capacity. Officers of the PTO shall periodically, but no less than quarterly, report to the HOS. 4
Vacancies & Standing Committees A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the GPCS PTO and approved by HOS and Board of Director Officers. The GPCS PTO Officers and Executive Committee may establish standing committees as appropriate. Officer Duties President - Presides at all meetings, shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him/her by the PTO, and shall serve as liaison with the Administration. Incoming President - acts as aid to President and Vice President; serve duties of President in absence of President and Vice President. Vice-President - shall act as aid to the President, shall perform the duties of President in the absence of President, and shall chair such committees as needed. Secretary - shall record minutes of all meetings of the PTO and shall perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her. Treasurer - shall have custody of records of the funds of the PTO and shall keep a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures. In accordance with the budget adopted by the PTO shall make disbursements as authorized by the President or Vice-President. The Treasurer shall present a financial statement at every meeting of the PTO. All funds shall be deposited into an account designated by and authorized by the business office of GPCS and management of funds shall be in accordance with GPCS accounting practices. The Treasurer shall provide a quarterly reconciliation of the PTO account(s) to the GPCS Business Administrator and School Board Treasurer. Meetings The GPCS PTO may establish its own times and schedules for meeting, which will be described in detail in the PTO By-Laws and Policies and Procedures. Annual Review GPCS PTO Charter, GPCS PTO By-Laws, PTO Operations (Policies and Procedures), and any new Fundraising Programs or revisions to established programs shall be reviewed and approved by HOS at minimum, annually. 5
PTO Development Timeline, Recommendations for First Two Years The GPCS PTO will be loosely structured in the first school calendar year (2013-2014) as it undergoes the process of continuous quality improvement. In subsequent years, the PTO will be a not-for-profit free standing limited liability corporation (501(c)3, LLC) responsible for increasingly larger proportions of the annual operating budget gap. Year 1: Recommended Minimum Activities (School Year 2013-2014) Establish presence and fellowship community of members Develop Organization By-Laws to be reviewed at minimum annually by HOS Develop Policies and Procedures to be reviewed at minimum annually by HOS Determine standing fundraising opportunities Develop parent volunteer base Coordinate activities that support teachers, staff and administrators Identify Classroom Liaisons who will assist in facilitating all school communications Year 2: Recommended Minimum Activities (School Year 2014-2015) Buildup fellowship community Increase responsibility of annual operations budget Continue standing fundraising events established in first year Incorporate organization as a LLC subsidiary of GPCS Inc. 6
Appendix A GPCS Statement of Faith We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, and His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory. We believe that for salvation of lost and sinful men, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of the damned. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. 7