DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

Revised:  March 2007

• NAME:

The name of this organization shall be the DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION (“Parents’ Association” and/or “DHSPA”).

• PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Parents’ Association is to meet and study matters of mutual interest and to maintain communications among the parents, school and community.

• ORGANIZATION:

The Parents’ Association shall consist of all Darien High School parents.  Its Association Board will be elected from those members.

• Membership – Association Board   
• The Association Board will consist of the Executive Board, the DHSPA Committee chairs, all standing committee members and the Nominating Committee.
• Each member of the Association Board has one vote.
• All Board members, including the Class Representatives, will serve one year terms.  Co-Chairs and Vice Chairs (if any), will be elected for no more than two consecutive terms in the same position.  All other Board positions are limited to two consecutive terms, however, the Executive Board can annually approve that a member can serve for more than the two-year term limit provided no other member volunteers to fill the position.
• Liaisons are appointed by their respective organizations and are non-voting members of the Association Board.

• Executive Board
• The Parents’ Association will have as the Executive Board the Co-Chairs, Vice Chairs (if any), Communication Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, College and Career Center (CCC) Chairs, College and Career Program (CCP) Chairs, Fundraising Chairs, Grade Level Chairs, Nominating Chair, Parliamentarian, Program Chairs and Student Life Chairs.
• The Executive Board can vote to appoint others to the Executive Board to meet current DHSPA needs.
• The Co-Chairs should have previously served one year on the Board.  If the Nominating Committee has difficulty in identifying candidates, it may use its discretion in selecting nominees.
• The Executive Board shall meet a minimum of four times per year and may call additional meetings if necessary for review of special agenda items.
• The Appropriations Committee will consist of all members of the Executive Board, and others as appropriate.  The Treasurer of the Parents’ Association will be the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee.  Any and all financial commitments and/or disbursements on behalf of the Parents’ Association that are off-budget and over three thousand dollars ($3000.00) must be approved by the Appropriations Committee and approved by the DHSPA, before action is taken.
• The Executive Board has the power to function in lieu of the Association Board and shall report to the Association Board and the DHSPA at its next meeting any action taken.

• Standing Committees
• Standing Committees include Beautification, Book Sale, Council of Darien School Parents Representatives, College Fair, CCC, CCP, Communications, Directory, Website, E-mail Blast, Faculty Holiday Luncheon, Faculty Year-end Luncheon, Fundraising, Graduation Party, Graduation Reception, Hospitality, Jobs Office, New Parent Reception, Parent Awareness, Post Prom Party, Public Relations, Student Life, Student Wear and Newsletter Volunteers.
• Standing Committees represent continuing activities of the Parents Association.  Such committees shall be created or abolished by the Executive Committee as required. 

            D.            Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee will consist of the Co-Chairs and two representatives from each class.  The Parents’ Association Co-Chairs are ex-officio (non-voting) members of this committee.

            E.            Elections

• The Nominating Committee will present a slate of new Association Board members no later than the March business meeting.  Nominations from the floor will be accepted.
• The DHSPA will vote on this slate no later than its April meeting.

            F.            Quorum

A quorum will consist of ten (10) members of the Association Board. 

G.    E-mail Voting

An email vote of the Association Board or Executive Board may be initiated either by request of a co-chair or by passing a motion to allow e-mail voting for a specific action. The e-mail will state the motion and the vote will be taken over a period of three days to allow the fullest participation of the members of the Association Board or Executive Board. For purposes of an email vote, the decision will be considered final when all members have voted whether or not the voting period has elapsed, when a majority of the Board has voted for one of the available options whether or not the voting period has elapsed, or when a quorum has voted and the voting period has elapsed.  The results of the voting shall be recorded and announced at the next Board meeting.

MEETINGS:           

The Parents’ Association Board will meet regularly during the school year.  These meetings will be announced publicly.  In order to ensure proper representation, all meetings are mandatory for Board members.  Should a Board Member miss more than two meetings in one year, unexcused, she/he may be notified and may be replaced.  Successors shall be chosen as specified in Section V. of the Bylaws.  All parents are invited to attend Association Board meetings.

• RESIGNATIONS:

In the event of resignation, removal for cause, or excessive absences from the Parents’ Association Meetings by a Board Member, a new member will be chosen by the Nominating Committee and elected by the Association Board.

AMENDMENTS:

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the Association Board, providing the amendments have been submitted at the preceding Parents’ Association Board meeting.  These Bylaws shall be reviewed at least every three years.