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Bylaws

McKelvey School PTO Bylaws

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Article I: Name

The name of this organization is the McKelvey Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), located in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The PTO operates as an independent parent-teacher organization within the Parkway School District and serves both McKelvey Primary Elementary School and McKelvey Intermediate Elementary School.

Article II: Organizational Status

The PTO operates as a subchapter of the Parkway School District Parent-Teacher Organization Council, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. These bylaws serve as the governing document for the PTO and take precedence over any conflicting articles of organization.

Article III: Mission & Objectives

The McKelvey PTO exists to support families, collaborate with educators, and enhance the overall student experience. The objectives of the organization are:

  1. Community & Communication
    Foster open, inclusive communication among families, teachers, and administrators to strengthen a positive and collaborative school community.
  2. Volunteer Engagement
    Recruit, organize, and support parent/guardian and community volunteers to enrich school programs, events, and activities.
  3. Fundraising & Resource Support
    Plan and manage fundraising efforts to provide financial support for educational programs, staff needs, and student opportunities not covered by district funding. The PTO may also support school improvement projects with principal approval.

Article IV: Core Policies

  1. The organization shall remain noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
  2. PTO names, titles, and resources may not be used for commercial gain, political purposes, or any activity unrelated to the mission of the PTO.
  3. The PTO may organize and engage families, teachers, and students in support of McKelvey’s educational community; however, the endorsement of political candidates is strictly prohibited.
  4. The PTO collaborates with school administration but does not seek to influence or control school policies.
  5. The PTO may partner with organizations that support child welfare, provided no individual representative makes commitments that obligate the PTO without proper authorization.
  6. In the event of dissolution, all PTO assets shall be distributed for the benefit of McKelvey Elementary students in accordance with IRS 501(c)(3) regulations, or to the Parkway School District should McKelvey Elementary close.

Article V: Membership

  1. Membership
    All parents and guardians of students currently enrolled at McKelvey Primary and McKelvey Intermediate, as well as all faculty and staff at both schools, are automatically members of the PTO.
  2. Dues
    Membership in the PTO is free; no dues are required.
  3. Member Rights
    All members have the right to attend meetings, vote, make motions, serve on committees, and hold office.

Article VI: Officers & Elections

Section 1. Officers

A. Officer Positions
The PTO shall have the following officers:

  • President
  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer

All positions may be co-chaired. Officers must be parents or guardians of currently enrolled students and may hold only one office at a time.
All officers must have passed the required Missouri and Parkway School District background checks and must remain current on all mandatory background-check trainings as required by the district.

B. Terms of Office

  • Officers (except the Treasurer) shall begin their duties after the last week of school and no later than one week before the first week of the new school year. Each standard term is two years.
  • A one-year term may be served when necessary.
  • Treasurer(s) shall assume duties upon receipt of all financial materials and no later than one week before the start of the next school year.

C. Term Limits
Officers may serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same position unless no qualified replacement is available.

Section 2. Vacancies and Removal

A. If an officer resigns or cannot complete their term, the Executive Board will appoint an interim officer until a general election can be held. If the President’s office becomes vacant, the Vice President becomes President for the remainder of the term.

B. The Executive Board may remove an officer for negligence, misuse of position, misconduct, or actions detrimental to the PTO.

Section 3. Nominations & Elections

A nominating committee is formed before March 1 to assemble a slate of candidates. Elections occur at the last meeting of the school year. Additional nominations may be taken from the floor. Contested positions require a ballot vote; all others may be elected by voice vote.

Article VII: Officer Duties

1. President
The President(s) shall:

  • Preside over all PTO and Executive Board meetings.
  • Appoint committee chairs and oversee committee work.
  • Serve as a non-voting facilitator, except when casting a tie-breaking vote.
  • Act as the primary liaison with school administration.
  • Coordinate the activities of officers and committees to support the PTO’s objectives.

2. Vice President
The Vice President(s) shall:

  • Assist the President in all duties.
  • Assume presidential responsibilities in the President’s absence.
  • Support fundraising initiatives and committee coordination.
  • Manage PTO communications when no Secretary is appointed.

3. Secretary
The Secretary(s) shall:

  • Record, organize, and distribute minutes of all PTO and Executive Board meetings.
  • Maintain all official PTO documents not assigned to other officers.
  • Handle PTO communications and meeting notifications.
  • Conduct an annual review of the bylaws to identify any needed updates.

4. Treasurer
The Treasurer(s) shall:

  • Manage all PTO funds and maintain accurate financial records.
  • Oversee expenditures in accordance with the approved budget.
  • Provide financial reports at all meetings.
  • Prepare the annual budget and file all required tax documents.
  • Submit annual financial statements to the Parkway Director of Finance by July 15.
  • Complete all paperwork and payments required for PTO insurance.

5. Transfer of Materials
All officers must transfer all official materials, records, and relevant documents to their successors within one week of the end of their term.

Article VIII: Executive Board

Section 1. Membership
The Executive Board consists of all elected PTO officers. Principals (or their designees) may provide guidance but do not hold voting rights. A PTO Advisor may be appointed for additional guidance, also without voting rights. The staff of each school (McKelvey Primary and McKelvey Intermediate), with guidance from each building principal and the PTO, should annually select a school representative (teacher or staff) to advise the Board; these representatives likewise do not have voting rights. 

Section 2. Responsibilities
The Executive Board shall:

  • Conduct necessary PTO business between general membership meetings.
  • Appoint an annual auditor to review the Treasurer’s records.
  • Approve non-budgeted PTO expenses up to $750; any expense above this amount must be approved by the general membership.

Section 3. Meetings
Regular Executive Board meetings shall be held during the school year, at times determined by the Board. A majority of board members constitutes a quorum. When necessary, business may be conducted electronically if in-person meetings are not feasible.

Article IX: General Meetings

  • Regular PTO meetings shall be held throughout the school year, with dates announced at the start of the year. Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.
  • Meetings may take place during the day or evening to maximize participation.
  • A quorum for conducting business is ten members.
  • When necessary—due to weather, guest speakers, or urgent business—PTO business may be conducted electronically.

Article X: Committees

  • The Executive Board may establish standing or special committees as needed to carry out the work of the PTO.
  • Committee chairs are responsible for transferring all materials, including job descriptions, to their successors within one week of the end of the school year.

Article XI: Finances

  1. Fiscal Year
    The PTO’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.
  2. Annual Review
    An independent auditor shall review the Treasurer’s accounts annually to ensure accuracy and compliance.
  3. Authorized Check Signers
    At least two Executive Board members must be authorized to sign checks on behalf of the PTO.

Article XII: Parliamentary Authority

Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised) shall govern the PTO in all procedural matters, except when they conflict with these bylaws.

Article XIII: Amendments

  • These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present at any regular meeting, provided advance notice of the proposed amendment has been given.
  • A committee may propose a revised set of bylaws as a substitute for the current version; adoption requires the same two-thirds vote process.

These bylaws were approved by the McKelvey Elementary PTO and adopted by the membership on April 9, 2026.

 

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