PTO will hold board and SDMC elections for the 2020-2021 school year in September. We are also launching virtual PTO general meetings so that we can discuss what the PTO has planned, get your feedback, and keep supporting our students, teachers, and families.

You can read the official description of the PTO Board member positions in the current bylaws, and nothing here removes those responsibilities, but it helps to know the reality (or at least the hopes!), too. Here’s what the 19-20 board members have to say about our positions as you consider whether you’d like to nominate yourself or a friend, and who you’ll vote for in 20-21.

In a future post, we’ll include statements and bios for those running for the board in 20-21. Nominations remain open through 31 August by emailing parliamentarian@mimspto.org. Especially as we focus on building morale and supporting justice in our school and community, we hope to see more of you raise your hands to contribute!

Election Timeline

• 21 August, 12 noon (online) – virtual PTO General meeting for all members – we’ll share/introduce the current nominees for the board and any other updates we have for the school year. Have agenda items? Send to President@mimspto.org and secretary@mimspto.org. 
• 11 September 31 August – nominations close for PTO Board and SDMC positions. Please send nominations to parliamentarian@mimspto.org. 
• 18 September, 12 noon (online)- virtual PTO General meeting for all members. We’ll share/introduce any additional nominees for the board and any other updates we have for the school year. Have agenda items? Send to President@mimspto.org and secretary@mimspto.org. 
• 18-21 September – Voting online for all members for PTO Board and SDMC representative. Per our PTO Bylaws, each PTO member (parent, legal guardian, teacher, staff member) can vote once. (If you inadvertently vote more than once, your vote will not be counted.)

PTO Roles

President

The president is a non-voting member of the PTO board. The president coordinates the meetings and activities of the board, and runs both the board and general meetings. Any committee chairs that do not report to other board members report to the president. The president is the primary liaison to the school administration. The president leads and supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

VP Elementary

The VP elementary is a voting member of the PTO board. The VP Elementary helps coordinate the elementary room parents and coordinates with elementary teachers. The VP Elementary supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

VP Middle

The VP Middle is a voting member of the PTO board. The VP Middle helps coordinate the middle school grade reps and works with the middle school teachers. The VP Middle supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

Treasurer

The treasurer is a voting member of the PTO board. The treasurer reconciles bank and sales reports in addition to preparing and maintaining financial statements. The treasurer provides financial reports to the PTO board and financial review committee regularly and to the entire PTo at least twice per year. The treasurer supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

Secretary

The secretary is a voting member of the board. The secretary takes minutes at both board and general PTO meetings and makes those available as appropriate, including sending to the financial review committee and administration members. The secretary works with the president and board members to build agendas for meetings and ensures that everyone knows when meetings are held. The secretary manages the website, Google master account, email addresses, and drives, and the overall calendar to support communication among and with the PTO. The secretary maintains the list of clubs and their parent leaders as well as committees and their chairs as selected by the board. The secretary maintains a list of motions that have passed, supports other board members in documenting their processes for transitions, and shares or posts as needed. The secretary supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

Historian

The Historian is a voting member of the PTO board and documents all the activities of the PTO, often working with the yearbook committee to ensure full coverage of school activities. The historian supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

Parliamentarian

The parliamentarian is a voting member of the board. The parliamentarian maintains the current version of the PTO bylaws and manages the process for any changes to the bylaws. The nomination committee chair reports to the parliamentarian and all board nominations go to the parliamentarian. The parliamentarian helps to keep order at meetings, based on the bylaws and Robert’s rules of order, and runs all election processes. The parliamentarian supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

Chinese New Year Chair

The Chinese New Year Chair is a voting member of the board. The CNY chair’s primary task is to convene and lead the committee(s) to plan the Chinese New Year events. The committee chairs for other festivals report to the CNY Chair. The CNY chair supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

Fundraising – Corporate

The corporate fundraising chair is a voting member of the PTO board. The corporate fundraising chair works closely with the community fundraising chair to recruit working parents and local businesses to invest in the school. The corporate fundraising chair works to develop sponsorship relationships for the school, especially for the annual Chinese New Year festival. The corporate fundraising chair supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

Fundraising – Community

The community fundraising chair is a voting member of the PTO board. The community fundraising position works with parents to build school-based fundraising for students and families. The community fundraising position helps recruit and coordinate bidding for the annual sociables and other family- and teacher-based fundraising efforts. The community fundraising chair supports all activities of the PTO board by taking an active volunteer role at meetings, events, and tasks, and is expected to participate in a volunteer role at PTO-led school activities.

Note: Edited 8/18 to update deadline for nominations.