RCES PTA Bylaws

RCES PTA Bylaws

New PTA Guidelines Adopted 6/7/2011

PTA competitive bidding process, disclosure and exclusion

Guideline:

• For any PTA expenditure over $200 total, at least 1 competitive bid must be obtained by the Rachel Carson PTA.  The PTA is not obligated to accept the lowest bid. For contested bids, the board has sole discretion to determine the best bid and will consider other factors besides cost. The event committee is responsible for submitting a competitive bid certification (*form shared later) to ensure PTA disbursement of expenditures greater than $200.

• Conflict of Interest Policy - Conflicts of Interest are defined as situations in which RCES PTA Committee Members may have the opportunity to influence the RCES PTA’s business decisions in ways that could lead to personal gain or give improper advantage to Members of their families or to associates; or lead to adverse situations for a competitive vendor. The RCES PTA strives to limit actual or the appearance of conflicts of interests related to disbursement decisions. Therefore the board requires that committee Members and vendors disclose potential conflict of interests to the board before soliciting or providing bids. Committee Members or vendors who fail to provide a conflict of interest disclosure (*form shared later) will, at the PTA Board’s discretion, forgo any reimbursement from the RCES PTA.

• A PTA Member with a financial or personal interest in a business area in which his/her competitors are bidding, may serve on the Committee at the Board’s discretion.  A Member with a potential conflict, may be precluded from reviewing a vendor’s contract or pricing, even if the Member’s business declines to bid.  This is to ensure bidders’ pricing, contracts and business practices are not exposed to their competitors.
• Vendors must disclose if they have a family connection to the Rachel Carson PTA.
• For any PTA expense, over $200, the PTA President, Treasurer, or VP responsible for the activity, must APPROVE the expense before it is incurred.

Chair and Volunteer Guidelines

• Disclose all expenses over $200 prior to incurring the expense
• Provide receipts for all items related to their activity
• Will not sign, commit to verbally, or authorize a contract on behalf of the PTA
• Agree to abide by all PTA rules and guidelines.

PTA Event Guidelines

Guidelines for including excluding a song and/or costumes at all PTA sponsored events

General guidelines

• Songs that list, state, allude or imply sex, sexuality, politics, religion, curse words, slang words, partial curses, alcohol, drugs, violence, etc. will not appropriate for an elementary school production.
• Songs/lyrics may not be edited or re-worded.  This includes Kidz Bop versions. If an explicit version exists, no version of the song can be used.
• Costumes will be allowed but certain props and actions, simulated or implied are not acceptable, such as those that might advertise alcohol and tobacco products, among others.
• Costumes: Nothing suggestive that relates to - tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and/or suggests hatred towards another country, ethnicity, etc.

The Board may over-ride any decision if parents approach the board regarding specific decisions with which they disagree.

Rationale:

Q:        Why do we ban songs at all, especially when most kids hear them or know them?

A:        The Variety Show is a PTA sponsored family event, primarily attended by kids that are Pre-K  through 5th grade, ages 4-11.  Our goal is not to pick sides in a morality discussion, nor are we passing judgment, one way or another, on any social issues.  Recognizing these are sensitive issues, we prefer to leave decisions about exposure and education up to individual families.  What we will do is create a family event that is inclusive to all and avoiding the risks of crossing from a G rated event to an event that leaves attendees shifting uncomfortably in their chairs. Please remember, Family Life isn’t taught in MCPS until 5th grade.  Why include a song at an elementary school event that highlights lyrics which cover topics not taught to 75% of the school? We’re simply trying to be consistent with the same rules/guidelines that apply to our kids academically during the school day, staying consistent with the spirit of the MCPS curriculum and ultimately delivering a Disneyesque style show (and yes, we know Disney is also  pushing boundaries).

Q:        Why can’t we edit a song, change the lyrics or shorten to avoid the offending part:

A:        Kids know them and we’ve tried that and have had lyrics being changed back at show time, or people singing along with the original lyrics. 

Q:        Why do we allow the 5th grade boys to dress as girls but ban certain songs?

A:        The boys are acting in a costume and singing/performing in a humorous skit. They should are not engaging in any questionable or sexually provocative behavior and therefore, not treated any differently than girls that may dress up as boys for their  skits.

 

Recent National PTA Bylaw Updates

Added 7/7/2011

2011 Approved Resolutions

Two resolutions were adopted at the 2011 National PTA Convention.

Following are the resolutions that were adopted by the voting delegates
during the 113th National PTA Convention (June 10 - 12, 2011). These
resolutions are national in scope, but they have impact at the local,
council and state levels of PTA as well. The power of a resolution is to
enable PTA members, leaders and public policy and program teams to join with
others to build partnerships, form coalitions, increase awareness, develop
programs and lobby policy makers.

Next steps:
- Distribute the National PTA resolutions to your members.

- Review the resolutions at the local, council or state level to determine
if existing resolutions are in conflict with National PTA. These will need
to be either rescinded or amended.

- Research the web or organizations to identify current relevant resources.

- Contact other organizations, businesses, or agencies to see if there might
be new partnerships with which to join forces.

- Ask if there are already programs within the state providing resources to
help a resolution be more successful.

- Work with other people, or groups, who have a shared interest in the
intent of the resolution.

Contact Maryland PTA or the National PTA for assistance if needed.

Head Injury Reporting

Whereas, Approximately 1.4 million Traumatic Brain Injury related deaths,
hospitalizations and emergency department visits occur each year in the
United States; and

Whereas, The results of a head injury can include short term effects such as
concussions, loss of consciousness, or lethargy, and/or long term effects
such as organ damage, coma, or death; and

Whereas, The full extent of a head injury may not be immediately known and
often requires a comprehensive medical evaluation to determine; therefore be
it

Resolved, That PTA and its constituent associations educate its members, and
school personnel on the seriousness of head injuries and the need to report
them to parents and/or guardians for monitoring and further follow up, and
be it further

Resolved, That PTA and its constituent associations work with state and
local education agencies to establish, adopt and implement communications
procedures to contact parents and/or guardians at the time a head injury to
a child occurs in the school setting.

Sexting: Legal Consequences

Whereas, Surveys show that a significant number of youth are engaging in
"sexting" (disseminations of sexually explicit photographs and/or video over
electronic media); and

Whereas, In most states the act of "sexting" could result in a criminal
charge; and

Whereas, Having a criminal conviction would have lifelong consequences
impacting higher education and career opportunities including most careers
requiring certification or licensing; e.g. government employment, law
enforcement and teaching; therefore be it

Resolved, That PTA and its constituent associations work with school systems
and/or law enforcement authorities to prevent "sexting" by youth through
education of students, parents, and faculty regarding the legal consequences
of the act of "sexting".

Kay Romero
President-Elect Maryland PTA
"everychild.onevoice"