Mathematics Parents Association (MSSMPA) Bylaws                                                    

ARTICLE 1 - Name
This organization shall be known as the Maine School of Science and Mathematics Parents Association(MSSMPA)

ARTICLE 2 - Mission
The mission of MSSMPA is to support the school's mission, working collaboratively with the School's Board of Trustees and administration. To support School's mission, the MSSMPA has established the following objectives:

• Work collaboratively with the School and the MSSM Foundation to increase financial support for the school through fundraising efforts
• Enhance and enrich the MSSM academic, residential, and recreational experience for all students.
• To help ensure a vibrant and expansive future for MSSM.
• Promote public awareness of and support for MSSM.
• Offer a forum in which MSSM parents can share and discuss information, concerns, ideas, and proposals.
• Serve in an advisory capacity to the MSSM Board of Trustees and the school's administration.
• Assist in the admissions process by identifying and recruiting qualified student applicants, and when appropriate, attending and/or hosting admissions open houses for prospective students and their families.

ARTICLE 3 - Membership and Dues
Membership of the MSSMPA is open to all parents or legal guardians of students currently enrolled in the school and all parents and legal guardians of graduated students. There is no dues requirement for membership but a voluntary per family annual commitment is encouraged. The suggested amount will be determined by the Steering Committee.

ARTICLE 4 - Annual Meeting and General Meetings
An Annual Meeting of the MSSMPA will be held each year in the spring on a day to be determined by the Steering Committee. The annual meeting will be held for the purpose of electing the executive committee, hearing the treasurer's report and making any necessary bylaw changes. Notification of meeting date, time and location will be provided to the general membership at least 30 days (postmarked) prior to the meeting date via first class mail, or equivalent electronic (email ) notification with confirmed receipt. The President (or Vice President or a president pro tem appointed by the President) will convene the meeting in a timely fashion. A quorum of the membership shall consist of those present at the Annual Meeting. All decisions will be made by majority vote.
revised 9/07

Other General Meetings may be called at the discretion of the Steering Committee, or upon presentation of a request for a meeting to the President (or Vice President, if he or she is serving in the capacity of the President) by not less than 20 members. Notification of meeting date, time and location will be provided to the general membership at least 7 days (postmarked) prior to the meeting date via first class mail, or equivalent electronic (email) notification with confirmed receipt. The President (or Vice President or a president pro tem appointed by the President) will convene the meeting in a timely fashion. A quorum of the membership shall consist of those present at any duly constituted General meeting. All decisions will be made by majority vote. The Executive Director or his or her designee is invited to attend all meetings.

ARTICLE 5 - Officers and Executive Committee
The MSSMPA shall have as its principal officers a President and Vice President, a secretary, and a treasurer. It is the intent of the group to have either the President or Vice President be a parent of a sophomore or junior student. These officers, together with the chairpersons of the Standing Committees, will collectively comprise the Executive Committee (6 persons). The president will serve as the clerk for purposes of calling the annual meeting.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Steering Committee when the Steering Committee is not in session. All major decisions and expenditures over $200 must be ratified by the Steering Committee at the next meeting of the Steering Committee. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of three members one of whom must be the President or Vice-President. All decisions will be made by majority vote.

The President will act as principal spokesperson for the MSSMPA with the MSSM Executive Director and Board of Trustees. The Vice President shall assist the President and stand in for the President when so requested by the President. Alternatively the President may appoint a president pro tem.  The President or Executive Committee may establish ad-hoc committees and appoint committee chairs as the need arises. All ad-hoc committee chairs will serve at the pleasure of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 6 - Nominating Committee
The Steering Committee shall either act in the capacity of a nominating committee or appoint such a committee, which in turn will prepare a slate of officers to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. This slate must be presented to the membership a minimum of 7 days (postmarked) prior to the meeting date via first class mail, or equivalent electronic (email ) notification with confirmed receipt. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the meeting by any currently registered MSSMPA member.

ARTICLE 7 - Election of Officers and Chairs of Standing Committees and Term of Office
All members of the MSSMPA are eligible to stand for election as Officers and as Chairpersons of Standing Committees (see below), except those receiving remuneration from the MSSM or in a contractual relationship with it. The Officers and Chairpersons will be elected by majority vote of those present at the Annual Meeting, and will serve for a term of one year. Officers can be re-elected to subsequent terms. Should an Officer or Chairperson step down for any reason during his or her term, the Steering Committee will select a replacement. Any duly constituted General Meeting has the power to replace the Officers and Chairpersons.

ARTICLE 8 - Steering Committee
The governing body of the MSSMPA shall be a Steering Committee which will make all major decisions. Meetings shall be open to all members of the MSSMPA except that the Steering Committee may, by majority vote, meet in executive session.

All major decisions (for example, decisions expected to be controversial , or formal letters to the Board of Trustees) will be made by the steering committee. Controversial decisions will be submitted for discussion via email to the general membership to allow 3 days for response before a vote is taken. The Steering Committee shall consist of the members of the Executive Committee, the Past President (or his/her designee from among past officers), and up to 7 additional members, including up to 5 chosen for geographic representation, plus one or two at-large members ( for example Ad Hoc Committee chairs), all of whom will be selected by the Executive Committee. The 'districts' will be determined on the basis of the geographic spread of the current student enrollment. It is expected that the regional representatives will facilitate regional parents meetings to maximize parent participation in MSSMPA.

The President or any 3 members of the Steering Committee may convene the Steering Committee. A minimum of 3 days notice by electronic mail with return receipt shall be given to its members and to the MSSMPA membership. A quorum consists of 5 members, at least two of whom must be from the Executive Committee and at least two of whom must be non-executive members.

ARTICLE 9 - Standing Committees
It is a goal of the MSSMPA to establish vibrant and effective standing committees to promote activities and to exchange information and cooperate with the Executive Director of MSSM and the MSSM Board of Trustees, in at least the following areas:

1. Student life/enrichment
2.Communications/publicity.

The Steering Committee may establish additional standing committees (and appoint an interim Chairperson for any such committee), to be ratified at the next Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE 10 - Expenditures
All expenditures will be approved by the Executive Committee, the Steering Committee, the Annual Meeting or a duly constituted General Meeting.

ARTICLE 11 - Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the MSSMPA, any outstanding assets will be donated to the MSSM Foundation.

ARTICLE 12 - Amendments
The Bylaws of the MSSMPA may be amended by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting so long as all proposed amendments are presented to the general membership at least 7 days (postmarked) prior to the meeting date via first class mail, or equivalent electronic (email) notification with confirmed receipt.

ARTICLE 13- Rules of Meetings
The Maine Moderators Manual will be used for general and annual meetings and is an option for use if a conflict at any meeting level cannot easily be resolved by informal discussion. Meetings at the Executive or Steering Committee level may be held via electronic e-mail, chatroom, telephone conference call, speaker phone, and /or video teleconferencing as necessary to include as large a group of participants from the widest geographical area as is reasonably possible.

Oct 14 2006