During the spring 2024 WSPTA Annual Meeting, members approved updates to bylaws and policy that affect local PTAs. Unfortunately, WSPTA hasn’t updated the Sample Standing Rules Template on their website (the current version is from January 2023). We hope that this summary is helpful to you as you review your Standing Rules and Policy documents this year. Please feel free to contact LWPTSA Council if you have questions or need assistance.
Standing Rules Updates
- Each local PTA and council shall adopt Standing Rules for the governance of its organization. Local PTA Standing Rules shall provide for a mechanism to admit and remove members. The process for removing a member (membership termination) is found in current WSPTA Policy. In addition, each local PTA shall notify the WSPTA board of directors within 5 business days if the membership of any member was terminated by a local PTA. (Update your Standing Rules to include a mechanism for removing members. See WSPTA Policy 2.7.2 for more information.)
- The use of a PTA debit card, PTA secured credit card and/or online banking to disperse funds is permitted by a local PTA or council only when included in the Standing Rules as approved by the membership. Procedures for use of debit or secured credit cards and/or online banking can be found in current WSPTA Policy. (This is optional. Update your Standing Rules and Policy if your PTA chooses to do so. See WSPTA Policy 3.11 for requirements, refer to https://www.wastatepta.org/cards-insurance/ for tips around insurance requirements, should your PTA choose to do this.)
- The local PTA and council officers shall be elected by ballot prior to the end of the fiscal year for a term of no more than two consecutive years and until their successors are elected. A majority vote is necessary to elect. The election may be by voice vote if only one candidate is nominated for an office. The term of office, whether one year or two years, must be specified in the local PTA or council Standing Rules. A member may not serve more than two consecutive fiscal years in the same office. An officer having served eight or more months in the same fiscal year shall be considered to have served a full year. (This is optional. Update your Standing Rules if you choose to have the ability to elect officers for two-year terms. You already may elect officers for two consecutive one-year terms—this would just negate the need for re-election for the second year.)
- Each local PTA and council shall hold membership and board of director meetings as needed and as required by state nonprofit law. Meetings may be any combination of in-person, virtual or hybrid, as allowed in the local PTA or council Standing Rules. Virtual and hybrid meetings must use remote communication tools where all members attending in-person or virtually have equal opportunity for participation, voice and vote. If a local PTA or council allows virtual and/or hybrid meetings, the Standing Rules must also allow for voting by electronic submission. Best practices for virtual and hybrid meetings can be found in WSPTA Policy. (This will possibly require an update to your Standing Rules to clarify the types of meetings and allowing for voting via electronic submission)
Potential Updates to Policy
- WSPTA and its constituent organizations may collaborate with other organizations, as prescribed in WSPTA Policy, but shall not be fiscal agents, fiscal sponsors, or sign a sponsorship or charter agreement with any outside organization or agency. (You might want to add this language to your PTA Policy document. See WSPTA Policy 3.12.)
- WSPTA and its constituent organizations, leaders and members shall be welcoming to all and show respect. Incivility, harassment, bullying or discrimination violates the values, ethics, and policies of PTA. (Update your PTA’s Policy document if needed.)
- Full or supporting memberships may begin anytime during the fiscal year, between July 1 and June 30, and, unless renewed, expire on October 31 of the subsequent fiscal year. Full members who pre-enroll prior to the start of a fiscal year will have a membership term that begins on July 1. (Update your membership materials as needed.)