BYLAWS

LADUE MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT ASSOCIATION

Revised July 15, 2025

 

ARTICLE 1
NAME

The name of the Association shall be known as:

 

LADUE MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT ASSOCIATION (LMSPA)

 

The general address of the Association shall be:

Ladue Middle School
9701 Conway Road
St. Louis, MO  63124

 

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Association shall be to cooperate with and assist the LMS staff, the LMS students and their parents or legal guardians in maintaining the highest standards of education. The Association shall work with the administration and staff to enhance learning opportunities and provide additional resources for all LMS students.

 

ARTICLE III
POLICIES

 

The basic policies of the Association:
A. The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian and nonpartisan.

A. The organization shall not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. 

 

ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP

 

A. The membership shall consist of all parents and legal guardians of all students enrolled in Ladue Middle School.  Membership is also open to the school’s administration and teaching staff.

 

B. VOTING MEMBERS:  The Executive Committee shall constitute the voting
members of the Association.   Voting members each have one vote.

 

ARTICLE V

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

 

A. OFFICERS:  The officers of the Association shall be:  A President or Co-Presidents; one or two Vice Presidents representing each grade level; one or two Fundraising Vice-Presidents; one or two Community Vice Presidents; a Communications Vice President; a Secretary , a Treasurer, a Parent District Council (PDC) Representative.  Officers except the President or Co-Presidents hold a one-year term beginning July 1 and ending June 30.  The President or Co-Presidents hold a two year term.  It is suggested the terms of Co-Presidents be staggered to provide continuity of leadership.

 

B. COMMITTEES:

 

1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:  The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the officers:  President or Co-Presidents, grade level Vice Presidents, one or two Fundraising Vice-Presidents; one or two Community Vice Presidents; a Communications Vice President, Secretary ,Treasurer and PDC Representative.  It is the responsibility of the Executive Committee to manage the Association’s business and to ensure the purpose and policies of the Association are fulfilled.

 

1. STANDING COMMITTEES:  Standing committees are formed to carry out the work of the Association year to year.

 

1. AD HOC COMMITTEES:  Ad Hoc Committees may be established to undertake specific tasks of limited duration as determined by the Executive Committee and with notification of the full membership.  Committee chairs shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.

  

1. The President or Co-Presidents of the Association shall be ex-officio members of all committees.

 

ARTICLE VI
DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

A. The President or Co-Presidents shall preside at all meetings; perform other duties assigned in these bylaws and take on necessary responsibilities to fulfill the purposes of the Association. The President or Co-Presidents shall meet with the Treasurer, prior to the May Executive Committee meeting, to prepare and submit a budget to the Executive Committee for its approval.  The President or Co-Presidents shall also attend the Parent District Council meetings.   The President or Co-Presidents shall maintain a notebook for the archives.  It is suggested that the President or Co-Presidents have served for at least one year on the Executive Committee.

 

B. The Vice Presidents shall act as aides to the President or Co-Presidents.  In the President’s or Co-President’s absence, one Vice President – with the Eighth Grade Vice President first in line, the Seventh Grade Vice President second and the Sixth Grade Vice President third –shall perform all necessary duties.  At the beginning of their terms, the Vice Presidents will divide up the committees with the purpose of providing a link to and assistance from the Executive Committee and ensuring all committee objectives are met.  It is the role of the Vice Presidents to ensure new committee chairs are in place by the end of the school year.

 

C. The Secretary shall keep a record of all Executive Committee meetings, provide copies of the minutes to all Executive Committee members, and provide a copy to be posted on the LMS website.  

 

D. The Treasurer shall receive all income and pay all bills of the Association and shall keep an accurate record of receipts and expenditures.  The Treasurer along with the President or Co-Presidents shall prepare and submit a budget to the Executive Committee for its approval and pay out only those funds authorized by an approved budget or as approved by the Executive Committee throughout the year.  The
Treasurer shall present an account statement at all Executive Committee meetings and shall make a full report at the end of the school year.  The Treasurer will provide a monthly summary of income and expenses to be posted on the LMS website.  The Treasurer is responsible for filing the annual registration form as well as the Federal Tax Return.

E.  The Parent District Council Representative shall attend all Parent District Council meetings and report relevant matters to the Executive Committee and take Executive Committee matters to the Parent District Council.

 

F.  The Vice President of Communications shall oversee the committee responsible for designing and updating the website; facilitating and implementing changes to the Buzz Book; coordinating weekly social media posts on LMSPA’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter account or other current social media accounts as those may change over time; gathers information from LMSPA executive board and committee members as well as district-wide sources and sends it to the newsletter editor for weekly newsletter distribution to the LMSPA membership. If a communications committee member is unable to
perform the aforementioned duties or others that may be required within a given school year to meet the needs of LMSPA communications, the Vice President would fulfill those needs.  In addition, the VP of Communications will carry out any other related functions required by the Board.

 

G. The Vice President(s) of Community shall oversee the committee members responsible for events that foster engagement and partnership between Ladue Middle School and the greater Ladue community. The VP(s) of Community’s key responsibilities include but are not limited to: community outreach and partnership development, encouraging parent engagement, coordinating events that build community spirit and promote inclusivity, and finding sponsorships and resources within the community to support LMSPA activities.

H. The Vice President(s) of Fundraising oversees all fundraising activities for LMSPA for the school year. This role involves working with the LMSPA president and co-president or (grade-level president(s), as necessary) to develop a comprehensive fundraising plan to meet the budget objectives for the year,
coordinating with executive board members and committee chairs, and ensuring all events align with the association’s goals and budget. The Vice President (s) also work to secure sponsorships, employer matching gift opportunities, manage donor relations, LMSPA voluntary dues campaign, and may be involved in some grant writing.

I.  Vacancies shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.

J.  Officers may be removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the present Association members voting at any meeting, provided that notice of such meetings shall have made reference to such proposed removal.  Officers may be removed for conduct detrimental to the interests of the Association, for lack of sympathy with its purposes, or for refusal to render reasonable assistance in carrying out its purposes.

 

ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR

 

The fiscal year of the Association shall commence on July1 of each year and end on June 30.

 

ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS

 

All Association meetings shall be called by the President or Co-Presidents or the Executive Committee.  At least three meetings of the Executive Committee and one general membership meeting shall be held each year during the school term.  One general membership meeting shall be held in April to close all business of the current year, hold elections if necessary and to announce the new officers and chairs for the upcoming school year.  Written notice shall be given of all general meetings.  

 

ARTICLE IX
ELECTIONS

 

A.  Officer Elections shall take place in April of each year.  In February, officer nomination forms shall be distributed to the parents/legal guardians of all students.  These forms shall be returned one month after distribution.  If no candidates are nominated for a particular office, it is the responsibility of the Executive Committee to draft a nominee.  It is suggested that the Executive Committee strive to have a slate of officers that includes representatives from all four elementary schools.

B.  Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the general membership present at the April meeting.

                              

ARTICLE X
DUES

 

The annual dues for each family of LMS shall be determined by the Executive Committee during the prior year.

 

ARTICLE XI
EXPENDITURES

 

All income of the Association is to be used to benefit the students and the staff of LMS. Expenditures must be authorized by the Executive Committee through an approved budget or as approved by the Executive Committee.  All non-budgeted expenses greater than $250 must be approved by the Executive Committee.

 

ARTICLE XII
PROCEDURE

 

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the procedure of all meetings.

 

ARTICLE XIII
BYLAWS

 

These bylaws may be amended at any general meeting by a majority vote of the attending members of the Association provided notice of and the text of the proposed amendment was given at least 15 days in advance of such meeting.  These bylaws shall be reviewed bi-annually by the Executive Committee.

 

______________________________ Date: ____________
President
______________________________ Date: ____________
Co-President

Attest:
______________________________ Date: ____________