Constitution & By-Laws of CHS-PSFA

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Communications High School PSFA Inc.

Adopted: February 6, 2025

Article I

Corporate Identity 

  1. The name of this non-profit corporation is Communications High School PSFA Inc.(referred to herein as “Association” or “PSFA”).   
  2. The primary office of this Association shall be 1740 New Bedford Road, Wall Township, NJ 07719.
  3. This Association is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations under section 501(C)(3) of the IRS Code or any successor statute. 

 

Article II 

Purpose & Objectives 

The purpose of the PSFA shall be: 

  1. To enrich, enhance, and support the Communications High School education program of the Monmouth County Vocational School District (MCVSD), a public education system located in Monmouth County. New Jersey.
  2. To inform the community about strengths and needs within the communications education program.
  3. To serve as a catalyst to support and enhance school improvement programs designed to heighten learning opportunities. 
  4. To foster an atmosphere in which an educator, parent and student can work together to obtain maximum benefits from the programs offered. 
  5. To help provide an environment and support programs whereby each student has the opportunity to identify academic and career goals and achieve those goals.
  6. This association is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations under section 501(C)(3) of the internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding section of any future Federal tax code).

 

Article III

Membership 

PSFA membership shall consist of fathers, mothers, guardians and students of the school, as well as members of the faculty and any other persons of the school district interested in the activities of Communications High School.

Membership dues are assessed to families on a per student basis for a 4 year term.  If a family has more than one student at CHS, membership dues for the second child may be reduced by the PSFA.  The Executive Committee shall annually determine the dues for membership to the PSFA.

Active membership in the Association permits the member to have voting privileges at all general Association meetings at which business is conducted and for their associated student to be considered for the Association’s annual scholarship. 

 

Article IV

Respect for School Policies 

The Association shall respect the established school policies and practices as set in writing by the Monmouth County Vocational School District Board of Education and Principal of Communications High School.

 

Article V

Officers

  1. The officers of the Association shall be two (2) Co-Presidents, Vice-President- Fundraising, Secretary, and Treasurer.
  2. The term of each office shall be one year, beginning in June.
  3. The term of an officer may be declared vacant by virtue of that officer’s absence at two (2) consecutive board meetings. A vacancy in an office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a majority vote of the remaining officers of the Executive Board. Notice of such election having been given by the Secretary and recorded in the minutes of the Executive Session.
  4. Next Year’s Officers: Any member of the PSFA willing to volunteer for the next year’s executive board will notify a Co-President no later than April 15 in the prior year of the position they are interested in filling. To be eligible for office, the nominee(s) must be an active member(s) of the Association and shall receive the endorsement of at least one other active member.  The slate of officers shall be announced at or before the May meeting. At the May meeting, an opportunity shall be given for nominations from the floor (each such nomination must be endorsed (seconded) by at least one other active member) and following the submission of all nominations, the President shall declare the nominations closed and a vote for each position shall be held.  Any member of the PSFA shall be permitted to vote on the slate of officers.  If there is more than one nominee for a given position, the vote shall be conducted by Secretary by written ballot.  The Secretary shall record the names of the final slate of officers elected in the minutes of the May meeting of the PSFA.  If for any reason the foregoing timing is not adhered to, the Association shall conduct such elections as soon as practicable thereafter. 

 

Article VI

Officer’s Duties

  1. Co-Presidents: These officers shall preside at Association meetings and Executive Committee meetings, appoint the committee chairperson selected by each committee, and perform such duties as are customarily incumbent upon this office. The Co-Presidents are ex-officio members of all committees.

It shall be the policy of the PSFA that all written correspondence and contracts representing the Association be approved in advance by one of the Co-Presidents. In their absence, approval may be obtained from one of the elected officers. 

  1. Vice-President – Fundraising: In the absence of the Co-Presidents, Vice President – Fundraising shall perform all the duties of the Co-Presidents and such duties as are assigned to this office. This officer will also oversee the Fundraising Committee and will recommend, arrange and conduct such activities deemed necessary to assist the Association and the Principal in attaining operating funds. 
  2. Secretary:  The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all Association meetings, shall keep a list of all members of the Association, shall notify members of their proposed committee appointments, shall keep a list of all members of each committee, send out notices of all general membership meetings, conduct the correspondence of the Association and discharge such duties as are incumbent upon this office.
  3. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive all dues and other monies of the Association, shall keep an accurate account of the same, and shall pay bills only with the approval of one of the Co-Presidents. The Association’s books shall be audited annually by an ad-hoc audit committee, or at the discretion of the Co-Presidents, or upon change of the Association Treasurer. The position of Treasurer shall be bonded. The Treasurer shall present a financial statement at each monthly meeting of the organization. 

It shall be the policy of the Association that checks in excess of $4,000.00  be  signed by both the Treasurer and a Co-President.

 

Article VII 

Executive Committee 

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Co-Presidents, Vice President,  Secretary and Treasurer. The foregoing individuals shall have full responsibility for the business affairs of the Association, including the approval of special committee appointments, review of their reports, consideration of suggestions concerning school policies, budget, and other administrative details. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly with the Principal of CHS to collaborate on how the Association can support the students and activities of the school. The Executive Committee will prepare the agenda items for all general membership meetings. Any member of the Association may attend a session of the Executive Committee in a non-voting capacity. Any member of the Association desiring to address the Executive Committee or to bring matters to the committee’s attention shall contact one of the officers prior to the start of the meeting. 

 

It shall be the policy of the Association that all commitments made in the name of the Association be approved in advance by the Executive Committee or the general membership. The approval of the Executive Committee can be obtained at a scheduled meeting of the Executive Committee or by telephone, fax, text or email consent of the Executive Committee at the discretion of the Co-Presidents and should be reported at the next general meeting.

 

Article IX

Meetings 

A minimum of four (4) general membership meetings shall be held each school year.  The Executive Committee shall meet each month of the school year.  Meetings for the general membership and Executive Committee may be held virtually or in person.  

 

Article X

Committees

 

  1. Chairpersons shall be selected and confirmed by the June general meeting. A temporary chairperson of a committee shall be selected by the Co-Presidents if one has not been selected at the June meeting. The standing committees of the PSFA and their respective duties shall be: 

Hospitality – To welcome guests and new members on every occasion and to provide appropriate snack items and/or gifts for Freshman Orientation, Back to School Night, Teacher Appreciation Week, Staff Appreciation Week, etc. 

Membership – To devise methods to increase the Association’s membership, to conduct the annual membership drive, and to ensure that all membership dues are current. The Membership Committee will provide the Secretary an accurate listing of all active members of the Association. The Membership Committee will also publish the PSFA Student Directory. 

Publicity – To receive reports of activities from the various committees to coordinate appropriate press notices, maintain the social media accounts of the Association  and to publish an edition of a newsletter on a regular basis. The editor will be responsible for collecting and editing information relative to the activities of Association and students of Communications High School. This newsletter will be read and approved by the Co-Presidents before distribution to the Membership. 

Fundraising – To recommend, arrange and conduct such activities deemed necessary to assist the Association and the Principal in attaining operating funds. The Fundraising Committee is encouraged to work closely with the Student Council. This committee shall be chaired by the Vice President of Fundraising and the Treasurer shall be a member of this committee. 

Enrichments. To coordinate parent chats, student enrichment opportunities and other educational events.  

 

  1. Additional committees, in keeping with the Association’s objectives, may be created by the Executive Committee on an as-needed basis. 

 

  1. All committees desiring to bring new matters up at a regular meeting of the Executive Committee shall notify the Secretary or a Co-President. If the Secretary is notified,  they shall notify the Co-Presidents prior to adding the matter to the Executive Committee agenda. 

 

Article XI

Rules of Order 

 

  1. All meetings of this Association shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, but if there is a conflict between Robert’s Rules of Order and these Bylaws, the Bylaws shall control.
  2. Any suggestions made at a regular meeting or special meeting concerning a modification of established school policies, activities and practices shall be referred to the Executive Committee. 
  3. Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, a majority of the votes cast at any meeting by the members, shall be sufficient to approve the action for which the vote was cast. 
  4. The student government association shall appoint a student member to serve as a student representative for each general meeting of the Association.
  5. The order of business at all general meetings shall be: Call to Order, any reports or requests by student representatives, Principal’s Report,  approval of the Minutes from previous meeting, Report of Officers and Committees Unfinished Business and New Business.  Either Co-President may, in their discretion, modify the order of business at a given meeting. 

 

Article XII

Amendment of By-laws 

 

These Bylaws may be amended by the Executive Committee at any regular or special meeting and shall be posted to the PSFA website.

Article XIII

Inurement of Benefits

 

No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of or be distributed to its members, trustees, directors, officers or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of section 501(C)(3) purposes. No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.

 

Article XIV

Permitted Activities

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation/organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code) or (b) by a corporation/organization, contributions which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Article XV

Dissolution of the Corporation

 

Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Article XVI

Indemnification 

To the extent permitted by law, the Association shall indemnify its past or present officers and committee chairs, and their heirs, executors, and administrators, against any and all expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of any actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding in which the officer or committee chair are made a party, by reason of their being or having been a officer or committee chair of the Association, except in relation to matters as to which any such officer or committee chair shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding to be liable for willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of duty and to such matters as shall be settled by agreement predicated on the existence of such liability.  The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person engaged in willful misconduct or gross negligence.  The right of the officer or committee chair to indemnification by the Association shall be in addition, and not exclusive of, all other rights to indemnification to which he or she otherwise may be entitled.  The Membership by resolution may, in their sole and absolute discretion, agree to indemnify, under comparable terms and limitations, agents of the organization with respect to activities within the scope of their services as members of committees, officials, or agents of the Association.

 

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