SLA Home and School Association By-Laws

Amended: May 2023

ARTICLE 1: Name

The name of the organization shall be Science Leadership Academy Home and School Association.

ARTICLE 2: Objectives

The purpose of SLA HSA is to further cooperation and understanding between teachers, staff, school administrators, and student guardians to enrich and strengthen quality education for all SLA students. To connect with and work cooperatively with the administration to further the educational aims of the school and district. SLA HSA does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, or disability.

In pursuit of these goals, the HSA shall: 

• Promote cooperation and communication between the home and school.  Enhance a sense of community within the school and sponsor activities to further these goals.

• Raise money for school programming and sports teams through fundraising.

• Encourage, recruit, and organize parent leadership and volunteers.

• Support teachers and staff. 

• Offer a forum for presenting and discussing school and district issues.

ARTICLE 3: Policies 

Section 1. This Association shall be a 501(c)(3) entity, and further decisions regarding membership will be at the board’s discretion. 

Section  2. The Association shall maintain records in a locked cabinet designated by the principal of SLA, located at 1482 Green Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130.

Section 3. The Association shall establish a central location wherein all board-related communications and confidential documents are stored with shared access for board members. This location (i.e.: Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) will be determined yearly. 

ARTICLE 4: Membership 

All parents or guardians of children attending Science Leadership Academy High School are members of the HSA.

SLA HSA recognizes that it may not require parents and/or students to contribute financially to the group for any reason. However, a sliding-scale membership due of $35  will be requested to support and sustain the vital work of the SLA HSA. This amount will be revisited yearly. 

ARTICLE 5: Board and Membership Term Limits 

The Executive Board of the HSA shall be comprised of a President, Co-President, Treasurer, Communications Vice President, Volunteers Vice President, and Recording Secretary. At least one of each position is required. More than one person can serve in each capacity. Each person can hold only one office at a time.

The Principal is ex officio.

• President shall preside over general HSA and Board meetings, serve as primary contact for the Principal, represent the HSA at meetings outside the organization, be available to assist on all committees and coordinate the work of all the members and committees to serve the purpose of the organization.

• VP shall assist the President and carry out his/her duties in case of absence or inability to serve. It is presumed that the Executive VP will step into the President position in upcoming years. The Executive VP will assist other board members and committee chairs by ensuring they are clear about their responsibilities, budget, school policy, etc.

• Treasurer shall be responsible for all HSA fund deposits and disbursements into the bank account approved by the Board; shall disburse funds only under an approved budget or as authorized by the Board; shall keep complete and accurate records of all receipts and expenditures and shall make these records available to the Board for audit at the end of the school year or at any time requested by the Board. The Treasurer shall be responsible for supervising the fundraising efforts of the HSA, including communicating and coordinating with committee chairs overseeing such efforts. 

• Communications Chair shall supervise official SLA HSA communications, including, but not limited to, sending these updates to the web developers, announcements/newsletter, HSA, and SLA social media. Supervision of these communications includes leading the efforts of volunteers. 

• Volunteers/Events Chair, with the assistance of the President and Executive VP, shall recruit, organize, and oversee the efforts of parent volunteers, including the Grade/Advisory Representatives, other event/programming committee chairs, and volunteers-at-large. The Volunteers VP shall serve as the liaison between the parent Grade Representatives and teacher Class Sponsors and oversee and assist Grade Representatives with events and programming such as EduCon and teacher/staff appreciation events.

• Recording Secretary shall keep all records of the SLA HSA, take and record minutes as necessary, and prepare and distribute all official records of the HSA Board and general meetings. The RS shall assist the communications VP/Secretary with all roles and carry out duties in case of the inability of the CVP to serve (supervising official SLA HSA communications including, but not limited to, the Newsletter, HSA, other social media, and the SLA Directory. Supervision of these communications includes overseeing the efforts of committee chairs and volunteers)

  • • 1. Section 3 – In addition to the specific duties defined by position, all Executive Board members shall attend and participate in HSA Board and general meetings and make themselves available to discuss and vote on proposals as they arise throughout the year.

      2. Section 4 –  All officers shall have at least one (1) student in the school for the full term of office. A term shall be a minimum of one year. The maximum term shall be four consecutive years. 

      3. Section 5 – Elections for the Executive Board will be held at the last meeting of the school year. At that meeting, nominations may be made from the floor. Voting shall be by voice vote. A ballot vote shall be taken if more than one person is running for office.

      4. Section 6 – If there is a vacancy in the office of the President, the Co-President will become the President. A new Co-Executive Vice President will be elected at the next regularly scheduled meeting. If there is a vacancy in any other Board position, Board members may be appointed by the President, with elections occurring subsequent to the appointment as deemed necessary to fulfill the purpose of the HSA.

      5. Section 7 – The Executive Board and Board members can be removed from office with or without cause by a two-thirds vote of members present.

ARTICLE 6: Finances 

Section 1 – An annual budget shall be drafted and approved by a majority of the Board by the first scheduled Board meeting of the school year or by September 30th, whichever occurs sooner. 

Section 2 – The President and Treasurer can approve unbudgeted expenditures of up to $250. A vote by the majority of the Executive Board is required to approve unbudgeted expenditures over $250.

Section 3 – The Treasurer shall keep accurate records of disbursements, income, and bank account information.

Section 4 – Two authorized signatures shall be required on each check over $250. Authorized signers shall be the Treasurer and one other Executive Board member.

ARTICLE 7: Board Meetings- (Open to Executive Board Members only)

Section 1 – Best efforts will be made to hold Board (closed) meetings at least twice per school year with at least one general HSA meeting per marking period. For each meeting, the President shall prepare an agenda, and Board members will report to the HSA, raising issues and matters of concern. The annual budget shall be presented to the Board at the fall meeting. A report prepared by the Treasurer shall update this information at every meeting. The annual budget shall be available to the SLA HSA membership upon request.

Section 2 – Special meetings may be called by the President, Executive Vice President, Treasurer, or any two members of the Executive Board by submitting a request to the Communications VP.

Section 3 – If a decision of the Executive Board is required between regularly scheduled meetings, Board members can communicate by email, phone, or otherwise to discuss and vote on the matter. 

ARTICLE 8: Amendments 

These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed at any regular or special meeting, providing that previous notice was given in writing and sent to all Board members.. Amendments will be approved by a two-thirds vote of members present. 

After the President’s annual review of the By-laws, recommendations to amend will be made at the first HSA General Meeting. The amended By-laws will be shared with Board members, giving them at least three (3) weeks for review. At the following HSA General Meeting, all Board Members must vote on the proposed amendment. Members not available to attend must respond by email before the meeting.  

ARTICLE 9: Parliamentary Authority

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the procedure of this Association in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws.

•  Fifty percent (50%) of the Board shall constitute a quorum at the Board meetings.

• In the event of any vacancy among the  Officers, Members At Large, or Class Representatives between elections, the President may fill the vacancy with the approval of the Board.

• If any Board Member is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings or 50% of the total meetings, such office(s) may be declared vacant by a majority vote of the Board. 

• All officers shall assume their duties immediately following installation at the last HSA General Meeting of the school year.

• The fiscal year shall coincide with the school year.