Dear Whiting Lane PTO members,
We are writing to you to notify you of an important development. The PTO Board, in conjunction with the Bylaw Committee, has drafted a revision of the Bylaws for our organization. We have changed some of the language of the previous Bylaws to be more inclusive and encompassing, tried to identify future needs of the Board and to make the Bylaws a truly working document for the entire membership.
Please take time and review these draft Bylaws carefully. Two versions are to be reviewed: One provides the original documentation and the second provides a revised copy of the Bylaws with changes noted in red or by strikethrough.
The changes made to the current document are as follows:
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Inclusive language identifying caregivers and the entire Whiting Lane staff.
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Changing membership to include ALL caregivers and staff of Whiting Lane Elementary School.
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All members of the PTO are allowed to vote at General Membership meetings
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Changing specified roles for board positions to at-large titles in order to be flexible from year to year as the needs of the Board change. Once elected, the new board will assign roles for the current year.
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Allowing for the removal of an elected Board member engaged in conduct detrimental to the organization or willful violation of these bylaws..
We would appreciate all of your questions from now until May 8, 2026. You can send your questions to Ernest Ourso (Chair of the Bylaws Committee) ernest_ourso@whps.org.
The Board and full membership will meet on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 6:30pm to vote on these Bylaws in the school cafeteria. Assuming that the Bylaws are approved by the membership, the Bylaw revisions will replace our current Bylaws and be posted immediately.
Again, it is important that you review and be prepared to vote on this set of Bylaws. Please avail yourself of this opportunity to act on behalf of the future of the Whiting Lane Parent Teacher Organization.
Sincerely,
2025-2026 Whiting Lane PTO Board Presidents
Erika Tapper and Ernest Ourso