DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATION BY LAWS
Revised: May 2024
I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS’
ASSOCIATION (“Parents Association” and/or “DHSPA”).
II. PURPOSE
The purpose of the DHSPA is to meet and study matters of mutual interest and to
maintain communications among the parents, school and community.
III. MEMBERSHIP
The DHSPA shall consist of all parents and guardians of current Darien High School
students.
IV. POLICIES
1. The DHSPA shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian, and non-partisan. Neither any
commercial enterprise nor candidate shall be endorsed by it. Neither the name of the
organization nor the names of its officers in their official capacities shall be used in any
connection with any commercial concern, any partisan interest or any purpose other
than the regular work of the DHSPA.
2. The DHSPA shall not seek to direct the administrative activities of the school nor its
policies.
3. The DHSPA shall approve all DHSPA fundraising activities and shall administer and
allocate all DHSPA revenues. Accurate and complete records shall be maintained of all
receipts and disbursements.
4. The DHSPA is a not-for-profit organization that intends to conform to and operate in
accordance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States
applicable to tax exempt organizations.
V. DHSPA MEETING AND VOTING REQUIREMENTS
1. The DHSPA will meet regularly during the school year. These meetings will be
announced publicly. All parents and guardians of current Darien High School students
are invited to attend DHSPA meetings.
2. The Executive Board may call additional DHSPA meetings as necessary.
3. Quorum: A quorum will consist of ten (10) members of the DHSPA.
4. Voting: After quorum has been met, a majority vote of the DHSPA members present
at any meeting shall be required for all actions to be taken by the DHSPA. All members
of the DHSPA shall be eligible to vote at all DHSPA meetings. Each member of the
DHSPA shall have one (1) vote.
VI. EXECUTIVE BOARD
1. The DHSPA will have as the Executive Board the Co-Chairs, Vice Chairs ,
Communication Chair(s), Secretary, Treasurer(s), College and Career Center (CCC)
Chair(s)s, Fundraising Chair(s), Nominating Chair(s), Programs Chair(s), and Student
Government Chair(s).
2. The immediate past Co-Chairs, if available, shall serve as a member of the Executive
Board in a non-voting, advisory role.
3. The Executive Board can vote to appoint others to the Executive Board to meet
current DHSPA needs.
4. Quorum: A quorum will consist of seven (7) members of the Executive Board. A
superquorum of nine (9) Executive Board members (“Superquorum”) must be present
to vote on Appropriations and budget decisions.
5. Voting: The Co-Chairs, Vice Chairs, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Secretary
shall each have one vote. Each committee (CCC, Communication, Fundraising,
Nominating, Programs and Student Government) shall have one vote. A simple majority
of the Executive Board members present shall be sufficient to decide a vote.
6. E-mail Voting: An e-mail vote of the Executive Board may be initiated either by
request of a Co-Chair or by passing a motion to allow e-mail voting for a specific
action. The e-mail will state the motion and the vote will be taken over a period of three
(3) days to allow the fullest participation of the members of the Executive Board. For
purposes of an email vote, the decision will be considered final when all members have
voted whether or not the voting period has elapsed or when a majority of the Board
has voted for the same available option whether or not the voting period has elapsed.
In the event that a majority has not voted after the voting period has elapsed, then, as
long as seven (7) members have voted, the decision will reflect the simple majority of
those members whose votes have been recorded. E-mail voting on Appropriations and
budget items will follow the same procedure as Executive Board e-mail voting outlined
above, however, Appropriations and budget items will require a Superquorum to vote.
The decision will reflect the simple majority of those voting members whose votes have
been recorded. The results of all e-mail votes shall be recorded and announced at the
next Executive Board meeting and, if deemed appropriate by the co-chairs, at the next
DHSPA meeting.
7. The Executive Board shall meet a minimum of four times per year and may call
additional meetings if necessary for review of special agenda items.
8. The Appropriations Committee will consist of all members of the Executive Board
and others, as appropriate. The Treasurer of the DHSPA will chair any Appropriations
discussions. Any Appropriations account disbursements within an already approved
budget that are over five hundred dollars ($500), all financial commitments and/or
disbursements on behalf of the DHSPA that are off-budget and over five hundred
dollars ($500) and any financial commitments and/or disbursements which require
Board of Education approval must be approved by the Executive Board when a
Superquorum is present.
9. The DHSPA budget for the current academic year must be approved by the
Executive Board at its first meeting of the academic year and by the DHSPA
membership at its first meeting of the academic year.
10. The Executive Board has the power to function in lieu of the DHSPA and, if deemed
appropriate by the co-chairs, shall report to the DHSPA at its next meeting any actions
is taken.
11. If any vacancy shall occur on the Executive Board, the Nominating Committee will
recommend a new member to hold office for the unexpired portion of the term. The
Executive Board will then vote on the recommendation.
VII. STANDING COMMITTEES
1. The Nominating Committee will maintain a list of current Standing Committees.
2. Standing Committees represent continuing activities of the DHSPA. Such
committees shall be created or abolished by the Executive Board as required.
3. Temporary special committees may be designated by the Executive Board from time
to time.
VIII. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee will consist of the Nominating Co-Chairs and, if possible,
representatives from each class. The DHSPA Co-Chairs are ex-officio (non-voting)
members of this committee.
IX. ELECTIONS
1. The Nominating Committee will present a proposed slate of new committee
members no later than the second to last scheduled DHSPA meeting of the academic
year and will post the proposed slate to the DHSPA website. Nominations from the
floor will also be accepted. The DHSPA will vote on this slate no later than the last
scheduled DHSPA meeting.
2. Newly elected Co-Chairs and committee members shall assume their duties on June
30th.
3. If possible, one of the DHSPA Co-Chairs shall be replaced by a Vice Chair each year.
4. A person shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive years in the same
job on the Executive Board unless no interested party steps forward to take the
position.
5. All committee positions are one-year commitments. Each position has a term limit of
2 years unless no other volunteer for that position comes forward.
6. If any vacancy shall occur within any committee, the Nominating Committee will
recommend a new member to hold office for the unexpired portion of the term. The
Executive Board will then vote on the recommendation.
X. RULES OF ORDER
Robert‟s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all cases in which they are
applicable.
XI. AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the DHSPA by a
two-thirds vote of the membership of the DHSPA members present, provided that the
proposed amendments have been approved by the Executive Board and notice to
members had been submitted at the preceding DHSPA meeting. These Bylaws shall be
reviewed at least every three years or as necessary