About

Greetings Benjamin Banneker Family

The Benjamin Banneker Academic High School PTO is a purpose-drive organization that invloves parents, teachers, students, school leaders and local communities to support a high-quality public education that prepare every child for success in college, career and life.

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome each of you and your families to the Benjamin Banneker Academic High School. You are now a part of an exclusive group of parents and guardians to the Districts’ smartest and most accomplished high school students – Banneker Achievers! The Benjamin Banneker Class of 2022 was awarded more than $79 million dollars in scholarship money. Achieving a 100% high school graduation and college acceptance rate is not an accident…..we need every one’s help to give our children every opportunity for success. As the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) President, it is my responsibility to talk with you about the importance of parent involvement for every child.

MISSION

The Benjamin Banneker Academic High School PTO’s mission is to promote open communication and understanding between parents and staff and to provide unconditional support for student success. Every year, our PTO helps to oversee the needs and development of the school. We help raise much needed funds to provide a wide range of educational support which includes class trips, extracurricular activities, the science fair, winter ball, books and classroom supplies ensuring every child’s success.

The PTO works closely with the Banneker Administration and Teachers, recognizing their hard work during “Teacher Appreciation Week” and throughout the school year. But as you can imagine, to support the mission of the Banneker program we need ACTIVE participation from all families. This is where YOU come in. We truly understand the value of time and how difficult it is to find it. The PTO only asks two hours per month in support of a school activity such as running the concession stand during sporting events. Volunteering doesn’t mean a huge time commitment. We have tasks that can be performed in the evenings, during the day or that don’t even involve coming to the school at all. In addition to giving of time, we ask that each family purchase a cell phone locker for their student(s).

Mission

PTO Values

Integrity

Accountability

Diversity

Respect

Collaboration

Commitment

Executive Board

Excutive Board

Co-Presidents

Dana Baughns and

John Settles

1st Vice President

Azure Contee

Nadia McNeil-Thomas

2nd Vice President

Carletta Allen,

Sara Hitzig, and

Maquita Alexander

Secretary

Molly Roberts

Bylaws

Treasurer

Julie Bozzell and

Tony Burley

Fundraising

Danielle White

Events and Hospitality

Julie Pergola

Communications

Gayle Wald and

Angie Kirk

Bylaws of Benjamin Banneker Parent Teacher Organization

ARTICLE I: NAME, DESCRIPTION, & PURPOSE
Section I: Banneker PTO – The name of the organization shall be Benjamin Banneker PTO. The PTO is
located at Benjamin Banneker Academic Senior High School 800 Euclid Street, NW Washington, DC
20001.

Section 2: DESCRIPTION- The PTO is a nonprofit organization that exists for charitable,
educational, and scientific purposes.

Section 3: PURPOSE- The purpose of the PTO is to enhance and support the educational
experience at Banneker, to develop a closer connection between school and home by
encouraging parent involvement, and to improve the environment at Banneker through
volunteer and financial support.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be automatically granted to all parents and guardians of Benjamin Banneker Academic
Senior High School students, plus all staff at Banneker. There are no membership dues. Members have
voting privileges, one vote per household.

ARTICLE III: OFFICERS
Section I: EXECUTIVE BOARD- The Executive Board shall consist of the following officers:
President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Communications Secretary, and Treasurer. Officer
positions can be shared. The school Principal, or his/her designee, is a voting member of the
Executive Board.

Section 2: TERM OF OFFICE- The term of office for all officers is one year, beginning August I
and ending July 31 of the following year.

Section 3: QUALIFICATIONS- Any PTO member in good standing may become an officer
of the PTO.

Section 4: DUTIES
Executive Board: Develop the PTO’s annual budget, establish and oversee committees to
conduct the work ofthe PTO, establish fundraising programs, and approve by majority vote
of the Board unbudgeted expenditures of no more than $100.

President: Preside at general PTO meetings and Executive Board meetings, serve as the official
representative of the PTO, and retain all official records of the PTO.

Vice President: Oversee the committee system of the PTO, assist the President, and chair
meetings in the absence of the President.

Recording Secretary: Record and distribute minutes of all Executive Board meetings and all
general PTO meetings, prepare agendas for official PTO meetings, and hold historical records
for the PTO.

Corresponding Secretary: Manage communications and marketing for the PTO, including but
not limited to PTO newsletters, email broadcasts, website, bulletin boards, etc.

Treasurer: Serve as custodian of the PTO’s finances, collect revenue, pay authorized expenses,
follow all financial policies of the PTO, and hold all financial records.

Section 5: BOARD MEETINGS- The Executive Board shall meet monthly during the school year,
or at the discretion of the President.

Section 6: REMOVAL- An officer can be removed from office for failure to fulfill his/her duties,
after reasonable notice, by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Section 7: VACANCY- If a vacancy occurs on the Executive Board, the President shall appoint
a PTO member to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the officer’s term.

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS
Section I: GENERAL PTO MEETINGS- General PTO meetings shall be held to conduct the
business of the PTO. Meetings shall be held monthly during the school year or at the discretion
of the Executive Board.

Section 2: VOTING- Each member in attendance at a PTO meeting is eligible to vote, one vote
per household. Absentee and proxy votes are not allowed.

Section 3: QUORUM- Seven (7) members of the PTO present and voting constitute quorum for
the purpose of voting.

ARTICLE V: FINANCIAL POLICIES
Section I: FISCAL YEAR- The fiscal year of the PTO begins August I and ends July 3 I of the
following year.

Section 2: BANKING- All funds shall be kept in a checking account in the name of [our PTO],
requiring two signatures of the Executive Board and held at a local financial institution.

Section 3: REPORTING- All financial activity shall be recorded in a computer-based or manual
accounting system. The Treasurer shall reconcile the account(s) monthly and report all financial
activity monthly. The PTO shall arrange an independent review of its financial records each year.

Section 4: ENDING BALANCE- The organization sha ll leave a minimum of$2,000 in the treasury
at the end of each fiscal year.

Section 5: CONTRACTS- Authority to sign contracts is limited to the President or the
President’s designee.

ARTICLE VI: BYLAWS AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the bylaws may be proposed by any PTO member. Amendments presented at a
PTO meeting shall be considered for voting at a subsequent meeting. Two-thirds (2 /3) approval
of all members present and voting is required to adopt an amendment to the bylaws.

ARTICLE VII: DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution of the PTO, any funds remaining shall be donated to Banneker.

ARTICLE VIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The authority for this organization shall be Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.
These bylaws were adopted on 7/21/16.