BURIEN COOPERATIVE PRESCHOOL BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
OF THE NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Burien Cooperative Preschool (BCP). ARTICLE II
OF THE PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be to provide a part time preschool program for the children enrolled so that they may be helped to develop their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual capacities. Its purpose is also to further the education of its parent members in the principles of child guidance and early childhood learning through observation of children in the classroom, participation as Serve Parents in the program by assisting trained teachers, and attendance at parent education meetings.
ARTICLE III
OF AFFILIATION
Burien Cooperative Preschool is a member of the Parent Child Preschool Council coordinated by Bates Technical College.
ARTICLE IV
OF BASIC POLICIES
Section 1. The organization shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan. Section 2. The organization shall not, directly or indirectly, participate in or intervene in any political campaign.
Section 3. The organization shall not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, or national origin. This policy includes, but is not limited to racially, religiously or sexually non discriminatory administration by the school admissions, scholarship programs, athletic programs, or extra-curricular activities.
Section 4. The purpose for which the Burien Cooperative Preschool is organized are exclusively charitable, scientific, literary, and educational within the meaning of section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.
Section 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this organization shall not carry on any other activities to be carried on by any organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law.
Section 6. In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations described in section 501c(3) and 170c(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or corresponding sections of any prior future Internal Revenue Code, or the Federal, State, or Local government for exclusive public services.
Section 7. The preschool program for each group shall be supervised by the teacher(s), and those cooperative members working as Serve Day Caregiver at each session.
ARTICLE V
OF MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY
Section 1: Any child whose parents/guardians are willing to accept the duties and responsibilities of active membership in BCP, as defined by the Standing Rules, is eligible for membership. A child must meet age requirements established for each class.
Section 2: The Board reserves the right to ask for the withdrawal of any child who seems unable to adjust to this cooperative preschool and/or family that is not fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of active participation delineated in these By-Laws and the Standing Rules.
ARTICLE VI
OF FEES AND FINANCE
Section 1: The Treasurer and President are empowered to sign checks. The Vice President would be a designated third signer, only in the case of emergency when the Treasurer or President is wholly unavailable. The President would keep a book of checks, out of numerical sequence, in the event that the Treasurer is unavailable.
ARTICLE VII
OF THE ELECTED BOARD OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Copresident, Secretary, and Treasurer, augmented by other officers as delineated in the Standing Rules. All officers must be registered parents or family members at BCP.
Section 2. The officers shall be elected at a general parent meeting prior to April 30 for a term of one year, or until their successors are elected. Officers shall assume their positions on May 1. Section 3. The nominating committee, consisting of one preschool board member and one person from each class shall be appointed by the preschool Board of Directors to present a slate of officers at the March parent meeting. Nominations for officers will be open to the general membership at the parent meeting prior to elections.
Section 4. A simple majority of membership present at the April meeting is required for elections.
Section 5: In cases of emergency requiring an immediate decision, the following officers will be contacted: President, Copresident, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 6: The duties of each officer shall be outlined in the BCP Standing Rules.
Section 7: Non-voting advisory positions to the Executive Board will be held by the Teachers, the , and the Bates Coordinator. Additional non-voting advisory positions maybe delineated in the standing rules
ARTICLE VIII
OF THE DUTIES OF THE BOARD
Section 1: The Board shall have the following duties:
a. Interviews and hires new teachers.
b. Negotiates teacher’s contracts.
c. Approves teacher’s salary increases and bonuses.
d. Establishes estimated budget and any revisions needed.
e. Plans September orientation meeting for all parents.
f. Arranges for annual audit of preschool financial records.
g. Maintain files concerning preschool business.
h. Obtains appropriate liability, accident, and fire insurance.
i. Approves all major expenditures for equipment and supplies.
j. Determines need for fundraising, publicity, and any tuition fee adjustment. k. Approves sale of unused preschool equipment.
k. Makes annual inventory of school equipment and supplies.
l. Makes necessary revisions in By-Laws and Policies and Standards.
m. Plans preschool open house.
n. Plans business meetings and parent education.
o. Directs Resource personnel to perform their tasks when necessary.
p. Determines closing of the preschool group for whatever reason.
q. Holds monthly meetings and reports business to the Membership.
r. Be responsible for conducting school business and determining school policies. t. Appoints standing committees.
s. Prepares incoming officers to take over business for the following school term. ARTICLE IX
OF THE REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF BOARD MEMBERS
Section 1:
Beginning on the date of appointment to the Board, each Board member must attend at least 75% of the monthly Board meetings in order to fulfill his/her parent education requirement and/or remain exempted from Operations Support work hours requirement.
Section 2:
a. Failure to meet the monthly Board meeting attendance requirement outlined in Section 13, above, will result in immediate removal from the Board and prevent any further Board involvement hereafter.
b. Board members shall submit their resignation to the Board if they feel they cannot perform their duties.
c. The Board may request, by a 2/3 of vote of the entire Board, the resignation of any BCP Board member who the Board believes has not performed their duties or whose actions are detrimental to the school.
ARTICLE X
OF MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
Section 1. The Board Meetings of this will be held monthly with day and time listed in the parent handbook
Section 2. Special meetings may be called from time to time, as the Board, or the Presiding Officer thereof, may direct.
Section 3 . To conduct business at a Board Meeting, a quorum will consist of at least 2/3 of the Board Members in good standing.
Section 4: Provided there is a quorum, motions will carry upon simple majority vote of the Board members present unless otherwise stated in these By Laws.
Section 5: Each elected officer shall have one (1) vote. The President votes only in the case of a tie.
Section 6. The regular order of business at every Board Meeting of this Lodge shall be as follows:
a. President’s Opening Remarks/Discretionary Time
b. Reading of the Minutes
c. Treasurer's Report
d. Reports of Committees
e. Correspondence
f. Reports of Teachers
g Reports of Board Members
h. Unfinished Business
i. New Business
Note: Items b through e may be conducted, at the President’s discretion, via Consent Agenda. ARTICLE XI
OF COMMITTEES
Section 1. The By-Laws Committee shall be appointed by the President. Its duties are to oversee the By-Laws and Standing Rules, then make recommendations to the Board as may become necessary.
Section 2. The Auditing Committee shall be composed of two Board members designated by the President. Its duties are to conduct any required audits and report results to the Board. Section 3. The Finance Committee shall be appointed by the President. Its duties are to oversee any investments and make recommendations to the Board as may become necessary. Section 4. The Facilities Committee shall be composed of the teachers, the class representatives, and the resource coordinator. Its duties are to oversee the classrooms, outdoor area, and any storage facilities, and make recommendations to the Board as may become necessary.
Section 5. The Scholarship Committee shall be composed of the President, Treasurer, Teachers a/nd Bates Coordinator. Its duties are to evaluate scholarship fund applications and distribute funds based on financial need. Any information received by this committee shall remain confidential.
Section 6. The Strategic Planning Committee shall be composed of the President, Co-President, the teachers, and two other Board members appointed by the President. The President reserves the right to add to the Committee additional members as needed based on the goals and scope of the duties to be undertaken each year, to wit: plan for the future of BCP, create and update as required a Strategic Plan for the school, develop leads and work with the Board to secure funding in the form of grants and loans for the school, and any other tasks so designated by the Board President. Such additional members may be drawn from the BCP Membership at large in addition to the Board itself. Members of the greater Community may also act as advisors to the Committee.
Section 7. The Parent Handbook Committee shall be composed of three members, appointed by the President, whose temperament and experience the President determines to be best suited for crafting the document. Its duties are to review the Handbook monthly and develop a list of recommended amendments for the following year's Handbook. The Handbook will be finalized by the July Board Meeting for subsequent distribution to Parents. The teachers will serve as advisory members and provide oversight as needed.
Section 8. The Wages and Compensation Committee shall be composed of the Co-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two other Board members appointed by the President. Its duties are to define specific teacher roles or job titles, explicitly outline the unique requirements of each role or title, link wage scales to each role or title, research salary data using publicly available data/comparisons, formulate a roles and responsibilities proposal, determine total compensation for each role, and establish goals for increases in compensation.
ARTICLE XII
OF THE TEACHERS
Section 1. Contracts
a. The teacher shall have a signed contract starting the school year, terms and hours of work, salary, and conditions of teaching, holidays, and provisions for absence, termination of contract and will maintain them in their files.
b. Teachers’ contracts shall be negotiated annually with the Board and finalized before the school year ends.
Section 2. Duties
a. The teachers shall be supervised and conduct preschool sessions.
b. The teachers shall plan the preschool program for his/her group.
c. Teachers will attend Bates In-services and all Board and Parent Meetings. Section 3: Teachers shall be hired by a 2/3 vote of the entire Board with recommendations by the Bates Coordinator.
Section 4: Cause for dismissal of a Teacher will be determined by a 2/3 vote of the entire Board. ARTICLE XIII
OF ADMISSION AND ENROLLMENT
Section 1. Admission to the preschool shall be to those who file and pay the registration fee first and are in good standing with the school.
Section 2. A child who wants to repeat a class shall be allowed to. However, the children moving up from a younger class will have priority. If more than one child wants to repeat a class, and the class is full; a lottery will be drawn to determine the order of the children on a waiting list. Section 3. Exceptions to any age requirements will be considered on an individual basis at the discretion of the Teacher, Class Rep, and Board President.. (This does not presume a child will be eligible for early Kindergarten entrance).
Section 4. A child who meets the age requirements and who is on the waiting list will have priority over a child that does not meet the age requirements detailed in item d above on the waiting list.
Section 5. Termination of membership is at the discretion of the Preschool Board of Directors for members with poor attendance at the Parent Meetings, unpaid fees, or for not fulfilling their obligation in the classroom as a participating Adult. A complete list of causes for membership termination by the Board is kept in the Handbook.
Section 6. Children enrolled must have the Washington State Health Immunization Form and Consent to Medical Care of a Minor form on file before participating in preschool sessions.
ARTICLE XIV
OF FEES
Section 1. The Preschool Registration fee is established yearly by the preschool to cover insurance and to hold a position in the class. This fee is non-refundable. Fees are to be paid before admission to preschool.
Section 2. The Parent Education fee is established by Bates Technical College and is paid quarterly.
Section 3. The Board shall set tuition fees for each year.
Section 4. Tuition fees are payable for the months of September through May and are collected by the Treasurer. May tuition is due in advance of the school year or as set forth by the Board. Section 5. Members who terminate without reconciling outstanding past due fees and charges shall not be allowed to register children in the Preschool until those fees and charges are paid in full and that member is considered in good standing in all areas of membership. Section 6. A 14-day written notice is to be given to the preschool Treasurer or Class Representative prior to leaving the Preschool.
Section 7. Fees may be changed after school begins by a majority vote of the membership. Section 8. If a child registers after Preschool sessions have begun, tuition will be prorated for the month enrolled.
Section 9. When a member terminates during the year, tuition will be refunded only as set forth by the Board.
ARTICLE XV
OF STANDING RULES
Section 1: Standing Rules shall be distributed to the membership no later than the first day of school.
Section 2: Any Board member may submit to the By-Laws Committee proposed amendments to the Standing Rules.
Section 3: Procedures for amending the Standing Rules shall be outlined therein. ARTICLE XVI
OF THE PARENT HANDBOOK
Section 1: A Parent Handbook for each year shall be enacted and distributed to the membership no later than the first day of school.
Section 2: Any Board member may submit to the Parent Handbook Committee proposed amendments to the Standing Rules.
Section 3: Procedures for amending Parent Handbook shall be contained therein. ARTICLE XVII
OF AMENDMENTS TO THESE BY-LAWS
The By-Laws of the Burien Cooperative Preschool may be amended by a simple majority of the membership acting upon the recommendation of the Preschool Board of Directors PROVIDED, that formal notice of such amendment shall have been given at the Parents Meeting next preceding. The Secretary shall note upon the minutes of the Parents Meeting the notice of proposed amendment when made, and upon approval note upon the minutes of the Parent Meeting the amendment has received the requisite vote.
Enacted by the BCP Membership at the 17 November 2022 Parents’ Meeting.