1. Name:

The Association/Council shall be “St. Laurence College Parents’ Association”

2. Objectives: The objectives of the Association/Council shall be:

(a) The advancement of the moral, educational, physical, social and cultural well being of the students of the College and of the community generally.

(b) The fostering of good relations between the parents, teachers, students and the school authorities.

(c) To support the election of parents’ nominees to the Board of Management.

3. Membership:

All parents or legal guardians of students attending the school shall be automatic members of the Association.

4. Affiliations:

The Association may affiliate to national parents’ representative bodies.

5. General Meetings:

(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held during October of each year.

(b) Extraordinary General Meetings shall be called by the executive committee when the executive committee deems it desirable or when a written request to call an Extraordinary General Meeting is received by the Committee, signed by at least 20% of parents.

(c) Public notice shall be given ten days in advance of a General Meeting.

(d) General Meetings shall be chaired by the Chairperson, or, in the absence of the Chairperson, by the Vice-Chair. Otherwise, the Executive Committee shall elect one of its members to chair the meeting.

A quorum for a General Meeting shall be eight parents.

6. Executive Committee:

(a) The affairs of the Association shall be administered by an Executive Committee drawn from the members of the Association. The Committee shall consist of at least eight members. The Parents’ Nominees to the School Board of Management shall be ex officio members of the Committee.

(b) The Committee shall appoint from among its elected members the officers of the Association; Chairperson, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer.

(c) The Committee shall have power to co-opt members to fill any vacancies which occur on the Committee.

(d) The Executive Committee shall meet each month from September to June (inclusive) and on other such occasions as it is deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. The quorum for such meetings shall be 50% of the members of the Executive Committee.

(e) The Executive Committee may invite to General Meetings or to committee meetings such persons as the Committee decides.

(f) Minutes of all meetings shall be kept by the Secretary who shall present the minutes to the Committee for approval at a subsequent Committee meeting.

(g) The Executive Committee shall have power to appoint sub-committees to assist it from time to time. Sub-Committees may consist of members and non members of the Association/Council and shall report to the Executive Committee.

7. Election of Parents’ Representatives to the Board of Management:

(a) In accordance with rules governing nomination of Parents’ Representatives to the School Board of Management, the Association shall support the conduct an election to nominate the Parents’ representatives to the Board of Management.

(b) Notice of the election shall be given to all parents one month in advance of the date of election.

8. Amendments:

This Constitution may be amended from time to time at a General Meeting of the Association/Council. two-thirds majority of the members present shall be required to carry an amendment to the Constitution.

9. Official Statements and Representations:

No member of the Association other than the Chair or member nominated either by the Chair or by the Executive Committee, shall make any official or public statement or representation on behalf of the Association.

10. Liaison with School Authorities:

Liaison with school shall normally be maintained through correspondence by the Secretary or by deputation nominated by the Chair or Executive Committee with the Principal of the School and/or their nominees.

11. Resolution of Problems:

The Association in discharging its functions recognizes that the examination and resolution of problems relating to individual pupils or parents will be for determination between the pupil and/or their parents and the School Authorities.

The Association also recognizes that matters concerning the School Curriculum and its implementation are the function of the School Authorities.

12. Reports:

The Executive Committee shall present a report to the Annual General Meeting of its activities during the preceding year including a financial statement

13. Finances

The Executive Committee shall comply with all directions given by the Board of Management and relevant guidelines from the Financial Services Support Unit in exercising its financial responsibilities.

Proper books of account shall be kept and prepared annually and adopted by the Executive Committee. These should be brought to the AGM for approval.

14. Winding Up:

Winding up of the Executive Committee shall only be valid if accepted at a General Meeting convened for this purpose. In the event of the winding up of the Association any assets on hand shall be presented to the Board of Management for school purposes.

15. Education Act 2008:

The Board of Management shall ensure that St. Laurence College Parents’ Association shall comply with and enjoy the protection of, all provisions of Section 26 of the Education Act 2008.

This Constitution was approved
by the Board of Management of St. Laurence College
on March 26th 2009.