PTA'S MISSION

The mission of the PTA is three-fold:
• To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental agencies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children;
• To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children;
• To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of this nation.
THE PURPOSE OF PTA

• To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship;
• To raise the standards of home life;
• To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth;
• To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth;
• To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.

WHAT IS SPACE CENTER INTERMEDIATE PTA?

The Space Center Intermediate (SCI) PTA was formed in 1992 when the school opened. We’re a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting the mission and objects of PTA. Membership is open to anyone who shares our goals, remits dues and is at least in the ninth grade or fourteen years of age. Membership in our local PTA also gives you membership in the Texas and National PTAs.

Texas PTA provides many resources to SCIS PTA. Training, chairmen handbooks and access to knowledgeable individuals via 1-800-TALK-PTA are examples. In addition, it is a strong lobbying force for children’s issues in the Texas Legislature. Formed in 1909, it is governed by its voting delegates at the annual convention. SCI PTA sends voting delegates from our school. The National PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer advocacy association in the United States working exclusively on behalf of children and youth. Founded in 1897, it has been promoting education, health and safety of children and families for over 100 years. There are nearly 7 millions members in over 27,000 local units in the 50 states, and overseas where there are American families.

Although councils are not part of the direct PTA hierarchy, SCI PTA is a member of the Clear Creek Area Council (CCAC) of PTAs. It is a conference body composed of all local unit PTAs in the Clear Creek and Dickinson Independent School Districts. It provides information and support for the local unit PTAs, officers’ and chairmen’s training and education opportunities for all parents in our area. If you have access to the Internet, check out the following PTA websites:

National PTA: http://www.pta.org
Texas PTA: http://www.txpta.org


HOW SPACE CENTER INTERMEDIATE PTA OPERATES

As a PTA member, you are eligible to speak and vote at General PTA meetings, run for an elected office and serve as an appointed committee chairman. You have access to the resources of the Texas and National PTAs.

Our PTA is governed by the Bylaws of the Space Center Intermediate Parent Teacher Association and the Space Center Intermediate PTA Standing Rules. These documents establish the framework within which we operate. Both the Texas and National PTAs have certain provisions that we are required to include in our local bylaws. Required changes from the State and National PTAs are included in our local bylaws without any action by our members. Changes we make to our bylaws and standing rules are voted on at a general PTA meeting by a 2/3 majority. Any changes to our bylaws and standing rules must be approved by Texas PTA before they take effect. Any member can request a copy of the Bylaws and Standing Rules by contacting our PTA President.

Space Center Intermediate PTA has general meetings for all members in the months of September, November, January, March and May. The PTA Executive Board, composed of the officers and committee chairmen meet monthly (with the exception of December) during the school year to approve committee plans, decide on recommendations to be presented to the general membership and carry out the work of the association.

Our budget is approved by a vote of the PTA members at the general meetings. The budget shows expected income and sets spending limits for committees. Budgets can be amended at anytime with the approval of the members at a general meeting. Budgets reflect the total amount of money collected and spent throughout the fiscal year.

Space Center Intermediate PTA is a 501 (c) (3) organization. That means we are a non-profit, charitable educational organization. With the federal government, we do not pay any income taxes on the money we make. In return, we must follow certain federal guidelines on how our money can be used. With the state government, it means that we do not pay any sales tax on items that PTA purchases for its own use. When the PTA sells taxable items, sales tax is collected because the buyer does not have tax-exempt status. We are permitted to declare two tax-free days during each calendar year. On those two days, we can sell taxable items without collecting sales tax. For the taxable merchandise we sell (school store for example), we include the sales tax into the final price of the item to the consumer.