The SMHSA Website

STANLY MONTGOMERY HOME SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
- BYLAWS -

The Stanly-Montgomery Home School Association (SMHSA) is a Christian organization and is governed by Christian principles; however, it is open to everyone who home schools as long as they can respect and defer to the policies and principles set by the board of directors.

PURPOSE:The purpose of this group shall be to:

-honor Christ as an organization.
-provide encouragement and support to families choosing home education as part of child rearing.
-provide communication and fellowship through meetings, eloop, website and phone calls.
-promote North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE).
-provide education experiences for home schoolers through organization of field trips, special events, and activities.
-promote home schooling in our community as an attractive educational alternative.

-MEMBERSHIP: Membership shall be obtained by:

-an annual fee due by August 1. After this date the dues will be $40.
   -subscribing to or deferring to Biblical faith and principles by which this organization is operated.

GOALS: The goals of this organization are:

-recognition of parents’ God-given authority over their children and responsibility for their education.
-educational excellence.
-protection and promotion of the family and its freedom of choice in education.
-diligence in moral and ethical instruction and behavior in harmony with Judeo-Christian heritage.
-defense of the constitutional rights established by our founding fathers.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: This group will govern and oversee all SMHSA activities and provide policy for the association and final decisions including amendment proposals for the membership. When board members need to leave their position prematurely, new board member nominations will come from or be approved by the board. Initially board members will serve a two-year term. At the end of their term, they have the option of continuing or may step down. Treasurer along with their spouses, are board members during the term of their office. If the need should arise to vote someone off of the board, a 3/4 majority of quorum board members present is required. A quorum is defined as a simple majority.

The board will serve as counsel to officers and approve officer nominations. They will help with constitution interpretation and technical support. They will prepare a yearly budget and maintain the calendar. They also handle situations and problems as they arise.

  Criteria for new board members are as follows :

- They must be home schooling all school age children.
- They must have been home schooling for at least three years.
- They must be willing to uphold the Constitution and Bylaws of SMHSA.
- Must be a member of NCHE.
- Must be approved by a 2/3 majority of present SMHSA board members with consensus.

OFFICERS: Officers fulfill administrative duties. Member input is valuable and they are encouraged to be active and vocal. Officers are elected by the board for a two-year term. Duties are as follows:

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: -to provide overall leadership and coordination of events presiding (with prepared agenda) at business meetings.
           -check with various coordinators annually to see if they wish to continue in their positions.
           -attend Leadership Conference or send an appointee (expenses paid by SMHSA)

TREASURER: -to collect annual dues, pay bills, keep accurate records, file an annual treasurer’s report (a copy of which may be obtained by a member at any time).

SECRETARY: -to take notes during any meeting, make the notes available to the Board, and to update the members of any changes to our organization.

DISCIPLINE POLICY: Our main concerns for home school events are:

SAFETY: for the children
RESPECT: of others’ property
REPUTATION: of our group

Therefore, a high standard of behavior must be maintained as a testimony to others. Parents must monitor their children’s behavior at all times!!! A child must have a parent (his/hers or someone else’s) that is absolutely responsible in order to perform discipline effectively. This is each parent’s responsibility. In order to achieve these goals, we agree on the following:

1) If a child is doing something offensive, harmful or destructive, either take the child to his/her parent, or take the parent to the child and explain the offense.

2) The parent will be expected to eliminate the problem, remove the child from the activity, or do what is necessary to prevent the problem from recurring or continuing.

3) If the problem continues or recurs, the parent and the child will be asked to leave the activity.

ADDRESSES: Out of respect for the privacy of others, our address list shall not be given to others.

AMENDMENTS: in order to alter the bylaws, proposed amendments must either be initiated or approved by the Board of Directors. Then proposed amendment changes shall be voted on by the Board of Directors.

~Revised May 2011