MUSE was started in 2001 by parents and teachers in the Mendocino Unified School district to maintain and enhance education opportunities that have been the heritage of the Mendocino community.

Mendocino Unified Schools Enrichment Bylaws

Adopted this 29th day of November, 2001, revised May 22, 2003, revised September 22, 2003, revised September 28, 2006

1) The name of this organization shall be Mendocino Unified Schools Enrichment (M.U.S.E.)

2)  The fiscal year for this organization is July 1-June 30.  MUSE is constituted as a 501-C(3) corporation under the legal guidelines set forth by the state of California and the Internal Revenue Service.

3) MUSE is an autonomous organization that has been formed by parents, teachers, and community members concerned with maintaining and enhancing the excellent educational programs in the Mendocino Unified School District through funding of programs derived from tax deductible donations.

4) MUSE shall be made up of trustees consisting of parents, administration, staff, and community-members-at-large of no less than 11 and no more than 15 members.  The trustees will strive for equal representation from teachers/staff/administration and parents/community members.  In addition there will be an Advisory Committee of community members actively supporting the work of MUSE. 

5) Officers of MUSE shall be trustees and consist of a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.  Officers shall serve for two years.  Election of officers will be September of each year.

6) MUSE will meet monthly.  All meetings are open to the public. MUSE shall work to raise the funds for the foundation.   Trustees will make decisions on funding and governance choices.  Additional meetings may be called as necessary.

7) The trustees will decide issues based on a majority vote of a quorum present at an official meeting (51%). Only trustees are eligible to vote. Under special circumstances, the president (or, in the president's absence, the vice-president) may conduct a vote amongst the trustees via e-mail (should a quorum agree to such a vote) and decisions will be based on a majority vote of the trustees. All e-mail discussions related to a Board vote must be distributed to all current Board Trustees and Board Advisory members only.   Correspondence must be circulated to all members in these categories. E-mail vote requests will be only forwarded to Board Trustee Members by the Board President and decisions will be based on a majority vote of the trustees.

8) Trustees with a conflict of interest must  disclose such conflict prior to voting and shall excuse themselves from casting a vote. A conflict is one that would directly benefit the trustee.

9) Any trustee missing more than three consecutive meetings without extenuating circumstances, must resign from the trustees.  The president shall determine termination.

10) The trustees will review funding levels on a quarterly basis and decide if there are sufficient funds to call for grant proposals.  If there are insufficient funds, or if the trustees wish to postpone funding until a certain funding level is reached, the trustees have the prerogative to do so.  Additional funding cycles may be added and may also be program specific, using earmarked funds.

11) The trustees and advisory committee shall establish goals for funding in consultation with, school administrators, faculty, and School Site Councils(SSC) at each of the school sites.  A report on priorities will be requested from each SSC to help guide MUSE in its funding decisions.

12) Trustee membership  is not transferable or assignable. Any vacancy shall be filled by approval of majority of the trustees.

13) Any officer or trustee can be removed by a 2/3 vote of all members of the trustees, if in the judgment of the trustees, the best interests of MUSE would be served thereby.

14) The president shall preside at all meetings of MUSE and may sign all letters, reports, and other communications of MUSE.  In addition, the president shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such duties as may be requested by MUSE from time to time.

15) The vice president shall  represent the president in assigned duties and to substitute for the president during his or her absence.

16) The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, regular and special, of MUSE and promptly transmit to each of the trustees,  advisory committee members, SSC representatives, to MUSD School Board, and to other persons MUSE shall deem necessary, minutes of meetings, see that all notices are posted, remind trustees of all meetings, and perform other duties that may arise from time to time. 

17)  The treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the corporation, shall be responsible for the accounting for all monies of the corporation, including depositing and/or processing them in accordance with directions of the trustees, shall prepare a financial statement at each regular, special, and Annual meeting, assist an annual review, and keep all receipts and records of the financial transactions of the corporation.

18) MUSE may establish subcommittees from time to time to pursue fund raising and/or grant making goals of the organization. 

19) Public notice of all meetings will be made at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.  Special meetings shall also be properly noticed.

20) MUSE will strive to hold at least one annual meeting per year to report on the successful grants and to encourage input from the community at large.

21) The presence of 51% of the trustees shall be required in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  These bylaws can be amended with a 2/3 vote of all trustees.

22) All MUSE financial accounts are required to have the signatures of two officers in order to withdraw, transfer, or authorize check payments.

23) The Board of Trustees of MUSE commit to contribute a minimum of 10% of each year's net fundraising proceeds to its endowment fund. The Board, at its discretion, may increase this amount and determine a mechanism in order to accomplish this goal.