Houston ISD/Dave Einsel: http://www.houstonisd.org
Bylaws of the National Caucus of American Indian/Alaska Native School Board Members
PREAMBLE
The National Caucus of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) School Board Members serves in an advisory capacity to the National School Boards Association (NSBA) in matters affecting NSBA policy and program issues and serves to foster an organizational culture based on sound education, research-based, and curriculum, assessment and evaluation principles.
Article: I
Section 1. Name
The official name shall be the National Caucus of American Indian/Alaska Native School Board Members of the National School Boards Association.
Article: II
Section 1. Definitions
"Caucus" is the National Caucus of American Indian/Alaska Native School Board Members "AI/AN" is American Indian/Alaska Native "NSBA" is National School Boards Association "Membership" is participation in the caucus by the members "LEA" is the local education association
Article: III
Section 1. Purpose
The purpose of the Caucus shall be to:
a) Promote quality education for all students with emphasis on and successes of the AI/AN student.
b) Improve collaboration among all AI/AN school board members, their communities, political leaders, state school board associations, tribal education committees, and the NSBA
c) Assist AI/AN school board members to increase their leadership effectiveness in local, regional and national efforts.
d) Promote school district, LEA, county, tribal, state, and national legislation to improve the educational opportunities and reduce racial disparities of AI/AN students in public, tribal and contract, or federally-operated government schools (i.e., Bureau of Indian Affairs).
e) Promote visibility, representation, and participation of American Indian/Alaska Native school board members within the NSBA and its governance.
Article: IV
Section 1. Membership
a) All members shall support the purpose of the Caucus as set forth in Article IV
b) Regular membership is available to an elected or appointed board member of any public, tribal, or contract school, as well as those schools operated specifically for American Indian/Alaska Native students by the federal government (i.e., Bureau of Indian Affairs schools) within the United States, or US territory. Regular membership shall also include one AI/AN student and one AI/AN elder appointed by the Board of Directors. Dues for both of these positions shall be waived. Additionally, representatives of American Indian/Alaska Native school board associations designated tribal school officials or designated tribal members shall qualify as regular members. A regular member has a voice in all discussions, is entitled to vote on all issues, elects Officers, and is eligible for election to any vacant office in the Caucus. A member who loses his or her local school board seat may not continue to serve as a regular member, but will be encouraged to participate in another membership status.
c) Associate membership is available to tribal administrators, educators, former board members, past presidents who no longer remain on his or her school board, and members of the Board of Directors of the National Indian Education Association, and other Indian education organizations. The Associate member shall be entitled to all benefits provided to regular members except voting or holding office.
d) The Caucus may from time to time invite persons to associate membership, as it determines, for knowledge or specific experience on strategic issues.
e) Friend(s) of the Caucus is open to any individual who supports the purposes and goals of the Caucus as set forth in Article III. A Friend member is not entitled to vote or hold any vacant office in the Caucus.
Section 2. Dues
a) Dues for regular members shall be fifty dollars ($50) per year payable on or before July 1 for the NSBA fiscal year, July 1-June 30.
b) Dues for Associate members shall be twenty-five dollars ($25) per year, payable on or before July 1 for the NSBA fiscal year, July 1-June 30.
c) Dues for Friend(s) member shall be ten dollars ($10) per year, payable on or before July 1 for the NSBA fiscal year, July 1-June 30.
Section 3. Voting Rights
Each regular member in good standing shall be entitled to one (1) vote at all meetings of the Caucus in all matters properly presented and discussed before the membership. Voting by proxy is not permitted. Decisions by the Caucus shall be by majority of those present except for by-law changes according to Article IX. The order of business in each meeting of the Caucus shall be in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition.
Section 4. Quorum
At each meeting of the Board, a simple majority of members in good standing that are present at the time of the meeting, official notice having been given, shall constitute a quorum.
Article: V
Section 1. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall be elected by the membership at the annual business meeting and shall consist of the Caucus Officers, Ex Officio member, and five Regional Directors. The Board of Directors shall meet at least annually at the time of the Annual Conference to transact business and to elect and appoint Executive Committee Members. A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be a minimum of six persons at a Board of Directors meeting.
Section 2. The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Caucus Officers, and at least two of the five Regional Directors. These Regional Directors are to be elected to the Executive Committee by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall have power to act on behalf of the Board of Directors in between duly called board meetings via teleconference meetings, and shall have the responsibility of planning the annual meeting of the Caucus, with Board approval. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be a minimum of 4 persons. All actions of the Executive Committee are subject to ratification by the Board of Directors at the next Caucus meeting.
Section 3. Ex Officio
In addition to the Regular Caucus Officers and the Regional Directors, the President of the National Indian Education Association or his/her designated official shall be an ex-officio voting member of the Board of Directors of the Caucus.
Article: VI
Section 1. Officers and Terms of Office
The Officers of the Caucus shall consist of a President, President-Elect, and Secretary-Treasurer, Immediate Past President, and the Elder. Each Officer shall serve a term of two (2) years and/or until the selection and installation of his or her successor. No person may hold more than one office at the same time. No Officer may serve more one term in the same position. The student may only serve one year, the elder may be re-appointed.
Section 2. Regional Directors and the Terms of Office
There shall be five (5) Regional Directors, representative of the five regions as established by the AI/AN Caucus (Central, Northeast, Pacific, Southern and Western). Regional Directors shall serve a term of two (2) years, such terms to be staggered so that three are elected in odd numbered years, Southern, Pacific, and Western, and two are elected in even numbered years, Central and Northeast. Regional Directors may not serve more than two (2) consecutive two-year terms.
Those areas are defined below:
Central (9)
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin.
Northeast (13)
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands
Pacific (9)
Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawai, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington
Southern (12)
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia
Western (9)
Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming.
Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities of Officers and Regional Director
a) President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Caucus. He or she, in consultation with the Board of Directors, shall appoint advisory committees or task groups to provide input to the Board of Directors but without authority to implement actions and for a specific period of time, as may be advisable.
b) President-Elect. The President-Elect shall preside at meetings in the absence of the president, at the request of the president, or upon a vacancy when the president is unable to serve. He or she shall also be responsible for publishing the Caucus newsletter. The President-Elect automatically succeeds to the office of President at the end of the annual business meeting.
c) Secretary-Treasurer. The Secretary-Treasurer , assisted by staff, shall have care and custody of all funds, shall keep accurate account of financial records of the Caucus; shall keep the official minutes of all meetings of the Caucus and the Executive Committee; shall keep an official membership roster up-to-date at all times; and shall give advanced notices of all scheduled meetings, as appropriate.
d) Regional Directors. The Regional Directors shall be responsible for contacting and attending, as possible, the organized state Caucuses together throughout the year and shall attend regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors.
e) President, National Indian Education Association (NIEA). The NIEA President or designated official shall be an ex-officio voting member of the Caucus and shall also be an ex-officio non-voting member of the Executive Committee.
Article: VII
Section 1. Meetings
The annual business meeting of the Caucus shall be convened at the annual conference of the NSBA. The date and time shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Caucus. The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee may meet by teleconference between meetings of the Caucus. Minutes of the annual meeting will be approved by the membership at the next business meeting.
Section 2. Nominating Committee
Nominating Committee of the Caucus shall be composed of regular members appointed by the President of the Caucus. The Caucus membership shall be notified thirty (30) calendar days prior to the annual meeting about identified vacancies. The Immediate Past President shall serve as the Chair of the Committee. The committee shall submit a slate of Officers and Regional Directors, consisting of one or more nominees for each position, to the general membership at its annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor, provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained. When the position of immediate past president is vacant, the Nominating Committee will be chaired by a member of the Executive Committee designated by the President. The President shall not be a member of the Nominating Committee.
Section 2. Elections
The election of Officers and Regional Directors shall take place at the annual meeting of the Caucus; such annual meetings shall be conducted in the same location and during the same time as the Annual Conference and Exposition of the NSBA. The election shall be by secret ballot. Voting by proxy shall not be allowed. The nominee receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared the winner and succeed to the position for which he/she was nominated and shall take office at the close of the annual meeting.
Section 3. Vacancies
The President, with the consent and confirmation of the Executive Committee shall fill vacancies occurring in any office, except for the office of President or President-Elect. Such appointee shall serve the unexpired term of that office. If there is a vacancy for any reason in the office of the President, the President-Elect shall succeed to the office to complete the unexpired term and shall serve a full-term as President upon completing the remainder the of term caused by the vacancy. The Executive Committee will notify the Chair of the Nominating Committee if any vacancy cannot be filled by provisions for the President to appoint a member to fill the position.
The Nominating Committee will recommend that the Board of Directors appoint a member pro tempore to perform the duties of the vacated office until the position is filled by election by the general membership at the annual business meeting of the Caucus.
Section 4. Absences
If a member of the Board of Directors is absent for three (3) meetings within one year from regularly scheduled meetings, the position shall be considered vacant. The Executive Committee may, at its next meeting, waive that result for good cause.
Article: VIII
Section 1. Dissolution
Should this organization be dissolved or terminated in any manner, all real and personal property shall be held for use of its successor organization. In no case shall any real or personal property, or proceeds from the sale thereof, be retained to the pecuniary benefit of any member of the Caucus. In case of any eventuality not covered in this document, the Executive Committee of the Caucus is empowered to dispose of such assets in the best interests of the Caucus.
Article: IX
Section 1. Amendments
This Constitution and Bylaws may be repealed, amended or changed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those members present and eligible at the annual business session of the Caucus. Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern omissions from these bylaws, when they do not conflict with this document.
These bylaws are intended to permit the Caucus to carry out duties in its advisory capacity to NSBA consistent with the emphasis on AIAN students. These bylaws may be amended at any time by the super majority vote of the members who are present at a duly held meeting, provided that written notice of the meeting and of the proposed amendment shall be given to each member not less than (10) days nor more than (30) days before any meeting of the Caucus at which an amendment of the bylaws is to be adopted.
Section 2. Adoption
These bylaws of the National Caucus of AI/AN School Board Members of the NSBA shall become effective upon the signature of the President of both the Caucus and NSBA.
Section 3. Review
These bylaws shall be reviewed and revised accordingly at least every three years.
Approved:
___________________________
National Caucus of American Indian/Alaska
Native School Board Members
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Date
Originated:
Revised: April 1999
Adopted: April 1999
Revised: March 2000
Adopted: March 2000
Revised: September 22-23, 2000
Adopted: September 22-23, 2000
Revised: April 6, 2002
Adopted: April 8, 2002
Revised: April 7, 2003
Revised: October 2004
Adopted: April 18, 2005