ARTICLE I

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NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools and it shall be affiliated with other educational organizations in Ohio.

 

 

ARTICLE II

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MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Coalition is to advocate for and support the public schools of rural and Appalachia Ohio in the continuous improvement of educational opportunities available to the region’s children and youth. The Coalition also may support and join with similar efforts throughout the state to improve educational opportunities for all children.

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The Coalition has established four major goals in pursuing its mission:

1. To seek equity in school funding and adequacy of educational opportunity for all of Ohio’s children.

2. To support the development of educational leadership throughout the region’s public school system.

3. To identify and analyze critical policy issues and questions which impact upon the effectiveness, strength and character of the public school system and to facilitate public discussion of these issues.

4. To promote the production and use of research and sharing of successful practices related to improving educational opportunities of children and youth in rural and Appalachia Ohio.

 

ARTICLE III

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MEMBERSHIP

Every school district and other organizations in Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties who support the mission and goals of the Coalition may become a member by paying the annual dues of $325. (effective in 2010-11)

Membership will be granted to school districts and other organizations located outside the 32 Appalachian counties with payment of $325.00 annual dues and approval of the Board of Directors. Members located outside the 32 Appalachian counties will have voting rights on issues raised at the Coalition meetings but will not have representation on the Board of Directors.

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A quorum shall consist of not less than 25 percent of the paid members when voting on issues raised at Coalition membership meetings, with the exception of Article VIII of the Constitution and by-laws.

 

ARTICLE IV

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ORGANIZATION FOR GOVERNANCE

Sec. 1

A Board of Directors shall be made up of no more than 19 members, not including ex-officio members. The Board shall include the Dean of the College of Education, and two additional members from Ohio University appointed by the Dean. There shall be one elected member from each of the eight multi-county regions. The eight elected members shall appoint eight additional members, one from each multi-county region. A County Region must have a minimum of five (5) active public school district members to qualify for an elected and an appointed member on the board of directors. Elected and appointed members, other than those representing Ohio University, must be active school superintendents from a member school district. Election of board members shall be held in April. Term of office will begin July 1.

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A vacancy on the Board of Directors will be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term, by the same procedure as stated above, as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs.

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Ex-officio membership on the Board of Directors may be granted by a two-thirds vote of the full Board.

If an elected or appointed member of the board of directors fails to attend at least one board of directors or membership meeting during the twelve month period, July 1 through June 30, the President shall move that director to ex-officio status for the duration of his/her term and appoint a superintendent from his/her region to fill the elected or appointed vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

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Multi-County Regions:

• County Region 1 – Clermont, Brown, Highland and Ross

• County Region 2 – Adams, Pike, Scioto and Lawrence

• County Region 3 – Hocking, Vinton, Gallia and Jackson

• County Region 4 – Perry, Morgan, Athens and Meigs

• County Region 5 – Belmont, Noble, Monroe and Washington

• County Region 6 – Holmes, Coshocton, Muskingum and Guernsey

• County Region 7 – Carroll, Tuscarawas, Harrison, and Jefferson

• County Region 8 – Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull

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The term of office for elected, appointed and ex-officio board members shall be for three years. The elected and appointed board members term of office in each multi-county region shall be concurrent.

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Sec. 2

Election of officers shall be held in April or May. The officers shall be President and President-elect and will be elected by the Board of Directors. Officers must be selected from current members of the Board of Directors. Additional qualification for the President-elect shall be at least two-years remaining on his/her term in office. The officers shall assume their duties on July 1.

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Sec. 3

The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of four times each year and on call of the President.

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Sec. 4

In case that a vacancy among officers occurs during the year, election shall be conducted to fill the position at the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

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ARTICLE V

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DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Sec. 1

It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings and enforce all rules.

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Sec. 2

The President-elect shall assist the President, preside in his/her absence and serve as chairperson of the Legislative Committee.

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ARTICLE VI

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sec.1

Shall serve as liaison with the State Department of Education, OSBA, BASA, and other educational and governmental agencies. The Executive Director will collect, conduct, research, and disseminate financial, cultural, employment, and educational data relative to rural and Appalachian Ohio school district needs.

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Sec. 2

Shall keep rural and Appalachian Ohio school districts informed of Current legislation, political activity, pertinent Ohio Department of Education initiatives and other pertinent data affecting their school districts.

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Sec. 3

Shall develop support documentation for legislative positions being supported and/or promoted by the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools. The Executive Director shall report these positions to legislators, membership, other professional organizations, and the State Department of Education.

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Sec. 4

Shall implement professional development opportunities for the membership of the Coalition.

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Sec. 5.

Shall serve as Secretary/Treasurer of the Coalition.

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Sec. 6

Shall establish working committees and, with mutual consent, appoint members to serve on these committees. The Executive Director shall appoint members to serve on the standing Legislative Committee, with the exception of the provision in ARTICLE V, Section 2; and appoint Coalition members to serve on the standing Leadership and Research Committee.

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ARTICLE VII

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MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

Sec. 1

The Board of Directors shall, prior to the beginning of each school year, assess the number of meetings necessary to carry out the Coalition objectives.

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Sec. 2

In the event of scheduling conflicts, the President may reschedule membership meeting. A special membership meeting may be called by the President or upon the request of three members of the Coalition.

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Sec. 3

The Board of Directors and the Executive Director shall plan professional development programs based upon needs assessment of membership.

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ARTICLE VIII

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AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Coalition by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided such amendments have been presented at a previous meeting.

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REVISED:

10/89, 10/90, 7/91, 6/98, 10/00

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Amendment:

Article IV, Section 1, paragraph 4 approved 01/31/06

SPECIAL NOTE: All Articles and Sections of the Revised Constitution and By-laws adopted on October 27, 2000 shall be effective immediately upon ratification by the membership, except Article IV, Section 1, which becomes effective on July 1, 2002.

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The Constitution and By-Laws were edited on September 10, 2009 to include three (3) new counties designated by the federal government in 2008 as part of the Ohio Appalachian region. The editing was approved by the CORAS Board of Directors on September 10, 2009.