APSAC Constitution and ByLaws

Constitution and By-Laws
(Revised Sept. 2004)

ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be THE ASSOCIATION OF PUPIL SERVICES AND ATTENDANCE COUNSELORS and will be composed of members stated in Article III.

ARTICLE II
PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE
Section I - Philosophy

A. We believe that the student, the parent/guardian, the classroom teacher, and pupil personnel counselors are indispensable parts of the educational system, working cooperatively in the student's best interest.

B. We believe that the classroom teacher is the essential, indispensable part of the educational system, and that all other personnel and services exist to augment, facilitate, and make more effective the work of the classroom teacher.

C. We believe that teachers and other professional personnel in the Los Angeles Unified School District are responsible for the education of children. They have a right to expect that the staff of the Pupil Services and Attendance Student Attendance and Adjustment Services Branch provide a helping service in those areas where problems, either internal or environmental interfere with the learning of others.

D. We believe that this helping service should include proficiency in the following areas:

1. To act as an advocate for the child

2. To use meaningful relationships in direct interviews with children and members of their families toward resolving school centered problems.

3. To understand the dynamics at work in of the community and making to make good use of community resources toward accomplishing the goals of the school.

4. To work cooperatively and effectively with other professional's persons in the school and community.

E. We believe that our work with children and families working with troubled children is a specialized service requiring requires specialized training.; that to make a child accessible to education requires skills different from those used in making education available to a child Our goal is to make education accessible to all.

Section 2 - Purpose

A. To support and promote services to children.
B. To serve and advance the professional interest of the members.
C. To stimulate and promote the professional growth of the individual members.
D. To work cooperatively with other professional organizations.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Professional membership in this organization shall be limited open to individuals employed as Student Attendance and Adjustment Services with the Pupil Services and Attendance Branch, both past and present, Counselors, past and present, in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Section 2 - Associate membership shall be open to any employee of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Section 3 - Retirement membership shall be open to retired Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors.

Section 4- Student membership shall be open to college/university students.

Section 5 - Payment of annual dues of the Association as provided in the By-Laws shall constitute membership. Membership dues are in effect from July thru June.

Section 6 - The general membership shall be the governing body of this organization.

ARTICLE IV
ELECTED OFFICERS AND TERM OF OFFICE
Section 1 - Elective offices of the Association shall be: President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate Past President.

Section 2 - Each Pupil Services and Attendance office of Student Attendance, Pupil Services and Attendance shall have a representative be known as Area representative.

Section 3 - All administrative elected officers and area representatives shall constitute the Executive Board. No member may hold two positions on the Executive Board.

Section 4 - Elected officers chosen by the general membership will take office for year beginning on the date at which the Association Luncheon is held in June of each year.

Section 5 - Each area office will elect its representative prior to September of each school year; and this representative shall take office at the first executive meeting thereafter.

Section 6 - The Executive Board shall appoint members to fill unexpired terms of elected officers. Vacancies When a vacancy occurs, vacancies in the office of area representative shall be filled by the membership of the office concerned.

ARTICLE V
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1 - All elective officers shall be elected by the membership by secret ballot at an area election meeting called by the President no later than May 15th June 1st. of each year.

Section 2 - The Nominating Committee shall consist of the President Elect, and elected area representatives. They shall meet at least thirty days before the election and shall be authorized to meet as many times as needed to complete the nominations. They shall elect their own chairman and be responsible for the presentation of a single slate of officers nominees, all of whom shall have agreed to serve if elected. This slate of officers nominees shall be approved by the Executive Board, after which written notices of the election of the slate of nominees shall be sent by the chairman to each area representative for posting not later than ten school days prior to the election.

Section 3 - Other nominations, in addition to the slate presented by the nominating committee, may be made by presenting a written petition to the President five working days prior to the election meeting.

Section 3- After all nominations have been presented to the membership at their respective area meetings, A vote will be required by secret ballot whenever there is more than one nominee for a particular office. When there is only on nominee, the President shall confirm the nominations for all uncontested offices. A majority vote shall be required for the election.

ARTICLE VI
DUTIES OF ELECTIVE OFFICERS AREA REPRESENTATIVE
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1 - All elected officers and area representatives shall be responsible for attending all meetings pertaining to their office.

Section 2 - The President shall:

1. Represent all the membership to the best of his/her ability.

2. Appoint special committees and coordinate all Association committee activities.

3. Represent the Association and its polices in all related professional functions.

4. Coordinate activities with other professional groups.

5. Serve in other related functions as directed by the Executive Board.

Section 3 - President Elect shall:

1. Shall Serve as the presidential Aide assistant and shall may accompany the President at all meetings with individuals or groups concerning APSAC business, when convenient to all concerned.

2. Shall Assist the President in representing the association and its policies in all related professional functions.

3. Shall Assist the President in coordinating activities with other professional groups.

Section 4 - The Vice-President shall:

1. Preside in the absence of the President.

2. Serve as Membership Chairman Maintain an accurate roster of Association members.

3. Assist the President in the performance of his/her duties.

4. Be Act as the Program Chairman.

Section 5 - The Recording Secretary shall:

1. Take and maintain a permanent record of the minutes of all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board.

2. Transmit copies of the minutes of all meetings to each officer.

3. Be responsible for all Association and committee reports and documents and maintain a special file of committee reports and of policy statements as adopted by the Association.

4. Delegate an assistant to type and duplicate material Compile and distribute materials for the Association.

Section 6 - The Corresponding Secretary shall:

1. Be responsible for the correspondence of the Association.

2. Serve in the absence of the Recording Secretary.

3. Send correspondence to Pupil Services staff experiencing significant life events such as births, bereavements or illnesses.

4. Perform other duties as assigned.

Section 7 - The Treasurer shall:

1. Receive and discharge funds of the Association, keep financial records, and make periodic reports.

2. Submit records for an annual internal audit as directed by the Executive Board.

3. Serve as an ex-officio member and consultant on any committee in matters relating to the use of funds.

4. Coordinate collections and special assessments with area representatives.

5. Maintain an accurate roster of the Association membership.

6. Advance money on authorization of the Board of Directors Executive Board for expenses for printing of the minutes, and printing of agendas.

Section 8 - The Area Representative shall:

1. Represent his/her area office on the Executive Board and report regularly to his/her area regarding Association business.

2. Recruit new members.

Section 9 - The Executive Board shall:

1. Ascertain and carry out the mandates of the membership and keep members informed of its actions.

2. Coordinate and monitor the business matters of the organization.

3. Review work of special committees.

ARTICLE VII
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
Section 1 - An administrative elected officer may be removed from office for just cause on the vote of two-thirds of the total membership This action may be initiated by petition signed by twenty percent of the total membership. Notice of this proposed action shall be sent to the area representatives for posting at least ten school days prior to a general membership meeting. If an officer is removed, a special election shall be held at a general membership meeting.

Section 2 - Area representatives may be recalled from office and/or replaced by a vote of two-thirds of the membership of the area office concerned.

ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS
Section 1 - General membership meetings can be called at any time when, in the judgment of' the President and/or the Executive Board, it is necessary for the members to convene. Written notice Notice shall be sent to area offices for posting at least five working days prior to the meeting.

Section 2 - On written petition of twenty percent of the members, together with duplicated copies for each area office showing names of petitioners, the President shall be required to call a general membership meeting to discuss important business. Such a meeting must be called during a school year and shall be more than twenty working days after the submission of the petition.

Section 3 - Executive Board meetings shall be held at least monthly during the school year, and shall be open to the general membership. The Executive Board shall be authorized to meet during the vacations and act in behalf of the membership on matters requiring attention. Thirty-three percent of the membership of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum, provided all members have been notified of the meeting. by U.S. Mail at their official address.

Section 4 - Area meetings shall may be regularly scheduled at the convenience of members within each area. The Executive Board may refer specific written proposals for voting by the membership in area meetings and may set a due date for such a vote. When totaled, such a vote will be a valid vote of the general membership. Thirty-three percent of the membership within an area shall constitute a quorum for area meetings, provided all members have been notified of the meeting.

Section 5 - Twenty percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum for conducting business at a general meeting.

Section 6 - All meetings will be conducted in an orderly manner following standard parliamentary procedure governed by Roberts Rules of Order, Revised Edition.

ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Any portion of this Constitution document may amended by two-thirds of the members present, provided there is a quorum present, at a meeting called an announced for this purpose. Notice of said meeting, and a copy of the proposed change shall be sent to the area representatives for posting at least ten school days prior to the date of said meeting. Proposed changes will also be available on the APSAC web site and sent via email.

BY-LAWS
Article 1 - Membership shall be effective for eligible persons upon payment of dues. Dues shall be fifteen dollars per school year. An eligible person can become an active member at any time by payment of annual dues. Professional dues are $20. Associate membership is $15. Retiree and Student membership is $10.

Article 2 - No expenditure shall be made unless it has had approval of the Executive Board by recorded vote in the minutes.

Article 3 - All committees shall be responsible to the Executive Board.

A. Special committees may be appointed by the President with the concurrence of the Executive Board to carry out specific assignments, and it shall be included in the minutes of the APSAC Executive Board. A special committee has no jurisdiction outside the specific assignment and shall make its report to the Board. Upon completion of such an assignment, the committee will automatically terminate.

B. Standing committees may consist of an elected representative from each area. Each chairman appointed by the President shall be responsible to the new chairman for the transmission of committee files. Committee recommendations shall be presented to the Executive Board for appropriate action.
Standing Committees shall be:

1. Professional Standards Committee responsibilities:

a. Analyze and evaluate continuously the goals of the members in relationship to their role in developing a better service to children in our school system.
b. Serve as a committee to clarify and interpret the role of the pupil services and attendance counselor as a part of the educational process in LAUSD.
c. Assume other related assignments as directed by the Executive Board.

2. Personnel Practices Committee responsibilities:

a. Study personnel practices and professional relationships within the department.
b. Hear grievances and make recommendations to the Executive Board for action.
c. Assume other related assignments as directed by the Executive Board.

Article 4 - By-Laws can be amended by majority vote of the membership at a meeting called for such a purpose, provided a quorum is present, and provided the proposed amendment has been sent to the areas in writing at least ten days prior to the date of said meeting. The Executive Board may, by two-thirds vote of its membership, authorize voting upon proposed By-Law changes through area meetings provided ten days written notice is given together with the proposed amendment.

STANDING RULES

1. Elected officers and chairmen of standing committees must have at least probationary status in the Pupil Services and Attendance Branch at the time of their election.

2. The President shall receive an expense allowance of twenty dollars per month for the school year.

3. The President may appoint a Parliamentarian as needed.

4. Necessary expenses for typing and duplicating services shall be provided. Minutes shall be mailed to the area offices within seven school days after each meeting.

5. The Past President shall continue on the Executive Board in a voting, advisory capacity.

6. Any officer or executive committee member who represents the Association as a conference delegate shall be reimbursed for conference expense up to a maximum of $30.00 per conference.

With prior approval from the Executive Board, an Association member may attend as a substitute if no executive member or officer is in attendance.