MASE Constitution & Bylaws Click Here
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ARTICLE I – NAME
Section 1 The name of this organization shall be the
Minnesota Administrators for Special Education, hereinafter referred to as
MASE.
Section 2 MASE shall be
affiliated with the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), the
Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA), and the Minnesota
Council for Exceptional Children (MN CEC).
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
MASE is organized to promote professional leadership,
provide the opportunity for study of problems common to its members, and to
communicate, through discussion and publications, information that will develop
improved services for exceptional children. Further, its purpose is to foster high
quality programs of professional development for members, to make studies of
selected programs that relate to services to children with disabilities,
improving the leadership of administrators for special education and to be
active in the legislative process.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Membership
Categories:
A. Voting Membership:
Voting
membership permits members in good standing to attend all MASE meetings,
workshop and seminars; receive all MASE publications; vote on all questions
presented to the membership; chair or serve on MASE Committees; and run for a
MASE elected office.
1. MASE Active
Membership:
Active Membership is open to any person who is
employed as an administrator for special education or former administrator
currently employed in another capacity serving exceptional children. Active Membership includes the Director of Special
Education of record, Assistant Directors of Special Education, Special
Education Coordinators and other persons on administrative contract who
oversee, direct, supervise or coordinate a program, school or classes for
special education as a primary job responsibility.
Active
members of MASE are encouraged to become active members of the Council of
Administrators of Special Education (CASE).
2. MASE Active
Plus MASA Membership:
Active Plus MASA Membership is
open to any person who is eligible for Active Membership and also desires
membership in the affiliate organization, the Minnesota Association of School
Administrators (MASA), or any active MASA member who wishes to also be a MASE
Active Member. Active Plus MASA members receive all MASA member services and
publications in addition to MASE services.
B. Non-voting Membership:
Non-voting membership permits members in good standing to attend all
MASE meetings, workshops and seminars; receive MASE publications; and serve on
MASE committees.
1. MASE Associate Membership
Associate Membership is open to any
person in Minnesota who oversees, directs, coordinates or serves as a lead
teacher for a program, school or classes for special education as a major job
responsibility; and is employed as a ‘teacher on special assignment’ (TOSA) or
similar non-administrative contract arrangement.
2. MASE Service Membership:
Service
Membership is open to any person in Minnesota who is actively engaged in or
associated with any phase of special education leadership, but who does not
qualify for Active or Associate membership. Service Membership includes college
faculty members whose major responsibility is the professional preparation of
administrators for special education, professional special education staff
employed by the MN Department of Education, and general education
administrators who serve in a public or private school, district, cooperative, regional, state, or other administrative
unit.
3. MASE
Service Plus MASA Membership:
Service Plus
MASA membership is open to any person who is eligible for Service Membership
and also desires membership in the affiliate organization, the Minnesota Association
of School Administrators (MASA), or any MASA member who wishes to also be a
MASE Service Member. Service Plus MASA members must also meet the membership
requirements of MASA. Service Plus MASA members receive all MASA member
services and publications in addition to MASE services.
4. MASE Student Membership
Student
membership is open to any person in Minnesota who is a graduate student in the
field of special education administration and who is not eligible for Active or
Associate membership.
5. MASE Retired Membership:
Retired
Membership is open to any MASE member in good standing who retires from
employment in Minnesota, or upon approval by the Board of Directors.
Section 2 Membership
Dues:
The MASE Board
of Directors shall set dues for each membership category including combined
memberships.
Section 3 Membership
Year:
The membership
year shall be from July 1 to June 30.
Section 4 Rights and
Responsibilities:
A. Membership shall be contingent upon approval by
the MASE Board of Directors and payment of fees according to the existing
schedule as established by the Board.
B. Each Active Member in good
standing shall have one vote, which may be cast in person or by ballot.
C. Any member may be suspended or
expelled from membership by a two-thirds vote of the MASE Board of Directors.
Such suspension or expulsion may occur only after the member has had an
opportunity for a hearing before the Board.
ARTICLE IV – PECUNIARY RELEASE
No pecuniary gain, incidentally or otherwise, shall
be realized by the members, officers or directors.
ARTICLE V – MEETING OF MEMBERS
Section 1 There shall be
an annual meeting of the members at such time and place as established by the
Board of Directors. Notice of time and place of such annual meeting shall be
mailed out to each member at least fifteen days before such meeting, together
with a summary of any report or proposal to be acted upon by the members at
such meeting. Members must receive at least a one-week notice before a special
general meeting.
Section 2 Special meeting
of the members may be called by the President, or by the Board of Directors, or
by twenty-five members. Notice of such special meeting shall be mailed to
members not less than five, but no more that thirty days prior to said meeting
stating the time, place and the expressed purpose of said special meeting. A
special meeting may be conducted through electronic communication with the
membership and action that requires a vote can be taken through an electronic
or mail ballot.
Section 3 A quorum of
membership meeting shall be a least twenty-five percent of the Active Members.
Section 4 Each Active
Member shall have one vote, which may be cast in person or by mail ballot.
There shall be no voting by proxy.
Section 5 Any action by
the Board of Directors may be repealed or modified by a two-thirds majority
vote of the Active Membership present at the next regularly scheduled meeting
of MASE.
ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS
Section 1 Conditions of
Office
A. MASE officers must be Active
Members in good standing in MASE. Officers must be a member of CASE while
serving their term of office.
B. MASE shall provide for the usual
officers (see Section 2 of this Article) as selected by systematic democratic
procedures, with appropriate authority to serve in the function of their
offices as described below.
Section 2 The officers of
MASE shall be as follows: President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and
Past-President.
Section 3 The President,
President-Elect and Past President shall each serve a one (1) year term. The
Secretary and the Treasurer shall be elected for a two (2) year term. The
Treasurer shall be elected in odd-numbered years and the secretary shall be
elected in even-numbered years. All elected officers shall begin their duties
with the new fiscal year, which is July 1 to June 30.
Section 4 In case of a
vacancy occurring in the office of President, the President-Elect shall assume
the office of President. In case of a vacancy occurring in the office of the
President-Elect, the office shall remain vacant until the next annual business
meeting of the MASE Membership. During the interim, however, the President,
with the approval of the officers, shall appoint an acting President-Elect
until a replacement can be duly elected.
Section 5 In case of a
vacancy occurring in the office of Secretary or Treasurer, the President, with
the approval of the officers, shall appoint a temporary replacement to serve
until the next annual business meeting of MASE.
Section 6 The President shall preside at the annual
business meeting of MASE and at the meeting of the Board of Directors. S/he
shall appoint ad hoc committee chairpersons subject to the approval of the
officers. This officer shall act for MASE between annual meetings, clearing, by
mail, telephone, e-mail or other forms of electronic communication whenever
necessary, important actions with the officers. The President, or such
alternate as s/he may designate, shall represent MASE at meetings of other
groups where MASE representation is desired or required. The President may
appoint a parliamentarian to serve at all business meetings of MASE.
Section 7 The President-Elect shall serve in the event
of resignation or absence of the President. S/he shall serve as Co-chair of the
Strategic Planning Committee, appoint a Chair/Co-chair-Elect to each Standing Committee,
and have such other responsibilities as necessary in regard to matters as
delegated by the President and/or Board of Directors.
Section 8 The Past President shall serve as Co-chair
of the Legislative Committee and have such other responsibilities as necessary
in regard to matters delegated by the President and/or Board of Directors.
Section 9 The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes
of MASE meetings and meetings of the officers. S/he shall carry on
correspondence and other responsibilities as necessary in regard to matters as
delegated by the President and/or Board of Directors.
Section 10 The Treasurer shall oversee the receipt and
disbursement, upon proper authorization, all funds of MASE. S/he shall keep an
accurate record of receipts and expenditures, and present a report at each
annual meeting. . The Treasurer shall draw up a proposed budget for the
forthcoming year and submit it at the annual business meeting. S/he shall carry
on financial and other responsibilities as necessary in regard to matters as
delegated by the President and/or Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The governing body of MASE shall be known as the
Board of Directors. The Board shall be composed of the Elected Officers, MASA
Special Education Component Group Representative(s) and the following Area
Representatives:
MASE Areas: (MASA
Regions)
Area A (Regions
8)
Area B (Region
7)
Area C (Region
4)
Area D (Region 5
and 6)
Area E (Regions
3)
Area F1 (Region
2)
Area F2 (Region
1)
Area G (Region 9
E)
Area H (Region 9
W)
Section 1 MASE Board
members shall be assigned to the Area within which their office of principle
employment is located.
Section 2 Directors
shall hold office for a term of two (2) years, as stated below:
A. Directors from Areas B, D, F-1
and G shall be elected in odd-numbered years.
B. Directors from Areas A, C, E,
F-2 and H shall be elected in even-numbered years.
Section 3 The Directors
representing each Area must be active members of MASE. Directors shall be
elected by the membership of each Area at a regularly called meeting with due
notice of the meeting and election to active members. Election results are to
be reported to the MASE President prior to June 1.
Section 4 The Directors
shall take office July 1 following their election.
Section 5 Each Area may
designate an alternate to their elected Director representative if they so
choose. The alternate will receive all Board of Director mailings and may
attend all scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors. However, they will
only have voting privileges when the Director representative for their Area is
absent.
Section 6 Vacancies to
fill an unexpired term in the Board of Directors shall be filled in the same
manner as their original election.
Section 7 The
Board of Directors shall meet on at least two separate occasions each year and
at such other times as is deemed necessary. A meeting of the Board of Directors
may be called by the President or by any two (2) of the Directors. At least a
five-day prior notice shall be given for any such meeting. Any action that
could be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a
meeting, when authorized in writing by a quorum (more than one-half of the
Board).
Section 8 The
national CASE and MN CEC liaisons shall be ex officio members of the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES
Section 1 Standing Committees:
A. Nominations Committee:
The Nominations Committee shall be
chaired by the immediate Past-President and shall:
- recruit and
recommend candidates as potential MASE officers;
- nominate persons
for recognition and awards;
- develop and
implement a system for identifying recipients and awarding scholarships; and
B. Legislative Committee:
The Legislative Committee:
1. annually develops a Legislative Platform for
approval by the MASE Board;
- responds to
proposed legislation, regulations and/or rules at the federal and state level;
and
C. Professional Development Committee:
The Professional Development
Committee:
- develops and
provides high quality professional development opportunities to MASE members
and to other current and future special education leaders;
- coordinates fund
raising activities with the Benson/Stenswick Scholarship Program and Minnesota
Special Education Leaders Foundation (MN SELF);
- acts as liaison between the Board and MN SELF;
and
- performs other similar duties at the direction
of the President and/or Board of Directors.
D. Strategic Planning Committee
The Strategic Planning Committee:
1. reviews the progress, reports and makes
recommendations to the President and Board of Directors regarding the MASE
Strategic Plan;
2. annually reviews the Constitution and Bylaws
for consistency with current practice and alignment with the Strategic Plan;
- drafts changes to the Constitution and Bylaws for consideration by the Board of Directors, pursuant to Article XII XIV, as necessary and appropriate; and
- performs other similar duties at the direction of the President and/or Board of Directors.
E. Membership
Committee
The
Membership Committee:
- designs and
implements a recruitment plan to increase MASE membership;
- evaluates and recommends member
services to the Board of Directors;
- provides membership updates
periodically to the Board; and
- performs other similar duties at
the direction of the President and/or Board of Directors.
F.
Communications
Committee
The
Communications Committee:
- solicits
information from Board members and committees chairs regarding communication
needs of the organization;
- designs
coordinated strategies for the internal and external communications of MASE;
- provides
periodic reports to the MASE Board on the work of the communication committee;
- evaluates
the effectiveness of communication strategies;
- makes budget
recommendations to secure necessary resources for communication activities; and
Section 2 Committee Chairpersons
will select committee members based on interest response and attempt to recruit
a representative member from each Area. All Committee Chairpersons will serve a
two-year term. S/he will serve the
first year in the capacity of Chair-Elect and the second year as Committee
Chairperson. Chairpersons may appoint subcommittees to carryout specific tasks
in fulfilling the mission of their respective Committee.
Section 3 Ad Hoc
Committees shall be formed by the President when it is deemed to be in the best
interests of MASE. The Board of Directors shall approve such Ad Hoc Committees
at their regular meeting, or approval may be granted by a majority vote of the
membership present at the annual meeting or special meeting called for that
purpose.
Section 4 The President
shall have the discretion to appoint members to serve as representatives of
MASE to other organizations. Such representation shall be approved, on an
annual basis, by the Board of Directors. All appointees are responsible for
reporting, in writing, to the President at least annually.
ARTICLE IX – CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS
Section 1 The Board of Directors shall execute any
contractual agreements and contents thereof. When said agreement includes the
employment of any person, the Board of Directors shall determine and outline
the duties and business functions of that position.
Section 2 The evaluation
of the performance of any contracted staff shall be the responsibility of the
Board of Directors of MASE.
Section 3 The Board of
Directors shall have the authority to approve and execute any and all other
contractual agreements by majority vote of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X – FISCAL YEAR AND AUDIT
The fiscal year of the Association shall end on June
30 of each year, and each year the financial budget shall be audited by an
auditing committee appointed by the President, upon approval by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE XI – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revised edition,
shall control parliamentary procedures.
ARTICLE XII
- BUSINESS SPONSORSHIP
Section 1. Benefits
A
business sponsorship can be secured by a for profit or non profit
organization that provides support to the mission of MASE. The business sponsorship
will be recorded in the name of the organization and the designated
representative. Business sponsors shall be provided the MASE newsletter and
invitation to events held by the MASE organization.
Section 2 Fees
Sponsorship fees shall be set by the MASE Board based upon
recommendations of the Treasure as part of the annual budget planning process
ARTICLE
XIII – POLICY
The need for the development of policies to guide the work of the Board
and committees will be determined through an annual review of the strategic
planning committee. The strategic planning committee in cooperation with the
standing committee chairs and Board members will develop specific policy
language and make final recommendations to the Board.
Section 1. Legality
The policies of MASE shall conform with applicable state and federal
laws against discrimination.
Section 2. Enforcement
It is the responsibility of the Board and Officers of MASE to ensure
that policies are followed and to take necessary action to correct any
situation that results in a violation of policy.
Section 3. Continuation
Policies shall remain in force from year to year unless amended or
eliminated by action of the Board.
Section 4. Reading
The Board of Directors of MASE will adopt or revise policies at any
regular Board meeting or a special meeting conducted in person or by mail for
the purpose of changing, adding, or deleting a policy.
1. First Reading: Presentation of proposed new or revised policies as an
item of information/discussion/modification.
2. Second Reading: Presentation of policy for second reading in original
or modified form. Final consideration is given for adoption by the Board.
Section 5. Adoption
A policy shall be considered adopted after the second reading with a
majority vote of Board members present or voting by mail by an established
deadline when a quorum is secured.
Section 6. Effective
date
New or revised policies shall be effective immediately upon approval /
adoption of the Board unless otherwise specified at the time of adoption.
Section 7. Policy
manual
A MASE policy manual shall be maintained with revisions dated as
approved. A review of the policy manual will be conducted annually by the
strategic planning committee.
ARTICLE XIV AMENDMENTS
Amendments may be proposed by any member of MASE and
submitted to the Board of Directors for consideration and action.
Proposed amendments shall be submitted
to the Board of Directors in sufficient time to notify the membership, at least
thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting or special meeting called for that
purpose.
The By - Laws may be amended by a majority vote of
those members present at an annual meeting or special meeting at which a quorum
is present, or by a two-thirds majority of those members voting thereon by
ballot.
Effective
date of change – upon approval of the membership as indicated by a majority
vote.
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Proposed revision 12/01/06
Approved 10/11/07
