Monday, September 10, 2012

Arcadia Bylaws


BYLAWS OF
ARCADIA CHARTER SCHOOL

ARTICLE 1 – NAME, PURPOSE
Section 1: The name of the organization shall be Arcadia Charter School (also Arcadia or ACS).
Section 2: The Arcadia Charter School is organized exclusively for educational purposes, more specifically to provide educational services to middle and secondary students, grades six through twelve, in the Northfield, Minnesota, area.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Membership shall consist only of members of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III – BOARD MEETINGS
Section 1: Annual meeting: The date of the regular annual meeting shall be set by the Board of Directors who shall also set the time and place.
Section 2: Regular Meeting: The Board will adopt a schedule of at least 10 regular meetings a year. The schedule shall include dates, time and place and will be kept on file.  If the Board decides to change the date, time or place it must give the same notification as required for a special meeting. Agenda will be sent out a minimum of five days before the meeting.
Section 3: Special Meeting: A special meeting is a meeting that is called because of circumstances that require timely consideration but are not of an emergency nature.  The Board chair or his/her designate may call a special meeting. A minimum notice of 3 days must be given and will include: the date, time, place, purpose and/or agenda of the meeting.
Section 4: Emergency Meeting: An “emergency” meeting is a special meeting called because of circumstances that, in the judgment of the school board, require immediate consideration.  The Board chair or his/her designate, may call an emergency meeting.  A good faith effort to notify those required as soon as practicable after notification of Board members must be made. Notice must include the purpose of the meeting, date, time and place.
Section 5: Closed Session: Closed sessions are allowed to discuss issues involving confidentiality or as defined by law. State the reason for closing a meeting, or a portion thereof, prior to closure. Ref. Minnesota Open Meeting Law for additional requirements.
Section 6: Quorum: A quorum must be attended by at least 51 percent of the Board members before business can be transacted or motions made or passed.
Section 7: Notice: Notice is valid via any of the following methods: written notice, e-mail or other electronic means, phone or direct contact.
Section 8: Electronic Meeting: Electronic meetings may take place under Board approved policy. This section has been removed from the bylaws.
Section 9: Overriding Board Decisions: Overriding a Board decision is done through a “motion to reconsider.” A two-thirds majority is needed to override.
Section 10: Grievance Procedure: The Board will establish a procedure for bringing forth and addressing grievances. This procedure will be included in Board Policy
Section 11: Conflict of Interest: Trustees shall be excluded from discussion and/or voting on issues of self dealing, conflict of interest, and confidentiality issues as defined in Board Policy. This policy shall be in accordance with charter school best practice.
Section 12: Board Policy Document: A document will be on file at ARTech to further define Board management issues. This section has been removed from the bylaws.
ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1: Board Role, Size, and Composition: The Board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the school and is accountable for its outcomes.  The Board shall hire—by a two-thirds majority vote—and delegate responsibility for day-to-day operations to the school’s Executive Director. The membership of the school board consists of nine elected directors, and will consist of three licensed teachers employed at the school, three parents or guardians of student(s) currently enrolled at Arcadia, and one interested community member who is not employed by Arcadia and does not have a child enrolled at the school and two at-large positions to be filled by either parents or community members.  The Board shall not include more than one member of a family; this includes spouse, partner or children.
Section 2: Board Compensation: The Board receives no compensation other than reasonable expenses.
Section 3: Board Elections: The school will hold an annual election of new directors or re-election of current directors to a second term.  Officers will be elected at the annual meeting. 
Section 4: Terms: Parent and community member Board members shall serve three-year terms. Board members who are licensed teachers employed by the school shall serve two-year terms. Board members will be limited to two consecutive terms.
Section 5: Officers and Duties: There shall be four officers of the Board: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.  Their duties are as follows:
The Chair shall convene regularly scheduled Board meetings and shall act as the CGO of the Board between meetings as defined by Board Policy.
The Vice-Chair will chair Board Meetings as designated by the Chair.
The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of Board actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all board meetings.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for chairing the finance committee and reviewing the school finances.
Section 6: Vacancies and New Board Members: The Board shall follow Board Policy for bringing on new members or filling Board vacancies.
Section 7: Resignation, Termination and Absences: Resignation from the Board must be received by notice to the chair. A Board member shall be dropped for excess absences from the Board if he/she has three absences from Regular Board Meetings in a year.  A Board member may be removed for any other reason by a two-thirds vote of the remaining directors.
Section 8: Staff/Board Meetings: When a Board member is denied employment or is no longer employed by Arcadia, they are automatically removed from the Board.  A two-thirds majority of the remaining Board members may override this section if it is in the best interest of the school.
ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES
Section 1: Board Committees: The Board may create committees to fulfill Board needs.
ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS
Section 1: These By-Laws may be amended when necessary by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors.  Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Chair or Secretary for Board consideration in accordance with Board Policy.
These Bylaws were approved at a meeting of the Board of Directors of Northfield School of Arts and Technology on April 15, 2004
Article IV, section 1 amended September 10, 2009
Article IV, Sections 1 and 4 amended August 25, 2011
Article III, Section 8 and 12 amended January 28, 2012
Article IV, Section 5 amended January 28, 2012
Article I, Sections 1 and 2; Article III, Sections 2, 8 and 12; Article IV, Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4:  amended August 23, 2012 by the Arcadia Charter School Board of Directors

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