Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals

Enacted October 1998  

900.0 BYLAWS

900.1 Bylaws

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Article I-Name

Article II-Purpose

Article III-Membership

Article IV-Officers and Committees

Article V-Powers and Duties of Officers and Committees

Article VI-Meetings

Article VII-Amendments

Article VIII-Roberts’ Rules

Article IX-Dues

Article X

Article XI

 

INTRODUCTION

The Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals became an autonomous organization in 1935 with John H. Tyson of Upper Darby being elected as its first president.  It is a professional organization of secondary school principals and other levels of school administrators as well.  It is an affiliate of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.  PASSP works cooperatively with the Pennsylvania Association of Elementary School Principals.

 

The Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals is administered by an Executive Board composed of the elected and appointed officers and thirteen members: three from Eastern Pennsylvania, three from Central Pennsylvania, four from Western Pennsylvania, one Assistant Principal elected at large, one Middle Level Administrator at large, and one NASSP Coordinator.

 

The National Association of Secondary School Principals of which PASSP is an affiliate is said to be the most prestigious educational organization in the world.  PASSP has supplied six presidents for the National Association as follows:

1918-1919                               William D. Lewis, Philadelphia

1922-1923                               Edward Rynearson, Pittsburgh

1940-1941                               Oscar Granger, Upper Darby

1960-1961                               James E. Nancarrow, Upper Darby

1972-1973                               Edwin B. Keim, Cheltenham-Glenside

1993-1994                               H. Dale Spaulding, Lampeter-Strasburg

 

ARTICLE I-Name

The name of this organization shall be the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals.  This organization is an affiliate of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

 

ARTICLE II-Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be:

Section A. To improve the educational program for the youth of the commonwealth. 

Section B. To participate actively in the formation and application of educational policies as an agency cooperating with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and other appropriate educational organizations.

 

Section C. To foster the development, acceptance and application of desirable ideals among professional educators in secondary schools.

 

Section D. To promote the activities of city, county, or regional organizations of secondary school administrators and supervisors.

 

Section E. To promote the welfare of the members of this organization.

 

Section F. To affiliate with other organizations of similar purpose, under such arrangements as shall from time to time be approved by the majority of those present at any annual meeting of the membership or at meetings of the Executive Board.

 

ARTICLE II-Membership

 

Section A. The membership of the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals shall consist of two classes: individual and institutional.

 

Section B.  Individual members include:

1.  Active membership is open to all persons engaged in the practice of secondary school administration, the teaching of secondary school administration, the supervision of teachers and/or administrators and all others covered under Act 93 compensation plans upon payment of annual dues.

 

2.  Retired membership is open to all members who have retired from active service in education upon payment of annual dues or the payment of a lifetime membership fee.

 

3.  Student membership is available to graduate students of educational administration who are not eligible for active membership and is available upon endorsement of their faculty advisor.  Student members shall receive the regular publications of the Association and shall be entitled to register at the Annual Conference and all workshops at the member rate.  They are not eligible for legal assistance.

 

4.  Honorary Life membership may be awarded to a member of the association whose contribution to the association is of such a nature and extent that the Executive Board votes unanimously to confer this honor.

 

5.  Special membership may be extended to those who do not qualify under Sections B1, B2, B3 and B4 (e.g. persons on full-year sabbatical leave).  Membership must be approved by the Executive Board.  The Executive Board shall have the right to waive or adjust the dues.

 

Section C.  Institutional membership is open to all secondary schools, libraries and other educational institutions in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania upon payment of annual dues.  Institutional members shall receive copies of all publications of this organization.

 

ARTICLE IV-Officers and Committees

 

Section A.  The officers of the Association shall be:

 

1.  President-elected by the membership

 

2.  President-elect-elected by the membership

 

3. Treasurer -- appointed by the President

 

4. Secretary - elected by the membership

 

5..  Immediate Past President-upon conclusion of his/her presidency

 

Section B.  The President, President-elect, and immediate Past President shall be in office for one year commencing at the conclusion of the annual meeting and ending when their successors are duly appointed. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the President for a three year term to ensure continuity of the financial programs.  The Secretary shall be elected for a three year term.

 

Section C.  The Executive Board of the Association shall be composed of:

 

1.  the President

 

2.  the President-elect

 

3.  the Executive Director-ex-officio

 

4. the Treasurer

 

5.  the Secretary

 

6.  the Immediate Past President

 

7.  the NASSP Coordinator

 

8. twelve members:

 

a.  An assistant principal and middle level administrator,  elected at large by the membership to the Executive Board for a term of three years.  To maintain this position the member must continue to serve as an assistant principal or middle level administrator during the term of office.

 

b. Ten regional members shall be elected, one by the membership of each region, for terms of three years.  These elected members of the Executive Board shall be representative of the administrative division of secondary education with  representation from the geographic regions in the Commonwealth as follows:

 

Eastern Section:

Region I-Susquehanna, Wayne, Lackawanna, Wyoming and Luzerne Counties.

Region II-Monroe, Carbon, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Northampton, Berks and Pike

     Counties.

Region III-Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Philadelphia and Delaware Counties.

 

Central Section:

Region I-McKean, Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Lycoming,

   Clearfield, Centre, and Sullivan Counties.

Region II-Union, Northumberland, Columbia, Snyder, Montour, Dauphin, Perry,

     Lebanon, Cumberland, Lancaster, Franklin, Adams and York Counties.

Region III-Somerset, Bedford, Fulton, Juniata, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Blair and

      Cambria Counties.

 

Western Region:

Region I-Erie, Warren, Crawford, Venango, Forest, Clarion and Jefferson

   Counties.

Region II-Mercer, Lawrence, Beaver, Butler, Armstrong and Indiana Counties.

Region III-Washington, Greene, Fayette, Allegheny, and Westmoreland Counties;

                

Region IV-City of Pittsburgh

 

Beginning in 1999 with the addition of West Region IV, four regional members of the Executive Board, one from the East, one from the Central, and two from the West are to be elected by the membership every third year.  Three regional members of the Executive Board, one from the East, one from the Central, and one from the West are to be elected by the membership in other years.

 

Section D. A NASSP Coordinator shall be appointed by the president and approved by the Executive Board for a term of three years. An assistant may be appointed during the transition period.

 

Section E.  The officers, members of the Executive Board and the NASSP Coordinator shall be active members of the Association. In the event that an officer or an Executive Board member becomes ineligible for active membership during his or her term of office, he or she shall submit a resignation with termination on or before the conclusion of the annual conference.

 

Section F.  In the case of a vacancy in the office of President, the President-elect shall assume the office of the President until the Executive Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting shall appoint a successor to complete the unexpired term.  In the case of a vacancy in the positions of other officers, Executive Board members or NASSP Coordinator, the President shall fill the position with the approval of the Executive Board.

 

Section G.  Tie votes shall be corrected by a reelection.  In the event that a second tie occurs, the Executive Board shall make the selection.

Section H.  The president shall have authority to appoint such other committees and advisors as may from time to time be deemed desirable.

 

Section I.  Standing Committees shall be appointed by the President-elect with the approval of the Executive Board.  Committee recommendations shall be submitted to the Executive Board at the July meeting, and the members shall take office at the conclusion of the annual meeting.

 

Standing Committees shall be organized so that membership is selected with a view of committee purpose, efficient use of association funds and maximum involvement of Association members.

 

Standing Committees shall include:

 

1.  Annual Committees that may change membership each year and include designated members.

Budget and Management                        Middle Level Administrators

Conference                                             Joint Management Committee

Building and Maintenance                       Joint Retirees

Nominating                                             Awards

Assistant Principals Conference

 

2.  Rotating Statewide Committees shall have three-year memberships. It is recommended that one-third of the members be scheduled for appointment each year. Members will represent the entire state.

Membership                                          Community Service

Curriculum                                             Public Relations

Legislative (joint with PAESP)             Resolutions

Publications (joint with PAESP)           Bylaws

Funding (joint with PAESP)

 

Designated memberships for the Annual Committee shall include the following considerations:

The Budget and Management Committee shall be made up of the President, the President-elect, the immediate Past President, the Treasurer and the Secretary.

 

The Conference Committee shall be drawn primarily from the region (East, Central, or West) where the conference is to take place but should have representatives from both next year’s conference region and last year’s conference region.

 

The Joint Management Committee shall be composed of the President, the President-elect, the immediate Past President, the Treasurer and the NASSP Coordinator.

 

The Building Maintenance Committee shall be drawn primarily from the immediate area around Harrisburg and the office building and shall include the immediate Past President and Treasurer.

 

The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by a non-officer but shall include the President, the President-elect, immediate Past President and chairpersons of the major statewide committees.

 

No person shall serve as chairperson of more than one committee in any given year.

 

The President shall have the right to remove any chairperson for failure to adequately perform his/her duties.

 

ARTICLE V-Powers and Duties of Officers and Committees

 

Section A.  The President

 

1.  shall be the presiding officer of the organization;

 

2.  shall be a member ex-officio of all committees;

 

3.  shall have power, with the approval of the Executive Board, to fill all vacancies not otherwise provided by the bylaws;

 

4.  shall be empowered to call such meetings of committees as deemed necessary;

 

5.  shall appoint all other necessary committees with approval of the Executive

Board;

 

6.  shall contact any Executive Board member who has missed two Executive Board meetings within a calendar year to determine his/her ability to serve.

 

7. shall have the authority to recommend removal of a member of the Executive Board or a committee for inaction or bringing discredit to oneself or the profession, with the approval of the Executive Board.

 

8. shall serve as the representative of this association on the Advisory Committee

of the National Association of Secondary School Principals and other appropriate cooperating educational associations;

 

9.  shall be the only official representative of this association.  The president shall

 have the privilege of appointing a member of the Executive Board as a personal representative;

 

10.  shall be responsible for the annual budget to be presented to the Executive Board for review prior to June 30 for the next fiscal year beginning July 1.  After review by the Executive Board, the budget shall be submitted for adoption at the first meeting after July 1.

 

Section B.  President-elect

 

1.  in the absence of the President shall assume the duties of that officer.

 

Section C.  Executive Director

 

1.  shall be the administrative officer to implement the will of the Association  and its Executive Board;

 

2.  shall insure that copies of the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board and the association are prepared and issued in a timely manner;

 

3.  shall insure that arrangements are made for all meetings of the Executive Board and of this Association;

 

4.  shall perform all other duties established in a job description provided by the Executive Board;

 

5.  shall be replaced by the Assistant Executive Director in the event he/she shall be unable to perform assigned duties until such time as the Executive Boards of PASSP/PAESP are able to take action.

 

Section D. Treasurer

 

1.  shall make disbursements when authorized and shall prepare financial statements which will be provided to all members of the Executive Board at the regular meetings.

 

2.  shall publish an annual financial statement;

 

3.  shall prepare the budget with assistance from the Executive Director, the President of the Association and selected Executive Board and Management Team members appointed by the President.

 

Section E. Secretary

 

1.  shall be responsible to insure that accurate minutes are taken at all Executive Board meetings and the annual business meeting.

 

2.  shall complete any correspondence not handled by the PASSP Office.

 

Section F. NASSP Coordinator

 

1.  shall serve as liaison officer between this organization and the National Association of Secondary School Principals;

 

2.  shall submit an annual report to the Executive Board.

 

3.  shall coordinate the annual trip to the NASSP National Conference.

 

Section G.  Executive Board Representative

 

1.  shall advise the President;

 

2.  shall represent membership on policy, procedure, legal matters and programs;

 

3.  shall approve appointments of the President;

4.  shall approve the annual budget and assess the annual dues;

5.  shall administer all funds;

6.  shall meet four times annually and/or at the call of the President, or by written request of five members of the Executive Board;

7.  shall attend all meetings except when excused for good reason by the President;

8.  shall be empowered to elect Honorary Life Members and make other appropriate awards;

9.  shall approve the accounting firm employed to conduct an annual audit of the    financial records of this Association;

          10.  shall approve the Executive Director with a job description to be reviewed and revised annually.

Section H.  Resolutions and Nominating Committees

1.  The Resolutions Committee shall prepare and publish proposed resolutions at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual business meeting.

2.  The Nominating Committee will endeavor to present to the Executive Board at the April meeting the list of nominees with at least two (2) nominees for each elective position.  The Executive Director shall forward ballots by mail on the fourth Monday in August to all active, institutional and retired members listed on the roster as of June 30, and establish a deadline for the return of ballots in order that the results of the election may be determined prior to the September meeting of the Executive Board.

 

A.  The elective positions listed on the ballot shall be:

1.  President-elect

            2.  Secretary  (beginning in 2000)

3. Three regional members for the Executive Board, except in  1999 with   the addition of West Region IV, four regional members of the Executive Board will be listed every third year.

4.  The Assistant Principal-at-large and middle level administrator-at large (every third year beginning in 2001).

B.  Position on ballot to be determined by lottery.

C.  Nominees for President-elect shall be from the Eastern, Central and

     Western sections of the state in this order.  After election, moving to

     another section of the state shall not affect the status  as an officer of

     the organization.  (Sections are defined in ARTICLE IV, Section C.)

 

ARTICLE VI-Meetings

Section A.  The organization shall hold one scheduled meeting yearly.  This meeting shall be held as announced by the Executive Board.

Section B.  Additional meetings shall be at the call of the President with the advice and consent of the Executive Board.

Section C.  A majority of those members present shall be required for the transaction of the business at the annual or special meeting.

 

ARTICLE VII-Amendments

Section A. These bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Executive Board by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting; providing however, that a majority of the membership of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.  The amendment shall have been submitted in writing at the preceding Executive Board meeting.

 

ARTICLE VIII-Roberts’ Rules

Section A.  Roberts’ Rules of Order shall govern in all meetings of the Association.

 

ARTICLE IX- Dues

Section A. The annual dues for the classification of members shall be based on the following:

Individual:

1.  Active

2.  Retired-yearly or lifetime

3.  Student

4.  Honorary Life

5.  Special Institutional