School Board Bylaws
Article I – Name The name of the organization shall be Multiple Options for Developmental and Educational Learning, Inc. The name of the school shall be The Autism Model School.
Article II – Area of Service The Autism Model School shall provide intensive, structured, intervention to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Enrollment includes students with a diagnosis within the autism spectrum disorders who reside in Ohio, and who are in the age range of 5 years through 21 years at the beginning of each fall academic year. Community School Law (HB215) requires that a minimum of 25 students will be enrolled in the school at any time.
Article III – School Board The affairs of The Autism Model School shall be under the direction of a School Board. The School Board shall approve the adoption of new educational programs at The Autism Model School, with input from the Education Director.
School Board members shall nominate individuals for board membership (one member moves another seconds) as needed. School Board members vote for prospective board members by written ballots. The Chairperson counts ballots. Terms of service are for three years with each new term beginning with the Board meeting held in April. Each year one third of the Board members with the most seniority will be up for reelection. No term limits are enforced.
Qualifications of prospective Board members are: (1) At least 51% if the members must be parents of children with autism. (2) Prospective Board members must be legal residents of the United States aged 18 or older. Any Board members who misses three consecutive board meeting will be dismissed from the Board. (3) All Board members need to have a clean BCI check.
In the event of vacancies in the Board during a member’s unexpired term, a replacement shall be nominated and approved following the above procedure, whenever the vacancy occurs.
Article IV – Meeting of the School Board
Regular meetings of the School Board will be held on the last Monday of each month, at 6:00 PM, at the school. This is subject to change. Regular meetings will be posted in advance for public notice. Regular meeting are open to all individuals.
The regular meeting held in October will be known as the annual meeting for the purpose of approval of the annual financial statement.
Subcommittee meetings will be held on an irregular basis as needed.
Special meetings may be held upon the call of the Chairperson or on the written request of any three members of the Board. The purpose of the meeting will be set forth in the notice.
One Board Member more than 50% of the Board membership shall constitute a quorum.
Article V – Officers
All officers are elected from amongst the Board members and serve 2-year terms beginning with the April meeting. Nominations for officers are taken up to three months prior to elections. All officers are elected for a 2-year term.
The Chairperson, or in his/her absence, the Vice Chairperson, shall preside at all meetings of the School Board. The Chairperson shall have other such duties as the School Board may from time to time determine.
The Vice Chairperson, at the request of the Chairperson, or in the event of the Chairperson’s absence or disability, shall perform any and all of the duties of the Chairperson, and shall have other such duties as the School Board may from time to time determine.
The Administrative Assistant or her designee shall be responsible for the minutes of the meetings of the School Board and shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the School Board, and shall perform other such duties as the School Board may from time to time determine.
Article VI – Fiscal Year The fiscal year of The Autism Model School shall be July 1st through June 30th.
Article VII – Parliamentary Authority The rules contained in the Modern Edition of Robert’s Rules of Order will govern the School Board in all cases where they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Board may adopt.
Article VIII – Speaker Time Limit Policy Board meetings are open to all members of the public. Public commentary is permitted with individual speakers limited to 3 minutes each following the guidelines available in the board pamphlet regarding speaker participation. Commentary specific to any individual employee or board member is strictly prohibited.
Article IX – Indemnification
Each person who at any time is or shall have been a member of the governance Board, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation and such person’s heirs, executors, and administrators shall be indemnified by the corporation to the full extent permitted by ORC section 1702.12(E) in effect at the time of the adoption of these bylaws or amended thereafter. As authorized by the board, the Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance against liability on behalf of any such persons.
Article X – Amendments
These bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the Board by a two-thirds vote, provided that previous notice of the amendment was given to all members at least 4 days in advance.
Article XI – Code of Ethics
While serving as a member of the Autism Model School Board, each member shall agree to abide by the following code of ethics:
- Remember that my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of all students attending the school.
- Obey the laws of Ohio and the United States.
- Respect the confidentiality of privileged information.
- Recognize that as an individual Board member I have no authority to speak or act for the Board.
- Work with other members to establish effective Board policies.
- Delegate authority for the administration of the school to the Administration and staff.
- Encourage ongoing communications among Board members, the Board, students, staff, and the community.
- Render all decisions based on the available facts and independent judgment rather than succumbing to the influence of individuals or special interest groups.
- Make every effort to attend all Board meetings.
- Become informed concerning the issues to be considered at each meeting.
- Improve boardmanship by studying educational issues and by participating in in-service programs.
- Support the employment of staff members based on qualifications and not as a result of influence.
- Cooperate with other Board members and administrators to establish a system of regular and impartial evaluations of all staff.
- Avoid conflict of interest or the appearance thereof.
- Refrain from using their Board position for benefit of myself, family members or business associates.
- Express my personal opinions but, once the Board has acted, accept the will of the majority