VASS Constitution

Preamble

• Public education is the foundation of American democracy and is the primary vehicle for preparing each generation of adult citizens to become contributing members of a democratic society.
• School leaders have a responsibility to create school cultures that recognize and value diversity.
• Environments conducive to learning require that all variables that influence a student’s ability to succeed should be addressed.
• Stable and consistent leadership by the superintendent is vital to the success of the public school system.
• All public schools must provide a quality educational experience for each student, which necessitates a framework of rigorous academic standards infused with life and career skills including critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, communication, innovation and selfdirection. A system of accountability, which clearly demonstrates, through multiple measures, the level of progress attained by students is essential to fulfilling the mission of schools to increase student achievement and equip graduates with the skills required to be college and workforce ready.
• Building partnerships and supporting the education of all students is the responsibility of the entire community. Those partnerships and the contributions made by all stakeholder groups in the community contribute to the educational success and well-being of our children. Communities are responsible for the health, safety, welfare and education of each child. Schools are but one partner in the community, which includes many domains of public and private agencies. VASS urges and supports collaborative, community-wide programs and partnerships to deliver full services and programs to address the needs of the whole child. VASS supports quality community-wide programs and services designed to break the cycle of poverty and address the readiness and wellness needs of all children.

Article One - Name

• Section I:

  The name of this organization shall be the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.

Article Two - Membership

• Section I:

  Membership in the Virginia Association of School Superintendents shall consist of active and retired school superintendents, and those permitted under Section II below. Active members shall be eligible to vote, to serve on committees, and to hold office. Retired members shall be eligible to vote and to serve on committees, but will not be eligible to hold office.

• Section II:

  School divisions that pay the maximum annual dues to the association will be eligible to name up to two district leaders, in addition to the division superintendent, as active members.

• Section III:

  Professional development events of the association and conferences sponsored by the association may be attended by non-members as determined by active division superintendents or the executive director.

• Section IV:

  Business partners of the association are eligible to attend and participate in events sponsored by the association as determined by the executive director and the associate executive director.

Article III - Purpose

• Section I:

  The purpose of this association is to provide leadership in identifying and advocating the needs of public school students through policy development and other appropriate action; to provide professional activities and services that enhance the leadership role of superintendents; to encourage and provide leadership that works continually for the improvement and advancement of education and for public interest in and support of improved schools; to work for an improved process of educational administration; to assist in solving problems of organization and planning that arise as a result of the improvement process; to work for more effective preparatory and in-service training for educational personnel; to place prime importance on the upgrading of teaching and learning and improvement of curriculum; to insist on the provision of equal rights for all; and to seek all other appropriate means of achieving the association’s educational and charitable objectives.

• Section II:

  All activities of the association shall be consistent with the nonprofit character of its charter, resulting in public benefits in keeping with its status as a tax-exempt educational, charitable organization.

Article IV - Officers and Board of Directors

• Section I:

  The officers of this association shall be president, president-elect, and secretary/ treasurer.

• Section II:

  The board of directors shall consist of the president, president-elect, secretary/ treasurer, immediate past president, and those persons serving as regional chairs of the superintendents’ study groups.

• Section III:

  The executive committee shall consist of the president, president-elect, secretary/ treasurer, and immediate past president.

• Section IV:

  The management and administration of the property, affairs, activities and concerns of VASS shall be vested in the board of directors.

• Section V:

  The president shall preside at the meetings of the board of directors and the executive committee, and shall be a member, ex officio, with right to vote, of all committees of the board of directors. The president will have the authority to sign necessary documents on behalf of the board of directors. The president, at any time, may appoint other committees comprised of members of VASS to address such issues as the board of directors or the executive committee shall deem appropriate.

• Section VI:

  The president-elect shall have such duties as are prescribed by the board of directors or the president, and shall preside at all meetings of the board of directors in the absence of the president. The president-elect will have the authority to sign necessary documents on behalf of the board of directors in the absence of the president.

• Section VII:

  It shall be the duty of the secretary/treasurer to attend meetings of the board of directors and the executive committee and keep a record of their actions and monitor moneys received and expended for the use of VASS.

• Section VIII:

  VASS may employ an executive director, associate executive director, legislative liaison, and other personnel who will be approved by the board of directors to conduct the day-to-day operations of the association. The executive director, associate executive director, and legislative liaison will serve as ex-officio members of the board of directors, without the right to vote.

• Section IX:

  The president, president-elect, and the secretary of the association shall be approved by the membership at the spring conference and will serve a term of one year. Longer terms may be approved by the membership if it is in the best interest of the association.

• Section X:

  The directors, regional chairs, shall be approved by the superintendents in their respective superintendent study-group regions and will serve for a term of two years.

Article V - Meetings

• Section I:

  The annual meeting of the association shall be held during the spring conference each year. The board of directors will meet a minimum of three times each year; during the summer, fall conference, and spring conference.

• Section II:

  Special meetings may be called by the president, executive director or by a majority vote of the board of directors.

• Section III:

  A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

• Section IV:

  The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the meetings of the board of directors and committees of the association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules established by the board of directors.

Article VI - Amendments

• Section I:

  The constitution and bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the active and retired members in attendance at the annual meeting.