Constitution and By-Laws of the

Illinois Association of IB World Schools (IAIBWS)

ARTICLE I: NAME AND AUTHORITY
Section 1 : The name of this organization shall be Illinois Association of IB World Schools

Section 2: The terms “International Baccalaureate” or “IB” shall include all recognized IB programs: Primary Years Program (PYP), Middle Years Program (MYP) Diploma Program (DP) and Career Certificate (IBCC) unless a specific program is identified.

Section 3: The association shall be governed by the broad dictates set forth for charters for non-profit organizations in the state of Illinois.

At such time that it might be appropriate based on a member vote, the Illinois Association of IB World Schools could seek “not for profit” or 501c3 status.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1: The purpose of the Illinois Association of IB World Schools hereafter known as IAIBWS shall be the improvement of education for students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Programs (Primary, Middle Years, Diploma, and IBCC) in the state of Illinois. The IAIBWS will provide support to ‘authorized schools’, to ‘interested’ and ‘candidate schools’, and to the teachers, coordinators, and heads of these schools throughout the state of Illinois.

Section 2. The following objectives are designed to achieve the purpose given in Section 1 of this article
a. To facilitate and sponsor DP, MYP, PYP and IBCC symposiums and exchange of best practices for teachers, counselors, coordinators, media specialists, administrators, and student

b. To serve as a clearing house of ideas and materials related to the DP, MYP, PYP and IBCC

c. To facilitate continuing program development.

d. To provide a network for collaboration among the staff of IB programs both in and outside of Illinois.

e. To provide support for developing IB programs within the region.

f. To assist IB Americas in its efforts to foster recognition and understanding of the IB by universities, colleges, the post secondary community and government agencies

g. To assist schools and IB Americas in their efforts to gain recognition and further support from school districts, state governments, and the business community.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Full membership with voting rights in the IAIBWS shall be open to independent, parochial, private, charter, and public schools that have ‘authorized’ status in the IBO. Provisional membership without voting rights will be open to candidate schools.

Section 2: Each school will have two votes: one for the Head position and the other for the Coordinator position. If a school has more than one Coordinator the vote will reflect the majority position unless the matter under consideration relates to only one IB program in which case only the appropriate coordinator will vote. Only coordinators employed by their schools in the IB Coordinator position may vote.

Section 3: Annual membership fee of $150 per authorized program per school will be due by December 1st of each academic year. The Executive Board may vote to modify the annual membership fee for the following year by a majority vote at the Annual General Meeting after having provided evidence of the need.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
Section 1: The Executive Board shall consist of ten officers: Past President, President, President Elect/Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, DP Representative, MYP Representative, PYP Representative, IBCC Representative, and Head of School Representative. These officers shall
comprise the Illinois Association of IB World Schools Executive Board. These officers shall serve two-year terms. The offices of Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President will be renewable if the officers are willing to continue to serve. Only IB Coordinators or Heads of School from authorized IB programs may be elected to office. The Executive Board must be representative of more than one school district. If
multiple districts are not represented on the Executive Board then the Executive Board will appoint an at large representative with full voting rights.

Section 2: The Executive Board may fill a vacancy by appointment among any of the elected offices until the next regular election.

Section 3: The duties of the Executive Board are to consider and propose constitutional, structural, and/or policy changes to IAIBWS, to make financial decisions and recommendations including the setting of annual membership dues and to act as a nominating committee for IAIBWS officers. The Executive Board shall have full authority to act on behalf of the Illinois Association of IB World Schools
whenever possible.

Section 4: All Executive Board officers must have attended an IB authorized workshop or conference and have two years experience with the programme.

Section 5: The term of office for all officers shall coincide with the school year (July 1st through June 30th two years later).

Section 6: The President will be the official spokesperson for the association. The President will preside over meetings, keep track of membership, serve as contact for IBA, coordinate the IAIBWS activities, and organize meetings. The President will request committees as necessary. The President shall be responsible for other such duties as may be usual and customary to this position.

Section 7: In the absence of the President the Executive Board will appoint an interim president from among its members.

Section 8: The Secretary will keep records and minutes of meetings, generate and distribute the minutes of meetings and conduct the correspondence of the organization.

Section 9: The Treasurer will oversee all funds belonging to IAIBWS, pay all bills approved by the Executive Board, and oversee all funds belonging to the Association.

Section 10: The Representatives of the Four IB programs (DP, MYP, PYP, and CC) will sit on the Executive Board representing the needs/views of their respective constituencies, facilitate any level breakout meetings and be responsible for getting notes from those breakouts to the Secretary to be included in the minutes. They should possess a broad knowledge of their respective programs at all
levels.

ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES
Section 1: The Executive Board shall appoint committees as necessary. Members may request committee formation through the President.

Section 2: The Executive Board and/or the memberships shall evaluate the status of the existing committees on an annual basis

Section 3: Members of the Illinois Association of IB World Schools shall volunteer to serve. Committees should have a minimum of five members and be balanced among the organizational membership unless otherwise stipulated.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
Section 1: An Annual General Meeting (AGM) of members will be held at least once a year at a time and place determined by the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall also hold at least one meeting annually separate from the AGM. All members of the Illinois Association of IB World Schools shall receive notice of each meeting via email, mail, or fax from the President at least 30 days prior to
the meeting.

Section 2: A quorum for such meetings shall be those present, provided proper announcement of meeting time and place has been circulated. The affirmative vote of the majority of members with voting rights who are present and entitled to vote is the act of the membership.

Section 3: The President may call special meetings of the IAIBWS upon approval of the Executive Board.

Section 4: Business may be transacted by electronic conferencing. ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by filing a copy of the proposed amendment with the President at least thirty days prior to the meeting at which the proposal will be considered. The president shall circulate the proposed amendment among active members at least fifteen days prior to the meeting at which the proposal will be considered.

Section 2: A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present shall be required to effectuate an amendment to this constitution.

ARTICLE VIII: BY-LAWS
Section 1: The Executive Board may provide such by-laws for the conduct of its business and the carrying out of its purposes, as it may deem necessary.

Section 2: Proposals for additional by-laws or changes to by-laws shall be submitted to the President at least thirty days prior to the meeting at which the proposal will be considered. The President shall circulate the proposed additions or changes among active members at least fifteen days prior to themeeting at which the proposal will be considered.

Section 3: The by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the membership present at any regular or special meeting called for that purpose.

ARTICLE IX: RULES OF ORDER
Section 1: On all questions of parliamentary law not specifically covered in the Constitution and By-Laws, Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the governing authority.

ARTICLE X: ASSETS AND DISSOLUTION
Section 1: No part of the net income, revenue or grants of the IAIBWS shall accrue to the benefit of any member, officer, or private individual except in payment for requested services rendered in connection with Illinois Association of IB World Schools objectives and activities.

Section 2: The IAIBWS assumes no financial/legal responsibility for the actions of expenditures of any individual, member institution, delegate or Executive Board member that has not been previously approved by the Executive Board.

Section 3: Upon three-fourths majority vote of the membership present at the meeting called for that purpose, the IAIBWS shall be dissolved, and its assets distributed equally to the members schools according to the direction of the Executive Board as its last act.

Section 4: Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.  Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of
competent jurisdiction in the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.