The CENTEX Constitution and Byla

The CENTEX Constitution and Bylaws

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Central Texas Association of Pupil Transportation.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of the organization shall be to promote safe and efficient pupil transportation operations for public school districts in Region XIII and XX in Texas. The organizations shall encourage the exchange of ideas and cooperation between public school district transportation departments, other governmental agencies, and private/public entities. The organization shall work to improve pupil transportation policies, standards, and equipment on the local, state, and national levels.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1.Eligibility. Membership in the organization shall be open to all public school district personnel related to pupil transportation in a supervisory or advisory position in Regions XIII and XX in Texas. Membership shall also be open to individuals connected with pupil transportation in a supply or technical advisory capacity.

Section 2. Classification. Membership in the organization shall be of three categories: active, associate, and honorary.

Sub-Section A. Active Member. Active members shall be public school district personnel in the administrative operations of pupil transportation. Active members in good standing shall have the right to vote, hold office and participate in discussions at the meeting of the organization.

Sub-Section B. Associate Member. Associate members shall be individual connected with pupil transportation in a supply, supportive, or technical capacity. Associate members in good standing shall be entitled to attend all meeting and participate in discussions. Associate members are not allowed to vote or hold office.

Sub-Section C. Honorary Member. When an active or associate member retires, he/she will be afforded an opportunity to become an honorary member. Honorary members shall be entitled to all privileges of active members except they shall not be permitted to vote or hold office. Honorary members are exempt from paying dues.

Section 3. Termination. Membership in the organization shall be terminated for nonpayment of dues, by resignation, by failure to comply with the requirements for membership or other causes to be determined by the organization.

Section 4. Dues. The annual dues for each active member shall be twenty dollars ($20.00). The annual dues for each associate member shall be twenty dollars ($20.00). Dues are payable at the first meeting and will be considered delinquent by the fourth (4th) meeting. The annual dues may be changed at the discretion of the general membership and will be effective at the start of the ensuing annual year. The annual year for the organization shall be the recognized school year (September - May).

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the organization shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Historian. The President-Elect will be an active member of the Region opposite that of the incoming President. The Treasurer will be elected every other year.

Section 2. Election. Officers shall be elected at the organization's last monthly meeting (May). A plurality vote by active members in attendance shall be required for election to office.

Section 3. Term. Officers shall serve until the installation of officers at the organization’s last monthly meeting (May). No elected officer may serve in one position for more than two (2) consecutive one (1) year terms, except the office of Treasurer. Treasurer may not serve the more than two (2) consecutive two (2) terms.

Section 4. Vacancy. In the event of a vacancy between elections, the office shall be filled by the Executive Committee, except the office of President. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the President-Elect shall move into this office and shall serve to the end of the unexpired term as the Acting President. For all other vacancies of elected officers, between the annual election, the Executive Committee will appoint a member in good standing who shall serve to end of the un-expired term of the vacancy.

Section 5. Duties of Executive Committee Officers.

Sub-Section A. President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization. The President shall appoint all committees. The Executive Committee shall approve all committee appointments. The President shall be an Ex-Officio member of all committees. The President may cosign checks with the Treasurer. Two (2) signatures required.

Sub-Section B. President-Elect. The President-Elect shall preside in the absence of the President. The President-Elect shall serve as ex-officio of the Audit Committee. The President-Elect may cosign checks with the treasurer. Two (2) signatures required.

Sub-Section C. Vice-President. The Vice-President shall preside in the absence of both the President and President-Elect. The vice President shall serve as ex-officio of the Membership and Nominating Committees and may cosign checks with the Treasurer. Two (2) signatures required.

Sub-Section D. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep an accurate written record of all meetings of the organization to include any monies raised during meetings, and all meeting of the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall issue notices of all meetings and negotiate correspondence of the organization. The Secretary may cosign consign checks with the Treasurer. Two (2) signatures required.

Sub-Section E. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive all monies of the organization and keep an accurate record of all receipts. All monies from any source shall have a receipt cooperation with the other officers (two (2) signatures required), sign checks for all disbursements as authorized by the organization or Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall make a report on the financial status of the organizations at each meeting of the membership. The Treasurer and Chairperson of the Audit Committee will give the final accounting of the financial status at the organization’s first monthly meeting (September).

Sub-Section F. Historian. The Historian shall compile a written and / or visual record of the organization on an annual basis. The historian also will maintain the organizations web site (www.centexbus.org).

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings. The organization shall meet at least five (5) times a year at a place determined by the membership. The order of business shall be in accordance with the process as outlined in the latest addition of Robert's Rules of Order, the minimum to include the following: call to order, reading of the minutes, report of the treasurer, committee reports, unfinished business, new business, and adjournment.

Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the organization may be called by the President or by the Executive Committee. The President or the Executive Committee must call a special meeting if requested to do so in a written request signed by ten (10) percent or more of the active members.

ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Executive Committee.

Sub-Section A. Executive Committee Members. The Executive Committee shall be comprised on the elected officers of the organization, immediate Past President, and the Parliamentarian to be appointed annually by the President who will serve as a non-voting member.

Sub-Section B. Executive Committee Membership Forfeited. A member of the Executive Committee, by reason of three (3) consecutive absences from Executive Committee meetings, may forfeit his/her membership on the Executive Committee by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Sub-Section C. Duties of the Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to act upon matters of business, which are to be presented at meetings of the organization and to fill all vacancies, which may arise between elections. The Executive Committee shall approve all committee appointments made by the President. The executive committee shall conduct (in the interim between organization meetings) the duties and responsibilities and be the final authority for conduct of the organization in all matters, except as stated otherwise in the Constitution and By-Laws.

The Executive Committee will be authorized to approve expenditures not to exceed $500.00.

Section 2. Nominating Committee.

Sub-Section A. Members. The Nominating Committee shall consist of four (4) members (two (2) from each Region) appointed by the President one of which will act as Chairperson, and the immediate Past President. The Vice-President will serve as an ex-officio member.

Sub-Section B. Duties. The nominating committee will receive nominations for a CENTEX Officer position during the months of February and March from Region’s 13 and 20 and prepare a ballot, with a slate of at least one name for each office (except the Office of President). The nominating committee will ensure that after the March meeting the organization’s secretary post the ballot on the organizations webpage to facilitate active members desirous of submitting an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be mailed to the organization’s secretary who will forward the ballots to the nominating committee for tabulation prior to the established deadline, as directed by the president. The nominating committee shall present a ballot with a slate of at least one name for each office (except the office of president), to each active member of the organization at Region’s 13 and 20 last monthly meeting of the organization’s year (April and May). The ex-officio/nominating committee will tabulate and verify ballots from the first Region to vote in April and these results, along with the absentee ballot count, will be kept confidential. Upon completion of the last Region to vote in May, the total ballots from both Regions and absentee ballots will be tabulated and the results announced to the general membership. Nominations may also be made from the floor by any active member at the session provided the nominee(s) consents to the nomination before he/she (they) are presented to the general membership for consideration/approval.

Sub-Section C. Absentee Voting. Members in good standing desirous of submitting an Absentee Ballot must e-mail the CENTEX secretary for the “Request for Absentee Voting Ballot” form. In-turn the CENTEX secretary will mail an Absentee Ballot, with a slate of at least one name for each office, to the member. Members will follow the instructions for absentee voting as posted on the CENTEX webpage. The ballot must be returned to the CENTEX secretary no later than the established deadline, as directed by the president, prior to the actual voting at each Region’s last monthly meeting of the organization’s year (April and May). Members voting absentee will not have an opportunity to vote for floor nominees and no write-in votes will be allowed on absentee ballots. Once the absentee ballot is submitted the vote is final and may not be changed. Any improper voting on an absentee ballot will rendered it invalid.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING

All ballots must be marked in ink.
Place your ballot in an envelope and seal it.
Place the sealed ballot envelope in another envelope bearing the return address of the current secretary; the secretary’s address will be posted on the CENTEX webpage.
Envelopes must be post marked by the established deadline as directed by the president.

Section 3. Membership Committee.

Sub-Section A. Members. The Membership Committee shall consist of the Vice-President, and one member each from Education Service Center Region XIII and Region XX, appointed by the President.

Sub-Section B. Duties. It shall be the duty of the Membership Committee to promote membership in the organization throughout the public school districts in Region XIII and Region XX.

Section 4. Audit Committee.

Sub-Section A. Members. The Audit Committee shall consist of two (2) members from each Region of the organization and the treasurer. One Education Service Region XIII or XX representative will be appointed chairperson by the President. The members shall not be an officer of the organization no becoming an officer in the next election. The members are appointed by the President.

Sub-Section B. Duties. The Audit Committee will review and inspect all financial records of the organization for the current year. The Treasurer will provide all supporting documentation of the committee as they may require. The committee will prepare a written report to the membership at the first meeting of the organization's year (September) on the status of the record keeping and accuracy of the financial records.

Section 5. Other. The President, or majority of the Executive Committee, may from time to time appoint additional committees as is deemed necessary. Such committees shall exist only until the last annual meeting.

ARTICLE VII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the constitution and by-laws or special rules of order of this organization. The Parliamentarian will discern appropriate Parliamentary action as required during regular, special, and Executive Committee meetings of the organization.

ARTICLE VIII. QUORUM

One-third of active members shall constitute a quorum to transact business of the organization at regular monthly or specially called meetings.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS

Motions to amend the constitution and by-laws may be made at any regular meeting, but shall tabled and them voted on the next rescheduled meeting of the organization by a majority of the active members present

END OF CENTEX

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS