URBAN EDUCATION NETWORK OF IOWA
By-laws

 Section 1               Name of Organization

This organization is known as the URBAN EDUCATION NETWORK OF IOWA.

Section 2                Membership in the Urban Education Network of Iowa

The Urban Education Network of Iowa was established during the 1984-85 school year. The following school districts are charter members of the organization: Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Sioux City, and Waterloo. Any duly organized and legally constituted public school district in Iowa with two or more comprehensive high school attendance centers and/or 10,000 or more students whose composition includes the major characteristics of “urbaneness” including, population density, multi-cultural and broad and varied socio-economic and ethnic representation, may become a member of the corporation by petition to and the recommendation of the Steering Committee to the general membership, a two-thirds affirmative vote by the membership and the payment of membership dues as provided in the by-laws. Each member district shall be entitled to one vote. The Urban Education Network may extend honorary or associate membership to an individual and/or organization upon the recommendation of the Steering Committee and a two-thirds vote of the membership.

Section 3                 General Powers and Duties

The Urban Education Network shall make rules for its own governance in order to fulfill the purpose of the organization.  Each year a UEN superintendent serves as Chairperson-Elect and assumes the position of Chairperson the following year (one year term, July 1 through June 30).  Appointment to the position of Chairperson-Elect and Chairperson is a rotation basis.

Section 4                Chairperson

The Chairperson of the Urban Education Network shall act as president and official representative for the UEN, preside at meetings, sign all contracts, prepare, with assistance of the Executive Director, meeting agendas, and communicate pertinent information to all UEN members.  The chairperson of the Urban Education Network shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised except as otherwise directed by the membership.  The chairperson shall make a report on each Steering Committee meeting and provide an annual report to the membership.

Section 5                  Chairperson-elect

The chairperson-elect (1) shall serve as secretary/treasurer of the corporation and shall be responsible for monitoring all appropriate records and warrants or drafts drawn from the treasury; (2) shall conduct an annual audit of the financial records of the corporation and; (3) shall act as temporary chairperson in the absence of the chairperson

Section 6            Steering Committee

The Steering Committee shall meet in the capacity of the board of directors and be composed of eight members: the chairperson; the immediate past chairperson; and, the chairperson-elect (1) chairperson-elect (2). and four different board members appointed on rotating basis by the boards of four different member districts.  Every consideration shall be given to an equitable rotation of these leadership positions among the member districts. The executive director will develop and maintain a sequential leadership schedule and make it available to the member districts. This Steering Committee shall exercise the authority granted by the membership to carry out policy and conduct the operations of the organization.

Section 7                   Legislative Priorities

UEN legislative priorities are to be determined annually in accordance with the following process:  1 Executive Director elicits from each member district, suggested legislative priorities; 2. Executive Director and Chairperson compile suggestions and formulate proposed list; 3. Executive Director forwards to member districts the proposed list of legislative priorities for comment and feedback;  4.  Final approval of UEN legislative priorities is determined by those attending the annual November meeting. 

Section 8                   Executive Director

The Urban Education Network shall hire an executive director to carry out the functions of the organization as determined by the membership. The Steering Committee shall be empowered. to employ the Executive Director and other staff as appropriate. The executive director shall carry out the policies, resolutions and other directives of the Urban Education Network consistent with the mission and objectives of the organization and other duties as specified in the position description. Included in the position description will be the responsibility for keeping records of all proceedings of the Urban Education Network, financial records, correspondence, and historical documents. The executive director will issue a quarterly financial report to the Steering Committee.

 Section 9             Filling Vacancies

 In the event of a vacancy created by a member district choosing not to appoint a board member to serve on the Steering Committee, the district next in rotation will be invited to appoint a board representative to serve.  Vacancies among the superintendent members of the Steering Committee will be filled by the Steering Committee.

 Section 10       Code of Ethics

The Urban Education Network acknowledges the following code of ethics. Member Districts will:

·           Respect the opinion of others.

·           Be motivated only by an earnest desire to achieve the goals of the Urban Education Network as stated in the Mission Statement, Objectives and Guiding Principles.

·           Not use the Urban Education Network for personal advantage or the advantage of friends or supporters.

·           Abide by the majority decisions of the Urban Education Network.

·           Try to keep informed on issues of significance to the organization so that each member district may become a better and more effective Urban Education Network member.

Section 11         Membership Meetings

The Urban Education Network will meet in Des Moines, Iowa for the annual meeting, and at other such times as agreed upon. The chairperson or any three member districts may call a special or an emergency meeting of the organization at any time. Adequate notification of such meetings will be accorded the membership.

Section 12                   Agendas for the Steering Committee Meetings

An agenda shall be submitted by the chairperson or his/her designee to the Member Districts of the Urban Education Network at least five days before any regular meeting. Individual members may suggest agenda items to the chairperson or bring items before the membership under the topic of new business.

 Section 13         Quorum for Steering Committee Meetings

A majority of the Steering Committee members shall be present to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority vote of members present shall be necessary and sufficient to pass any motion or to take any action.

Section 14                    Minutes and Communications

The executive director will share in the responsibility of recording, filing and distributing to the membership accurate minutes of all Steering Committee meetings. The notes of all general meetings are available to interested parties. All Urban Education Network communications will be submitted in tandem to the superintendent and to the Board Representative of each member district.

 Section 15              Dues

The Steering  Committee shall recommend any change in the annual membership fee to the general  membership for consideration and action at its annual meeting in November.  The dues shall run from July 1 to June 30 and are payable prior to September 15.

 Section 16             Amending These By-laws

 These by-laws shall be considered adopted when approved by the Steering Committee and endorsed by a majority of the Board of Directors of each member district.  These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Steering Committee and endorsed by a majority vote of the member districts in attendance at the annual meeting of th Urban Education Network.  Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing and sent to the membership sever days prior to a vote.

Amended, April 1955

Amended, April 1996   

Amended, April 2002

Amended, April 2005

Amended, November 2008