Organizational Structure
Constitution and By Laws
A. Governing Board
The organization shall be governed by an Executive Board of fourteen members from the following:
1. Ten members, one from each of the determined regions of the state: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J.
(Rural school districts in Platte, Clay and Ray counties {Kansas City area - North of the Missouri River} shall be considered members of district J, Northwest Missouri. Rural school districts in Jackson, Cass, and Lafayette counties {Kansas City area - South of the Missouri River} shall be considered members of district F, West Central Missouri. All rural school districts {St. Louis County} shall be considered members of district B, East Central Missouri.)
2. Two school board members filing from the state at large.
3. One member from higher education.
4. One member from a K-8 school district as selected by the K-8 Association Executive Board.
B. Election of Board Members
Board members shall serve two year terms and will be eligible for re-election. Elections or appointments shall be scheduled by the Executive Board with new Board members taking office on the following July 1, which is the beginning of a new fiscal year.
Members to be elected in even numbered years are:
Five (5) members, one from each of the regional districts B, D, F, H, and J.
One (1) member from a board of education whose school is a member of the Missouri Association of Rural Education.
One (1) member from the K-8 district that is a member of the Missouri Association of Rural Education.
Members to be elected in odd numbered years are:
Five (5) members, one from each of the regional districts A, C, E, G, and I.
One (1) member from a board of education whose school is a member of the Missouri Association of Rural Education.
One (1) member from an institution of higher education.
In each of the ten regional districts board elections will be announced in a newsletter and/or email to member schools. Interested candidates may then file, in writing, with a person designated by the Board. All candidates' names will be listed on a ballot in the order received and mailed to the member schools in the proper regional districts. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be declared elected to a two-year term.
In the event that any Board members are not elected or selected as designated above, then the existing Board of Directors shall make the selection at the summer board/planning meeting. Also in the event of any vacancy, the existing Board of Directors shall select someone from that particular region to fill the vacancy for the un-expired term.
C. Election of Officers
The officers shall be president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.
The president and vice-president shall be members of the Board of Directors and shall maintain representation of their respective regional districts.
The president and vice-president shall each serve for a one-year term and may serve a limit of two years. The secretary and treasurer shall each serve for a one year term and may serve an unlimited number of terms.
The secretary and treasurer may or may not be members of the Executive Board.
All officers will be elected or appointed at the May board/planning meeting following the completion of un-finished business.
The president of the Board shall appoint a nominating committee to report to the board at the May board/planning meeting.
Nominations may also be made from the floor.
Any Executive Board member wishing to resign from office shall inform the Executive Director or other individual as designated by the Board in writing.
The Board president shall appoint a replacement, with the approval of the remaining members of the Executive Board to fill the un-expired term.
D. Meetings
Robert's Rules of Order will govern the conduct of all meetings.
The Executive Board will conduct regular meetings on the first Monday in January, March, and May, at the annual MARE Conference (October) and during the summer at a time (July) and place determined by the Board, unless notified otherwise by the Board President or Executive Director due to conflicts, etc.
Special meetings may be held at the time set by the Board or on the call of the Board President or a majority of the Board. Special meetings may be made by conference call with not less than a twenty-four hour notice.
The presence of a majority of the Board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
The Board may vote to conduct closed executive sessions. In order to enter into executive session, such motion must be approved by a roll call majority vote. The motion to enter executive session must reference the specific statutory matters to be discussed.
A tentative agenda for each regular, special or proposed closed meeting of the Board shall be prepared by the Executive Director. Any member of the Board may request items to be placed on the agenda.
The agenda for each meeting of the Board shall be adopted or modified by a motion by a majority of those Board members present. The agenda for closed sessions shall be on a separated document with the vote to be taken during open session.
An annual conference and meeting of the entire membership may be held at a time and place designated by the Executive Board.
E. Duties and Powers of the Board of Directors
1. The Board may appoint, elect or employ any person or organization to help them achieve the purpose and objectives set out in the constitution, and to assign duties, etc. to such persons or organizations.
2. The Board may, by majority vote, enter into contracts, set regulations, make decisions, etc. so long as these do not conflict with anything in the constitution and by-laws.
3. If a Board member, or officer, fails to attend three consecutive regular Board meetings, the position is declared vacant and the vacancy shall be filled in the same way as other Board vacancies.
4. No member of the Executive Board shall accept a salary from, or be employed by the Board, or profit financially in any manner by reason of any dealings with the Board.
F. Duties and Powers of Board Officers
1. President: Shall preside over annual meetings and Executive Board meetings. Shall appoint such committees as he or she deems necessary, or directed by the Executive Board. Shall appoint replacements, with the approval of the Executive Board, for vacant positions, within sixty days, to fill an un-expired term.
2. Vice-President: Shall fill the duties of the president during his or her absence and shall serve as parliamentarian for all Executive Board meetings and annual meetings.
3. Secretary/Treasurer: Shall be responsible for minutes of annual meetings and Executive Board meetings. Shall present these minutes in writing for correction/adoption at the following meetings of the respective groups.
4. Treasurer: Shall be responsible for receiving and dispensing funds. Shall keep an accurate and up to date set of financial records. Shall present a financial report to the Executive Board and to the general assembly at each of their meetings. Shall present these documents for audit to the Executive Board, or its appointed individual, upon request by the Board president, with at least one week's advance notice.
G. Duties and Powers of Members
Each member public school district is entitled to voting delegates at the annual and district meetings.
H. Types of Membership
1. Voting Memberships
(a) All school districts having paid an annual membership fee as set by the Board of Directors.
(b) An individual member from a non-member school district is entitled to one delegate and one vote, limited to one delegate per district.
2. Non-Voting Membershp
(a) Corporations and institutions having paid an annual membership fee as set by the Board of Directors.
(b) Students enrolled in an education degree program at a college or university, and who have paid an annual membership fee as set by the Board of Directors.
III. AMENDMENTS
The constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the delegates, present and voting, at any meeting of the delegate assembly, provided such an amendment has been provided to the delegates at least 30 days in advance. The constitution may be amended by a 3/4 majority vote of the delegates present and voting, without any advance notice of the amendment. By-laws may be amended by a majority vote at any delegate assembly meeting.
IV. BY-LAWS
A. A member may not hold more than one office simultaneously in this organization.
B. An audit committee shall be appointed by the president to audit the organization's financial records yearly.
C. The Executive Board shall devise an annual budget and set compensation for the organization.
D. Members of the Executive Board shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred as a result of the carrying on of their official duties in the organization. All claims for expenses shall be approved by a majority of the Executive Board.
Board member expenses may be claimed for:
1. Registration fees for conference attendance which is approved in advance by the Board of Directors.
2. Lodging and meals -- receipts required.
3. Mileage at the rate of .45 per mile.
4. Other legitimate charges approved by the Executive Board such as phone, postage, etc.
E. The following may be standing committees and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Executive Board:
1. Legislation and Resolutions
2. Membership
3. Election
4. Convention
5. Board Training
6. Endorsement
7. Advisory Board -- The Advisory Board shall be made up of people form businesses and occupations that have a high interest in the education of rural children. The Executive Board will insure that the Board maintains a good balance and a limited number of school administrative personnel.
F. The Executive Board shall determine the boundaries (counties) for each of the identified regions.
G. Scholarship Board -- A separate organization for the purpose of governing scholarship activities and funding was established in January, 1992. This shall be a separate Board from MARE, but shall work closely with the MARE Executive Board and report to it on a regular basis regarding projects, fundraisers and status of scholarship funds. Funds placed in the endowment shall be deposited by the Scholarship Board and shall remain separate from the general MARE funds. The Scholarship Board shall insure that funds are collected and expended within the guidelines of a 501 (c) 3 tax status. The Board shall consist of two members appointed by the MARE Executive Board and their term shall be for two years, and five other business or school personnel shall also serve on the Board. The Scholarship Board shall draft its own procedures for the selection of the remaining five Board members and its operating procedures.
H. Executive Director -- If an Executive Director is employed then all MARE positions on issues shall be channeled through that office. Also the Executive Director shall be responsible for the financial accounting and reporting part of the Secretary/Treasurer duties. All receipts and bills payable shall first be sent to the Executive Director, unless approved otherwise as in the case of royalty payments. The Executive Director will summarize these into a monthly financial statement to the Board of Directors, and forward such receipts and bills for deposit or payment.
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Changes from the previous Constitution and By-Laws were read and adopted by the General Membership at the annual membership meeting on Friday, October 20, 2017.
These changes from the previous Constitution and By Laws were read and adopted by the General Membership at the annual membership meeting, February 26, 2005 - Lake Ozark, MO
Regions as Currently Identified
Region A Counties of: Bates, Vernon, Barton, Cedar, St. Clair, Benton, Hickory, Polk, and Dallas
Region B Counties of: Gasconade, Franklin, Crawford, Washington, Iron, Reynolds, St. Francis, Ste. Genevieve, Jefferson, Perry and St. Louis.
Region C Counties of: Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Barry, Lawrence, Dade, Greene, Christian, Stone, Taney, and Webster.
Region D Counties of: Laclede, Camden, Miller, Cole, Osage, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski, and Dent
Region E Counties of Dunklin, Pemiscot, New Madrid, Mississippi, Scott, Stoddard, Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Madison, Wayne and Butler.
Region F Counties of: Jackson, Cass, Lafayette, Johnson, Henry, Saline, Pettis, Cooper, Moniteau, and Morgan.
Region G Counties of: Wright, Douglas, Ozark, Texas, Howell, Shannon, Oregon, Carter, and Ripley.
Region H Counties of: Scotland, Knox, Shelby, Monroe, Audrain, Callaway, Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Montgomery, Lincoln, Warren, and St. Charles.
Region I Counties of: Mercer, Grundy, Livingston, Carroll, Putnam, Sullivan, Linn, Chariton, Schuyler, Adair, Macon, Randolph, Howard and Boone.
Region J Counties of: Atchinson, Holt, Nodaway, Gentry, Andrew, Buchanan, Platte, Clay, Worth, DeKalb, Clinton, Ray, Caldwell, Daviess, and Harrison.