BYLAWS

GOLDEN CRESCENT  

TECH-PREP PARTNERSHIP

approved June 4^th, 2008

ARTICLE I - PURPOSE

Section 1.01 The Vision

The vision for the Golden Crescent is an economically prosperous region where all citizens enjoy a full and enriched quality of life. Central to the realization of this vision is the creation of a career development system that guides and nurtures our youth through a sequence of quality education and life experiences. This system of experiences prepares youth to fulfill their individual dreams and to take their place as responsible and productive citizens in the community of our region. The achievement of this vision relies on the Golden Crescent Tech-Prep Partnership; a close knit fabric of community stakeholders working cooperatively for that common purpose.

Section 1.02 - The Agent

The catalyst for cultivating this regional career development system is the Golden Crescent Tech-Prep Partnership. The Partnership is a regional collaboration between business, labor, education, government, and community organizations to achieve the vision describe above. The Partnership holds that realization of the vision requires significant reform in the content and methodology of education, reform in the career guidance process for our youth, and reform in the business/industry/labor relationship to education. This reform purpose is reflected in the Partnership's mission statement.

Section 1.03 - The Mission

The Golden Crescent Tech-Prep Partnership views its mission as the reform of our educational system to involve all aspects of our regional community in a workforce preparation process that includes (a) career-coherent linkages between school-based and work-based learning; (b) rigorous, relevant, and integrated and occupational learning; and (c) a seamlessly integrated sequence of secondary and postsecondary education. The outcome of this process is to fully prepare all our youth for rewarding careers in a quality workforce. The expectation is an outcome that will enhance the economic development of our region and the quality of life of our citizens.

Section 1.04 - The Goals and Objectives

The specific goals and objectives of the Partnership are detailed and updated in the annual implementation plan and subject to the rules and guidelines of state and federal funding and management agencies.

ARTICLE II - REGIONAL BOUNDARIES

Section 2.01 - Area of Operation

2.01.01 The regional boundaries of the Golden Crescent Tech-Prep Partnership are coterminous with the Governor's Golden Crescent State Planning Region, serving the following counties: Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, Refugio and Victoria.

2.01.02 Membership may also be drawn from counties outside of the current Golden Crescent Tech-Prep Partnership boundaries.

ARTICLE III - GOVERNING BOARD

Section 3.01 - Board Composition

3.01.01 The Board of Directors shall be composed of 10 to 15 voting members. The number will depend on the achievement and maintenance of the category compositions required in items 3.01.02 through 3.01.04 and may vary with the option of dual representation by individual members.

3.01.02 Approximately fifty percent (50%) of the voting Board members shall represent regional public school districts, public community/junior colleges, proprietary colleges and universities, and the state Region III Education Service Center; representatives shall include students, teachers, counselors, and administrators. Every attempt will be made to have, at minimum, one educational representative from each primary service area county within the partnership.

3.01.03 Approximately fifty percent (50%) of the voting Board members shall represent a mixture of the private sector (i.e., business, industry, and labor and/or non-managerial employees), community based organizations, and governmental entities.

3.01.04 Any institution or organization may have a maximum of one (1) voting member on the board at any given time.

3.01.05 The Partnership Board may include non-voting, auxiliary members serving on subcommittees of the Partnership. This auxiliary membership will allow interested and informed individuals to participate in Partnership activates, provide input into the career development system process, and receive communications sent to voting members. Auxiliary members will serve as a pool of potential voting members who are alert to the mission, goals, and operations of the Partnership.

Section 3.02 - Selection of Board Members

3.02.01 The public secondary and public post-secondary institution representatives of the Board may nominate new or replacement Board representatives. All nominations must receive final approval through a majority vote of the Board at a regularly scheduled meeting.

3.02.02 The private sector representatives of the Board may nominate new or replacement Board representatives. All nominations must receive final approval through a majority vote of the Board at a regularly scheduled meeting.

3.02.03 The community based organization and governmental entity representatives of the Board may nominate new or replacement Board representatives. All nominations must receive final approval through a majority vote of the Board at a regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 3.03 - Officers of the Board

A chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary shall be elected by the Board of Directors. An officer may be reelected for succeeding terms.

3.03.01 The Chairperson shall have responsibility for the general management of the affairs of the Board of Directors, shall preside at all meetings of the board, and shall see that all orders and resolutions are carried out.

3.03.02 The Vice-Chairperson shall have the responsibilities and functions of the Chairperson during the absence or disability of the Chairperson.

3.03.03 The Board Secretary shall record minutes of Board meetings and submit the minutes to the Board for approval.

3.03.04 The Board will maintain an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will be comprised of the Board Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary.

Section 3.04 - Attendance

3.04.01 Each Board member is expected to attend the meetings. Board members who cannot attend a meeting may express their intentions by proxy or alternate as per item 4.03.03.

3.04.02 A voting member of the Partnership Board not attending a regularly scheduled meeting is expected to appoint a substitute with voting rights or pre-vote by line-item proxy. If a Board member knows they will be absent from a meeting, it is their responsibility to contact the partnership office prior that meeting.

3.04.03 The Executive Committee will review Board member meeting attendance annually. Any member missing more than 2 regularly scheduled meetings in a grant year period without following the guidelines in by-laws sections 3.04.01 and 4.03.02 may be asked to resign.

Section 3.05 - Removal of Board Members

3.05.01 A Board member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise specified in the written notice, the resignation shall take effect upon acceptance by the Board at the next scheduled meeting.

3.05.02 Based on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, a Board member may be removed by majority action of the remaining members of the board.

ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS

Section 4.01 - Quorum

A simple majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.

Section 4.02 - Action of the Board

A vote of a majority of the Board members, present in quorum at the time of the vote, shall constitute an act of the Board.

Section 4.03 - Voting Procedures

4.03.01 Each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote on each matter considered by the Partnership Board.

4.03.02 If a quorum is not met, all voting items will be sent to members not in attendance for a post vote. These post votes will be included with the attending members votes.

4.03.03 Members who are unable to attend a meeting may pre-vote by line-item proxy, or appoint a substitute with voting rights. A written statement dated and signed by the voting member must certify proxies and appointed substitutes.

Section 4.04 - Rules of Procedure

All board meetings shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order. In the event that such rules conflict with the bylaws, the bylaws will take precedence.

Section 4.05 - Schedule

The Board of Directors shall hold meetings at a minimum quarterly, and at such locations and places as selected by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.06 - Notice of Meetings

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time, date, and place as previously agreed upon by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held upon notice to Board members and may be called by the Chairperson upon three days notice to each Board member either personally, by telephone, or in writing.

ARTICLE V - PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT

Section 5.01  General Management

Tech-Prep programmatic implementation for the Golden Crescent region is under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Golden Crescent Tech-Prep Partnership. 

Section 5.02  Program Director

A Program Director shall be responsible to the Partnership's Board of Directors for the day-to-day operations of the project and shall regularly inform the Board and the state and federal management agencies, as required, of the progress of the program.

Section 5.03  Partnership Staff

Appropriate staff shall be employed and supervised as per the approved funding for the project. Partnership staff will be responsible to the Program Director. 

Section 5.04  Partnership Offices

The principal offices of the Partnership shall be located at the Continuing Education Center, Victoria College Campus, 2200 E. Red River, Victoria, TX, 77901.  The Partnership may have other offices as required. 

Section 5.05  Partnership Records

All Partnership records shall be kept in the principal Partnership office including minutes, reports, and other records required under funding grants or by the Partnership Board. 

Section 5.06  Fiscal Agent

It is the responsibility of the fiscal agent to ensure that Tech-Prep funds are expended according to the guidelines set forth within the Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Workforce Education Part Two and other federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to federal grant funds. The fiscal agent shall file the required financial reports and assure the continuity of funding as per the funding contract for Tech-Prep.  The fiscal agent will also keep copies of all financial reports.  The fiscal agent, shall service personnel support actions for the Partnership's program staff.

ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS

Section 6.01 - Amending the Bylaws

The bylaws of the Partnership may be amended or rescinded by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at a meeting in which a quorum is present and providing there is no conflict between bylaw provisions and the state or federal requirements and guidelines.

The above Bylaws were approved by the Golden Crescent Tech-Prep Partnership Board of Directors on June 4^th, 2008.

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