GUIDING PRINCIPLES
*We communicate clearly, honestly and openly about challenges related to advancing the education of Latino students within Denver Public Schools.
*We base all decisions and recommendations on the greatest benefits seen for successfully educating the wide spectrum of Latino students in DPS.
*We respect rich diversity within our own Latino community that builds on the value of cultural respect and connectedness supporting education.
*We encourage, promote and expect student participation in all decisions related to their education and well being.
LEAC BYLAWS
ARTICLE I NAME
The name of the council shall be the Latino Education Advisory Council.
ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The purpose of the council is to assure student achievement for Latino Students, by assisting the Denver Public Schools Board of Education and Superintendent in understanding the needs, issues and achievements of Latino students.
To engage the Denver Public Schools Latino community in areas of: parent involvement, student leadership development and individual school representation.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. Membership in the council shall consist of representatives including: students, parents, community and business leaders, professional educators and Denver Public Schools Staff Coordinator or other appointed staff member of the Denver Public Schools.
SECTION 2. Membership shall consist of no more than 20 members.
SECTION 3. Each member shall be a voting member. The President will not have a vote except in the case of a tie.
ARTICLE IV NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Elections shall be held in April at the regular scheduled meeting.
SECTION 2. Notice of elections will be provided during the regularly scheduled monthly meeting in March.
SECTION 3. Elections shall be held for the offices of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
SECTION 4. Council Board Members shall be nominated by the LEAC members. After acceptance as a Board Member, the newly elected Board Member will submit a letter to the DPS School Board introducing themselves and their qualifications.
SECTION 5. Council Board Members shall serve a two year term. No Board Member shall serve more than two full consecutive terms. The order of nominations will be President and Secretary and Vice President and Treasurer every other year, so as not to have a complete change over in the Council Board.
SECTION 6. Council Board Members who cannot complete their term shall submit a letter of resignation to the council.
SECTION 7. The officers shall hold office for one additional year or until their successors are elected or appointed.
SECTION 8. The Council Board shall accept nominations from the floor on the date of election.
SECTION 9. All nominees must be present on the day of election to accept nomination.
SECTION 10. Officers shall assume the responsibilities on the day of election.
SECTION 11. Election shall be by informal ballot.
ARTICLE V EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BOARD
SECTION 1. The officers of the council shall be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
SECTION 2. The officers shall perform the duties prescribed for their office as adopted by the council.
SECTION 3. The spokesperson for the council shall be the President.
SECTION 4. The Council Board shall exercise general supervision of the monthly meetings and all other council business.
SECTION 5. The Council Board shall meet quarterly to prioritize and communicate ideas for the council.
SECTION 6. The Council Board shall establish a master calendar in May for the upcoming school year.
SECTION 7. The Council Board shall act in the best interest of the council in emergency matters which may require an immediate and timely response when the full council cannot be convened.
ARTICLE VI STANDING COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. There shall be the following standing committees: Budget/Fundraising, Awards, Recruiting, Scholarship Program, Special Events, School Representatives, Mentoring Coordinator, Cultural Library Coordinator, Student Achievement, ELA Court Order.
ARTICLE VII DISTRICTWIDE REPRESENTATION
SECTION 1. There shall be District wide representation including: students, parents, educators and other stakeholders within the Latino community; to serve as a link between individual schools and LEAC.
SECTION 2. There shall be individual school representation.
SECTION 3. School representatives may be LEAC Council members.
SECTION 4. Representatives must give quarterly reports to LEAC council members.
SECTION 5. Representatives will communicate to LEAC student needs, issues and achievement within their school.
SECTION 6. Representatives will be encouraged to attend LEAC general monthly meetings.
ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS
SECTION 1. Monthly meetings of the council shall be held on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m from August to June.
SECTION 2. The annual planning and goal setting meeting shall be held in May for the upcoming school year.
SECTION 3. Special meetings of the council shall be convened at the discretion of the Council Board.
SECTION 4. Notification of the meetings shall be the responsibility of the Office of Community Affairs/ and or Staff Coordinator or other appointed DPS Representative.
SECTION 5. A monthly meeting agenda shall be submitted by the President.
ARTICLE IX ATTENDANCE
SECTION 1. Attendance for all Council Board Members is mandatory. The President shall monitor attendance record. No more than three absences from general meetings will be allowed. If three or more absences occur, the Board Member may be removed from the council board after a vote from the council members.
SECTION 2. All Council members will attend regular monthly meetings.
ARTICLE X QUORUM
Three voting members, general members or Council Board Members, shall constitute a quorum of the council for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE XI REPORTS
SECTION 1. The council shall prepare and submit oral and written interim reports as necessary to the Board of Education.
SECTION 2. The chair/representative of each standing or special committee shall prepare and present oral and or written reports as necessary to the council during general monthly meetings.
SECTION 3. Council representatives to Denver Public Schools committees shall provide ongoing progress reports to the council regarding concerns and issues considered by those Denver Public Schools committees.
SECTION 4. The council shall prepare and submit an Annual Report for presentation to the Board of Education at the Staff Hearing in June.
ARTICLE XII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
All meetings of the council shall use Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, as general guidelines.
ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENT
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the council by a majority vote, provided that notice of the proposed amendment was submitted/discussed at a previous monthly meeting.
