CRC Bylaws

1. Article I - Purpose
   The purpose of CRC shall be to:
   1. Research, study and discuss topics under consideration by the Board of Education (BOE) and/ or of interest to the community. The CRC shall produce reports and make recommendations to the BOE. Written reports must be reviewed by the Executive Board and approved by the whole CRC prior to presentation to the Board of Education.
   2. Educate the CRC membership about educational issues the membership deems appropriate. CRC members should be informed about community educational issues.
2. Article II - Basic Policies
   The CRC is a citizens' committee composed of representatives from all parts of the community.
   1. Neither the CRC organization nor any CRC members may represent the CRC in any official capacity without the majority approval of the entire CRC.
   2. The CRC organization and its individual members shall not participate as CRC representatives in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or on the behalf of or in opposition to any question of public policy subject to general voter approval.
   3. No member of CRC shall make commitments that bind the group to the individual the member represents.
   4. Members of the CRC represent the community rather than the organization that selected them for CRC membership. The organization that supports individual CRC membership shall not dictate decisions.
3. Article III - Membership
   Any District 39 citizen shall be eligible for membership in CRC. An administrative representative from District 39 will also be appointed to the committee. A standard term of service in CRC shall be considered a two-year term.
   1. CRC membership shall consist of:
      1. Two representatives from each attendance area local PTA/O, one representative from the Village-Wide PTO, one representative from the St. Francis Xavier School HSO, and one representative from the St. Joseph School PSO.
      2. At least three faculty and/ or staff representatives from District 39 to be selected by the Wilmette Education Association (WEA).
      3. One representative from the Support Staff Council.
      4. At least one principal, chosen by the Superintendent
      5. The immediate past-president of CRC shall serve as a non-voting member.
      6. The Superintendent of the District 39 schools shall serve as a non-voting member.
      7. At least six but no more than twelve persons in an at-large capacity who are recommended by the Superintendent and approved by the Board of Education. At-large members should be selected from candidates submitting letters of application to the Superintendent
      8. A designated visiting Board of Education member shall attend each regular meeting as a non-voting member of CRC.
   2. The term of service on the CRC for representative and at-large members shall be for two years from June 1 to June 30 two years later. Upon completion of their term of service, CRC representatives will become eligible to serve as representatives again after a two year hiatus. However, an individual who has served two years as a CRC representative may serve a contiguous term as a CRC at-large at the invitation of the Superintendent and subject to BOE approval.
   3. New CRC members may attend the joint May and June meeting to observe the proceedings, but may not vote on the submitted reports. At the May meeting they all actively participate in discussions about future study topics. New CRC members vote for officers at the June election meeting.
   4. Membership on CRC carries with it several requirements:
      1. Any member of CRC who misses three meetings the first year may be ineligible to serve on CRC for the second year of the term, and the sponsoring organization shall replace said member.
      2. All subcommittee members have the responsibility to attend their subcommittee meetings and participate fully in the development of a report according to the group's timeline.
      3. Members should make every effort to attend Board of Education meetings. All members will be assigned board observer responsibilities for a minimum of one regularly scheduled Board of Education Meeting.
4. CRC Procedures
   Article IV - Officers and Their Election
   The officers of CRC shall be President, Vice-President and Secretary who will be elected for a one year term by the membership.
   1. Election of officers will occur at the annual June meeting.
   2. Newly elected officers will assume office at the conclusion of the June meeting.
      1. Officers will serve in the same position for one term.
      2. A vacancy in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by majority vote of the membership at the next regular meeting. Nomination will be taken from the floor.
      3. Nomination for the position of president will be submitted in writing from the present and succeeding membership of CRC to the Executive Board through the President. An individual member may nominate himself or herself. A member may nominate one or more person for the position. The President will verify that those persons nominated accept the nomination. A list of those nominated will be sent to each member for consideration before the June election. At the election meeting additional nominations from the floor will be accepted. All ballots will be done by written ballot. Officers will be elected by simple majority vote.
      4. Absentee proxy voting is not permitted. Election ballots will be counted by the outgoing President and the Superintendent. After the President has been elected, open nominations will be taken from the membership for the election of Vice-President and Secretary.
   3. The President shall preside at all meetings of the general membership and the CRC Executive Board. The President shall:
      1. Be subject to all rules to all CRC members.
      2. Not be entitled to vote in regular CRC meetings except in the case of tie votes in which event the President may cast the deciding vote.
      3. Act as a member ex officio of all subcommittee of CRC and may be a voting member of one subcommittee of' choice.
      4. Coordinate the work of the committees in order that the objectives of the CRC may be promoted.
      5. Perform other duties and services as requested by the CRC, Board of Education, the Superintendent or the community.
   4. The Vice-President shall assist the President and perform the duties of the President in the absence or inability of that officer to serve. The Vice-President also functions as President when the chair is yielded. The Vice-President shall be a voting member. This officer also will serve as parliamentarian.
   5. The Secretary shall record the minutes and attendance of all general meetings. Such minutes shall be submitted to the CRC no later than 48 hours prior to the next regularly scheduled CRC meeting In the event of a special CRC meeting the Secretary will submit the minutes to the CRC as soon as is practicable. The Secretary· shall be a voting member of CRC. The responsibilities of the Secretary include keeping attendance records and record and maintain official minutes of regular meetings and subcommittees meetings; maintain a membership list; and have current copy of the bylaws and procedures.
   6. The Past-President shall assist the President and may act as a member ex-officio of all subcommittees of CRC and may be a voting member of one subcommittee of choice.
   7. The Superintendent shall be a non-voting member of the CRC and shall serve in an advisory capacity. He or she will meet with the Executive Board to plan the agenda for the CRC.
   8. The Executive Board of CRC shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Superintendent, and Past President. The Executive Board is responsible for the business and management of CRC as it plans and directs its work. The Executive Board should set the monthly agenda, plan for presentations, and discuss other areas of interest and concern. A simple majority of the members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum. A majority of members present is required on action taken in Executive Board. The Executive Board shall:
      1. Create and designate subcommittees subject to individual approval
      2. Review the Bylaws and Procedures and suggest changes as necessary.
      3. Meet as soon as practicable after the election of the new Executive Board
      4. Transact necessary business that may be referred to it in the intervals between regular meetings.
      5. Determine the date, place, and agenda of all regularly scheduled meetings.
      6. Assist the subcommittees with the coordination of final report completion and presentation.
      7. Invite such persons as are deemed helpful and appropriate to present information to CRC membership at regular meetings.
      8. In April, assist the Administration in the solicitation of names for membership in the succeeding CRC.
      9. Prior to the first regular meeting shall send to each member:
         1. Membership roster
         2. Bylaws and Procedures
         3. Prior year's final report
5. Article V - Meetings
   There shall be regularly scheduled monthly meetings of the general membership each year, and the time and place will be determined by the Executive Board. Meeting Notices and agendas will be publicly posted at the MEC at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
   1. Regular Meetings
      1. Regularly scheduled CRC meetings shall be held from approximately May 1 to June 30 of the following year. Meetings will be publicized in a timely manner throughout the community.
      2. All meetings are open to the public and press and are subject to the provisions of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
      3. The recommended schedule for regular meetings of CRC is:
         • May - Combined meeting of current and succeeding membership. Nominations for President. Final presentation to Board of Education.
         • June - Combined meeting. Develop lists of potential topics to be studied for the next year. Elections.
         • July- Board of Education response to CRC
         • September - Select topics to study. Review Board of 'Education response to the CRC report.
         • October - Finalize topic selection and begin subcommittee assignment.
         • November, December, January - Monthly detailed oral plan presented by the subcommittees to the CRC.
         • February, March - First draft written and presented.
         • April- Second draft written and presented.
      4. At least one meeting will include final approval of all written reports plus the insertion of any minority reports.
      5. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all meetings. A recent edition of this volume shall be retained by the Vice-President for use by CRC. These rules may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote.
      6. A simple majority of the members of CRC shall constitute a quorum. An affirmative vote of a majority of those members present at any regular meeting having a quorum shall be considered sufficient for transaction of business.
      7. The President, in cooperation with the Executive Board, shall prepare an agenda for each regular meeting. The agenda and any additional necessary materials will be delivered to each CRC member at least 48 hours prior to each regular meeting.
      8. All members are required to sign an attendance record at each regular meeting.
      9. Minutes of each regular meeting shall include date and place of meeting, call to order and person presiding, attendance, a record of corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting, and a record of reports, communications, motions, and notes.
   2. Special meetings may be called for emergent matters within the scope and purposes of the CRC.
      1. A special meeting may be called by the President, a majority of the Executive Board or any three members· of the CRC.
      2. Advance twenty-four hour notice of a special meeting must be delivered to each member of CRC.
6. Article VI - Subcommittees of CRC
   Subcommittees are formed to research and write a comprehensive report and recommendations to be submitted to the Board of Education. Subcommittee membership requires full participation of each member.
   1. The Executive Board, based on individual member preferences, will determine initial subcommittee membership that is subject to individual approval.
   2. Subcommittee topics will be decided by a vote of the whole CRC no later than the October meeting, based upon topics suggested by the membership or requested by virtually any source. However, the CRC has no obligation to choose any topic suggested or requested by any outside person or entity.
   3. Each subcommittee will determine the specific areas it wishes to research within the topic assigned to it by the whole CRC, and devise the plan it will follow to research to the topic.
   4. Each subcommittee will appoint a chairperson who will:
      1. Inform the Executive Board in advance of each meeting date, time and place.
      2. Report to the President and the CRC on the group's progress.
      3. Coordinate and complete the writing of the committee's final report.
   5. The following schedule should be used as a guideline for subcommittees:
      1. October/November - Elect chairperson, set next meeting date prior to December or January meeting. Plan work for the year, including a proposed outline and timeline
      2. November/December - Detailed oral plan reported to CRC membership.
      3. February/March - First draft distributed to CRC
      4. March/ April- Second draft distributed to CRC
      5. May/June - Final written report to be presented to CRC with consensus of subcommittee for majority approval of full CRC. Board Presentation finalized
      6. May/June - Final oral report made to the Board of Education
   6. The President must receive a copy of all subcommittee written communication to be distributed beyond the individual subcommittee.
   7. It is the goal of any subcommittee to reach a consensus on methodology, content and presentation of its research. If a consensus cannot be reached, a minority opinion to the subcommittee's report may be presented to the CRC no later than its April meeting but only if such opinion has been presented to such subcommittee at least one week prior to its presentation to the whole CRC. In such event, the CRC may require a portion or all of the minority opinion to be incorporated into the subcommittee's report as a condition of CRC approval. The minority opinion shall be included as an attachment to the subcommittee's report when it is submitted to the Board of Education without prior approval of the CRC.
   8. Although reports may not be submitted to the Board of Education without prior approval of the whole CRC (Article II, Section A) reports may present differences of opinions between the individual subcommittee and the full membership (See Article VI, Section G).
   9. Modifications of approved CRC final reports are subject to the approval of the CRC membership.
7. Article VII - Amendments
   Policy proposals or amendments to existing CRC bylaws. (Articles IV through VII. Articles I through III are Board of Education policy and can only be amended by the Board of Education) shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Board at least one month prior to regularly scheduled meeting. Amendments will then be distributed to the membership in advance of the next regular meeting. A 2/3 majority vote is required for approval. If approved, the amendment will be incorporated into the bylaws.