ARTICLE 1

NAME, PURPOSES AND GOVERANCE

Section 1. Name

The name of this organization shall be Alabama Association of Middle School Principals (AAMSP) [hereinafter referred to in the By-Laws as the Association].

Section 2. Purposes

1. to facilitate positive educational leadership,
2. to speak for the middle school principals,
3. to enhance the image of the middle school principal as an educational leader and to promote greater recognition of the professional skill and performance demanded by the position,
4. to serve as an agency for the collection and dissemination of information pertinent to the middle school principal
5. to promote legislation which is in the interest of children, education and the association.

Section 2. Purposes

1. to facilitate and encourage the professional development for leaders of schools with middle level grades and facilitate positive educational leadership,
2. to serve as a voice for middle school leaders and those who lead and support middle level schools at the district level,
3. to enhance the image of the middle school administrators and those leaders who embrace the middle school philosophy as educational leaders and to promote greater recognition of the professional skill and performance demanded by the position,
4. to serve as an agency for the collection and dissemination of information pertinent to the middle school principal,
5. to stimulate and promote student achievement and growth through quality programs that are part of schools that serve students in middle grades including academic, athletic, artistic, musical, and other school sponsored activities,
6. to promote sound legislation and policies governing education in the state which is in the interest of children, education and the association.

Section 3. Governance
The Association shall be governed by these By-Laws and such actions as the governing body of the Association may take consistent therewith. Nothing in the By-Laws shall be construed to prevent the Association from pursuing objectives that are consistent with its stated purposes. The Executive Committee shall be the governing body of the Association.

ARTICLE III

Section 2. CLAS Affiliation

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS FOR AAMSP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1

The officers of the Association shall be the President, the President-Elect, First Vice- President, the immediate Past President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and District Vice Presidents to represent each.

Section 2

• Term of Office
  1. The term of office of the President, the President-Elect, the First Vice- President, and the immediate Past President shall begin at the end of the Annual CLAS Summer Conference and shall be for one year.
  2. The officer’s year ends on June 30^th following the annual CLAS Summer Conference.
  3. The term of office for the Secretary and Treasurer may be extended beyond one year.
  4. District Presidents serve a two-year term. Terms end with odd or even rotations consistent with district numbers at the end of the Annual CLAS Summer Conference. Even numbered districts will elect presidents during their Spring Semester meetings (February –May) in even numbered years; odd numbered districts will elect presidents during their Spring Semester meetings (February – May) in odd numbered years. In the event of a vacancy of a District President that cannot be filled by the District, the current/previous District President may recommend and/or the AASSP President will appoint an interim president. Each district may decide its own selection process for district officers. District Presidents may succeed themselves and serve multiple terms.

ARTICLE VI

AAMSP BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Purpose

1. AAMSP Board of Directors is to give leadership and direction to the Association.
2. It is to be the governing body of the Association.

Section 2. Organization of the Board of Directors

Only active members serving as building level middle or junior high school administrators are eligible for AAMSP Board Offices. In addition, building level K-12, K-8, or 6-12 administrators are eligible for Executive Offices. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, President-Elect, First Vice-President, Immediate Past President/Parliamentarian, Secretary, Treasurer, and District Presidents, CLAS Executive Director and any other person(s) elected by the membership or appointed by the President. Upon recommendation of the President and approval of the AAMSP Board, the association may establish the position of Executive Secretary. The Executive Secretary will be an ex officio, non-voting member of the AAMSP Board. The Executive Committee, which consists of the President, President-elect, First Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and CLAS Director, will annually evaluate the Executive Secretary in addition to determining whether or not the Association can sustain the position.

1. The AAMSP Board of Directors’ purpose is to give leadership and direction to the Association.
2. The Board is to serve as the governing body of the Association.

Section 3. Powers and Duties

The AAMSP Board of Directors shall

1. Formulate operational policies of the Association,
2. Establish the procedure for determining membership dues,
3. Approve the budgeting and expenditures of the Association funds,
4. Approve conference meeting sites,
5. Supervise publications,
6. Secure consultants and staff personnel as needed,

ARTICLE VII

DUTIES OF AAMSP BOARD MEMBERS

Section 1. Rotations of District Presidents

District Presidents shall be appointed for a two-year term rotating off and being elected in alternating years. Even districts are elected in even years and odd districts are elected in odd years during the second semester, prior to the Annual CLAS Summer Convention.

Section 2. The President

The President is the chief elective officer and shall

1. Preside at all Association and Executive Committee meetings,
2. Appoint all committees which are not otherwise provided for in the By-Laws,
3. Designate Committee chairpersons,
4. Call Executive Committee meetings when deemed necessary or on request by majority of Executive Committee members,
5. Be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee,
6. Insure that the membership is kept informed of AAMSP activities,
7. Serve as an ex-officio non-voting member of the CLAS Board of Directors,
8. Make a report of activities of the Committee to the general membership at the annual affiliate meeting held during the CLAS Summer Conference, and
9. Appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer,
10. Work closely with the treasurer and other executive committee members (president-elect, vice president, secretary, and immediate past president) in planning and submitting an annual budget for approval by the AAMSP Board at the June Board meeting. (The AAMSP budget year will be the same as the CLAS budget year which is July 1^st until June 30^th.), and
11. Shall appoint or approve a qualified replacement to fill a District President vacancy for the remainder of the term.

Section 3.  The President-Elect

The President-Elect shall

1. Assume duties for the President in the event of the President’s absence,
2. Become President in case of a vacancy in the President’s position and serve as such until the regular succession to the presidency,
3. Plan the annual conference subject to the approval of the Executive Committee,
4. Helps plan association meetings and
5. Attend fall CLAS Board training.

Section 4.    The First Vice-President

The First Vice-President shall

1. Monitor AAMSP Executive Board Member meeting attendance,
2. Help energize AAMSP membership drive in collaboration with District Presidents,
3. Become President-Elect in case of a vacancy in the President’s position and serve as such until the regular succession to the vice presidency, (and)
4. Assist with the monitoring of District Presidents’ terms and rotations.

Section 5.    The Immediate Past-President

The Immediate Past President shall

1. Serve as Parliamentarian and
2. Pass the AAMSP President’s Notebook to the new President.
3. Begin a term of service on the CLAS Board member representing AAMSP upon his or her transition to Immediate Past President.

Section 6. Secretary

The Secretary shall

1. Record the minutes of Executive Committee meetings and regular affiliate meetings,
2. Assist the President in developing the draft for meeting agendas,
3. Provide written minutes to the membership during affiliate meeting,
4. Maintain record of the Association (and)
5. Filter and store all past records at CLAS Office as needed.

Section 7. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall

1. Receive and deposit all funds for the Association,
2. Expend funds as directed by the Executive Committee,
3. Prepare financial reports as requested and
4. Maintain communication with financial institution handling funds as needed.

Section 8.  District Presidents

The District President shall

1. Serve on the Executive Committee of the Association,
2. Plan, organize and facilitate at least one meeting for district members each semester (This meeting may be held with the respective district’s AASSP organization),
3. Serve as the middle school resource for the represented district,
4. Serve as the membership coordinator for the area,
5. Attend at least three Executive Committee meetings each year,
6. Assist the President-elect in the planning of the upcoming conference,
7. Serve as chairperson of assigned committees at the request of the President,
8. Perform and function as the President may request,
9. Be responsible for submitting at least two articles or editorial/commentary informational columns at least two times a year for their respective district that will be published in the AASSP/AAMSP newsletter, (and)
10. Recruit new AAMSP members.

Section 9.  CLAS Executive Director

The CLAS Executive Director shall

1. Attend meetings of the Association, if possible, including the Executive Committee, state, regional and national conventions,
2. Arrange space for meetings, upon request,
3. Keep President informed of current matters and report to the Executive Committee on matters pertinent to elementary/middle/secondary educators
4. Provide membership list and information as needed, and
5. Promote and represent the interest and concerns of the middle school principals in the legislative and political arenas.

Section 10.  Executive Secretary

The Executive Secretary shall

1. Attend meetings of the Association, if possible, including the Executive Committee, state, regional and national conventions,
2. Serve, along with the President, as spokesperson for the Association.
3. Serve as a mentor and liaison to maintain continuity among AAMSP Board of Directors,
4. Carry out all duties as described in the Job Description for the Executive Secretary.
5. Receive an annual evaluation from the Executive Committee which consists of the President, President-elect, First Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and

ARTICLE VIII

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Nominations

At the business meeting of the Summer CLAS Conference, the Nominating Committee shall submit the names of candidates for each association office which requires election.

Section 2. Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall

1. Be appointed by the President
2. Submit a nomination for office of President- Elect each year and
3. Submit a nomination for directors to CLAS Board to serve a four-year term as membership dictates

ARTICLE XI

BOOKS, RECORDS, PROPERTY

Section 1. Records

The records and accounts of the Association and of its officers and committees shall be the property of the association. These records and accounts shall be open to inspection by any member of the Association upon the receipt of a written request giving prior notice of such inspection.