I. General

Name. The name of the organization is the:
Yuma/La Paz Tech Prep Leadership Team

Purpose of the Yuma/La Paz Tech Prep Leadership Team. The Yuma/La Paz Tech Prep Leadership Team exists to provide advice, guidance, and input to the Yuma/La Paz Tech Prep Director and Tech Prep Program. The Tech Prep Director and Fiscal Agent shall use the recommendations of the Tech Prep Leadership Team to provide fiscal and budgetary direction, a well as general direction for the secondary and post-secondary components of the Tech Prep program. The Tech Prep Leadership Team is responsible for:

1. Providing fiscal and budgetary direction and review;
2. Providing direction and coordination of secondary and post-secondary program planning;
3. Identifying issues that may impede implementation of the Tech Prep initiative, and working to resolve those issues;
4. Providing guidance to the Tech Prep Director and the Fiscal Agent regarding other identified Tech Prep issues, including, but not limited to Marketing, Fundraising, Articulation, Professional Development, and Evaluation;
5. Other responsibilities as determined by the Arizona State Director's of Tech Prep and the Tech Prep contract.

Mission Statement. The Mission Statement of the Yuma/La Paz Tech Prep Leadership Team is,"Support the establishment and maintenance of the Tech Prep Initiative, thereby enabling Tech Prep Students to successfully enter the workforce by providing them with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to succeed in the world of work."

II. Membership

General Membership. The Tech Prep Leadership Team is composed of fourteen (14) members representing, at a minimum: Business, Secondary Education, and Postsecondary Education.

1. The Tech Prep Leadership Team will invite each secondary school district participating in Tech Prep activities to provide a member. The number of Board members will increase as the number of secondary schools participating increases.
2. The Tech Prep Leadership Team will invite the local community college district participating in Tech Prep activities to provide a member. This member will also represent the Fiscal Agent.
3. The Tech Prep Leadership Team will invite one (1) representative of each postsecondary institution operating within the Consortiums geographical area to participate as a Tech Prep Leadership Team member.
4. Additional business, community, and education members will be invited to serve on the Tech Prep Leadership Team, as long as the combined business and community representation does not exceed one-third of the total Leadership Team.

Replacement Procedures. If a member is absent from three consecutive meetings, the member will be contacted to determine their interest in remaining as a member of the Tech Prep Leadership Team. The Tech Prep Leadership Team can remove a member for non-participation by a majority vote.

When a membership position becomes open, either through resignation, reassignment, or other means, the Tech Prep Director shall recommend a replacement to the Tech Prep Leadership Team. If the Tech Prep Leadership Team does not accept the Tech Prep Director's recommendation, the membership will either ask for another recommendation, or will assume the responsibility to recruit a replacement. If the Tech Prep Leadership Team does not provide a replacement within 30 days, the individual originally recommended shall be contacted to determine their willingness to serve on the Tech Prep Leadership Team. The prospective member shall be invited to join if they agree to support the Tech Prep mission and to perform the duties of a Tech Prep Leadership Team member, as defined in this Charter.

Officers. The Tech Prep Leadership Team will elect a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Secondary Representative. The Treasurer will represent the Fiscal Agent and postsecondary education. The elected officers shall comprise the Executive Committee and will serve two years, or until replaced. The Executive Committee will normally meet ten times yearly, either separately or as part of a Tech Prep Leadership Team meeting. The Executive Committee may meet more often if needed.

1. The President is responsible for convening and presiding at meetings of the Board, appointing committee chairs and members, and conferring with the Tech Prep Director regarding the agenda.
2. The Treasurer will act, in the absence of the President, as the President. The Treasurer will represent the interests of the fiscal agent and postsecondary education.
3. Elections will be held every other year, commencing in 1998. Normally elections will be held at the first meeting of the school year, or approximately September of every even year.

Other.

1. All members will serve without compensation.
2. A term limit is not set for membership.

III. Committees

Standing Committees. There will be no standing committees.

Special Committees. Special committees will be appointed as determined by the Tech Prep Leadership Team. A committee will be composed of at least two people and will be appointed to fulfill a specific, short-term mission. The committee will be in existence no longer than one year.

Committee Meetings. Committee meetings will be held at a time other than the regularly scheduled Tech Prep Leadership Team meetings. Meetings are open to any member of the Tech Prep Leadership Team.

IV. Decision Making Procedures.

Voting Members. All members will have one vote and will be voting members.

Quorum. A quorum is five voting members.

Voting. Conduct of Tech Prep Leadership Team meetings will adhere to parliamentary rules for voting. A quorum is required for business to be conducted and a simple majority is required to make decisions.

Agenda Items. Proposed agenda items must be submitted to the Tech Prep Director ten (10) days in advance of a meeting in order to be included on the agenda.

Telephone Votes. In the event a quorum is not achieved, and a vote is needed, the President will direct the Tech Prep Director to contact the absent members and record their telephonic votes.

Amendments. The Charter can be amended by the Tech Prep Leadership Team as desired. Proposed amendments may be submitted by any Tech Prep Leadership Team member. Amendments must be submitted 15 days prior to a regular Tech Prep Leadership Team meeting for inclusion on the agenda. After discussion, a vote on a proposed amendment will occur at the following meeting. A simple majority is required to amend the Charter.

V. Meetings

Meeting Dates. A meeting schedule will be set by the Tech Prep Leadership Team based upon availability of ITN facilities. Members will be notified by telephone, fax, e-mail, and/or letter seven days in advance of regular meetings. Meetings will be held at least quarterly, or more often if the agenda items require more frequent meetings.

Meeting Locations. Meetings will normally be held in an Arizona Western classroom that provides the interactive television equipment required for a teleconference between Yuma and La Paz Counties. The meeting location will be announced when the meeting date is announced.

Special Sessions. Special sessions may be convened by the President.

VI. Miscellaneous

Employees. When the Consortium hires a new Director, the Tech Prep Leadership Team may provide members to serve on the selection team. The Tech Prep Director and staff will become employees of the fiscal agent, Arizona Western College, who will have responsibility for day-to-day supervision and personnel actions. The Tech Prep Leadership Team will provide input to the Tech Prep Director's supervisor for the Director's annual personnel evaluation.