Bylaws

The Idaho School Counselor Association adopts the following statements on specific topics in education and the school counselor’s role in relation to those topics from the American School Counselor Association.

ASCA position statements

Ethical standards and policies

BYLAWS of the IDAHO SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION

Bylaws of the Idaho School Counselor Association

Approved Sep. 2023

ARTICLE I: NAME AND MISSION

SECTION 1. Name of the Association.

The name of the Association shall be the Idaho School Counselor Association (ISCA or the association), as chartered by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

SECTION 2. The Purpose of the Association.

The purpose of the Idaho School Counselor Association (ISCA) shall be to empower, support, and advocate for school counselors across the state, fostering their professional growth and promoting the well-being of all students. By providing a collaborative platform, innovative resources, and professional development opportunities, ISCA strives to enhance the effectiveness of school counselors in Idaho, enabling them to address the diverse academic, career, and social-emotional needs of students. With a commitment to equity, inclusivity, and evidence-based practices, ISCA aims to strengthen the impact of school counseling services, ultimately promoting student success, well-being, and a positive educational experience for every learner in Idaho’s schools.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Types of Membership.

The Association shall include five types of membership: Professional, Student, Retiree, Emeritus, and Affiliate.

SECTION 2. Requirements of Membership. In order to qualify for one of the five types of membership, the following requirements must be met:

Professional Membership. A Professional member must hold a master's degree or higher (or the substantial equivalent) and meet one or more of the following requirements:

The member must hold a school counselor or guidance certificate or license from Idaho; or
be employed as a school counselor or supervisor of school counselors in Idaho; or
be employed as a counselor educator in a graduate program in Idaho that prepares school counselors; or
be credentialed as a school counselor by some other state, district, or territory of the United States.

Student Membership. A Student Member must be engaged in a planned program of counselor education designed to result in a degree or certificate as a counselor. No person shall be eligible to be or continue as a Student Member who has held that status for a total of three years, or who is otherwise eligible to become a Professional Member.

Retiree Membership. Professional members in retirement are eligible for Retiree membership. Retired members shall retain all the privileges of Professional Members.

Emeritus Membership. A person who has served as ISCA’s President or Board Chair and has completed his/her full term of office may be an Emeritus Member. The Emeritus member shall enjoy all the privileges of Professional membership but shall be exempt from payment of dues.

Affiliate Membership. Individuals who are interested in school counseling who are not eligible for any other types of membership are eligible for Affiliate membership.

SECTION 3. Dues.

Dues for all categories of membership shall be established in accordance with ISCA policies and procedures that address Membership.

SECTION 4. Rights and Privileges.

All members shall receive the rights and privileges accorded to their membership categories as set forth in ISCA policies and procedures that address membership.
Professional, Emeritus, Retired and Student Members can vote and initiate motions at parliamentary proceedings. Only Professional Members shall be eligible to hold office in the Association.

SECTION 5. Severance of Membership.

Association members who do not renew their membership before their membership expiration date will no longer be considered members of ISCA. Membership may be revoked for revocation of license or credential or for violation of ASCA Ethical Standards or Ethical Standards for School Counselor Association Leaders, following procedures described in ISCA policies and procedures that address Membership.

A member may be dropped from membership for any conduct that tends to injure the Association, or adversely affect it or which violates principles stated in the Bylaws or Ethical Standards of ISCA or ASCA. Any member charged with engaging in such conduct shall be given the opportunity to present evidence through witnesses or other methods, the opportunity to file an appeal to and have a hearing before the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consider any charge made over the signature of general ISCA members in good standing and shall have the power to determine whether the charges shall be dropped, whether the accused shall be permitted to resign, or whether the charges are sustained. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.

SECTION 6. Non-discrimination.

The Idaho School Counselor Association does not knowingly engage in or support activities that discriminate on any basis as addressed in federal guidelines and ASCA’s Ethical Standards for School Counselors or Ethics Standards for School Counselor Association Leaders.

ARTICLE III: ISCA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. Officers.

The officers of ISCA shall be the Chair of the Board, the Assistant Chair of the Board, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.

SECTION 2. Powers and Functions.

The Board of Directors shall conduct the governance of ISCA but shall not take any action contrary to the Bylaws adopted by ISCA members.
The Board of Directors shall create policies and procedures to carry out the mission of ISCA.

SECTION 3. Board of Directors.

The voting members of the Board of Directors shall consist of nine at-large Directors.

The Chair of the Board shall be an elected Director on the Board of Directors who is selected by the members of the Board of Directors to serve a one-year term as the Chair of the Board, in accordance with the policies and procedures that address Governance. The Chair of the Board shall be the primary of two designated voting delegates to represent Idaho at the annual ASCA Delegate Assembly.

The Assistant Chair of the Board shall be an elected Director on the Board of Directors who is selected by the members of the Board of Directors to serve a one-year term to assist the Chair of the Board and to serve as the Chair of the Board in the Chair’s absence, in accordance with the policies and procedures that address Governance. The Assistant Chair of the Board shall be the second of two designated voting delegates to represent Idaho at the annual ASCA Delegate Assembly.

At-Large Directors shall be elected by the ISCA membership to serve a three-year term to take actions or to make decisions on behalf of the members in accordance with ISCA policies and procedures that address Governance.

Three Directors shall be elected by the ISCA membership each year.

Directors shall not serve more than two consecutive terms on the Board of Directors. Directors shall have a lifetime three-term limit.

The term of office for any elected Director shall coincide with the Fiscal Year of ISCA.

Directors must be ISCA Professional or Retired Members.

SECTION 4. Nominations and Election of Board of Directors.

Three Directors shall be elected annually through a general election by ISCA Professional and Retired members held in accordance with ISCA Policies and Procedures that address Nominations and Elections.

Candidates must have been practicing school counselors for at least three years on the due date for the submission of candidate applications.

Candidates must hold a valid school counselor license or certificate issued by a state department of education or equivalent state or federal agency on the due date for the submission of candidate applications.

Candidates must be ISCA Professionals or Retired Members and must have been an ASCA Professional or Retired Member for at least the three years immediately preceding the due date for the submission of candidate applications. Annual dues for ISCA and ASCA memberships shall not be paid by ISCA.

Candidates are encouraged to complete ASCA leadership training no more than five years before the due date for the submission of candidate applications.

Candidates for the Board of Directors shall meet additional qualifications required by ISCA policies and procedures that address Nominations and Elections.

Candidates whose eligibility changes at any time during the election process must notify the Nominations and Elections Committee Chair.

The Nominations and Elections Committee shall conduct elections in accordance with ISCA policies and procedures that address Nominations and Elections.

The Nominations and Elections Committee selects a slate of candidates not to exceed six candidates.

Nominations and Elections guidelines shall be developed by the Nominations and Elections Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

If any elected candidate should be unable to assume office by the beginning of ISCA’s Fiscal Year, the candidate with the next highest number of votes in the election shall be asked to serve in the vacant position. If none of the candidates agrees to serve, the Board of Directors shall fill the vacancy.

The Committee shall declare elected the candidates receiving a plurality vote and candidates will be notified by the Nominations & Elections Chairperson.

SECTION 5. Meetings.

The Board of Directors shall meet at least once each year. Such meetings may be held in person or via telephone conference call or another electronic medium in which all individuals can hear one another. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chair of the Board or by a majority vote of the Board.

Two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors must be present to constitute a quorum.

Each member of the Board of Directors shall have one vote. Decisions of the Board of Directors shall be made by a simple majority vote except in cases involving issues that require a greater majority, as defined in ISCA Bylaws and policies and procedures addressing Governance.

Board of Directors members are expected to attend all Board of Directors meetings and other functions in accordance with ISCA policies and procedures that address Governance.

SECTION 6. Vacancies.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Chair of the Board, the Assistant Chair of the Board assumes the office of Chair of the Board.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Assistant Chair of the Board, the Board of Directors shall select an Assistant Chair of the Board to fill the unexpired term.

In the event of a vacancy in an office of a Director, the Board of Directors may fill the unexpired term but is not required to fill the vacancy.

The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fill any vacancy for which there are no other provisions.

SECTION 7. Removal from Office.

An elected officer or member of the Board of Directors may be removed from office, for cause, by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, a due process committee may be appointed to review any charges and to make recommendations. This committee shall complete its assignment and submit a final report within 30 days after the appointment.

A Director who becomes ineligible to serve on the Board shall be allowed three months to regain eligibility. If a Director is ineligible to serve on the Board for three months, the Director shall be asked to resign. Directors who know they cannot or will not regain eligibility within three months shall be asked to resign immediately upon becoming ineligible.

SECTION 8. Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses.

Members of the ISCA Board of Directors shall not receive any compensation for services, but their necessary expenses shall be paid in accordance with ISCA policies and procedures that address Governance and Finance.

Members of the ISCA Board of Directors shall not benefit financially or materially from their service on the Board of Directors, in accordance with ISCA policies and procedures that address Governance and Conflicts of Interest.

ARTICLE IV: ADDITIONAL POSITIONS AND DUTIES

SECTION 1. Treasurer.

The Board of Directors shall elect a Treasurer for the Association from its nine-member board.

The Treasurer of the Association shall maintain ISCA’s records, administer the affairs of the Association, including financial affairs, and perform such other duties as are incidental to this office, in accordance with ISCA’s mission and vision, subject to the provisions of its Bylaws and policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. Secretary.

The Board of Directors shall elect a Secretary for the association from its nine-member board.

The Secretary of the Association shall maintain ISCA’s minutes for all meetings and perform such other duties as are incidental to this office, in accordance with ISCA’s mission and vision, subject to the provisions of its Bylaws and policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. Additional Appointments.

The Board of Directors may appoint other positions as needed.

ARTICLE V: OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE

SECTION 1. Committees.

ISCA’s committees shall be appointed to accomplish specific tasks within specific time frames. If membership on a committee includes individuals who are not members of the Board of Directors, that committee shall function only as an advisory committee and shall not conduct any function reserved for the Board.

SECTION 2. Standing Committees.

The Standing Committees shall be Bylaws & Policies, Membership Outreach, Nominations & Elections, Professional Development, Advocacy, Communications & Recognition, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. All Committee chairs will be appointed by the Board with team members subject to the approval of the Board.

Bylaws & Policies. The Bylaws & Policies Committee annually reviews the ISCA Bylaws and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Membership Outreach. The Membership Outreach Committee will promote interest in and sustain membership in the Association among all eligible persons in the state.

Nominations & Elections. The Nominations & Elections Committee develops policies and procedures for approval by the Board of Directors and conducts elections in accordance with ISCA policies and procedures that address Nominations and Elections.

Professional Development. The Professional Development Committee shall plan the official conferences, workshops, and programs of the Association.

Advocacy. The Advocacy Committee will actively pursue, liaise, and support legislation that reflects the aims and goals of the Association. The committee will serve as the official liaison between the Association, national, state, and locally elected officials, and other agencies.

Communications & Recognition. The Communications and Recognition Committee will develop an online presence for ISCA and disseminate ISCA information via website and vehicles of social networking and promote conversation among members and the public. the Communications and Recognition Committee will also recognize the achievements of school counselors and advocates of school counseling programs at the annual conference.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is tasked with providing feedback to the Board to ensure that the organization is implementing equitable and diverse practices for both members of the board and members within the organization.

ARTICLE VI: BUSINESS AFFAIRS OF THE ASSOCIATION

SECTION 1. Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year shall begin July 1 and end the following June 30.

SECTION 2. Property of the Association.

In the event the Association should be dissolved, none of its property shall be distributed to any of the members. Instead, all of its property shall be transferred to such nonprofit organizations as the Governing Board shall determine to have purposes and activities most nearly consistent with those of the Association, provided, however, that such organization(s) shall be exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding provisions of the Internal Revenue Laws.

SECTION 3. Parliamentary Procedure.

The parliamentary authority for the meetings of the Association shall be Robert's Rules of Order, as from time to time amended. A Parliamentarian may be appointed by the Board Chair to be present at meetings.

SECTION 4. Annual Meeting

The purpose of the annual meeting shall be to inform the membership of the activities of the Board or Directors, and to present committee reports including the financial status of the Association.

SECTION 5. Meetings of the Association.

An annual business meeting will be held each fiscal year. Notice of the annual business meeting shall be given to the membership at least 30 days prior to each meeting.

The Board of Directors of ISCA may call additional business meetings of the ISCA general membership at its discretion.

At any meeting of the general membership, two-thirds of attendees present must be Professional or Retired members of ISCA in good standing to be considered a quorum.

ARTICLE VII: INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 1. The Association shall indemnify each member of the Board of Directors and each of its officers, as described in Article V for the defense of civil or criminal actions or proceedings as hereinafter provided and, notwithstanding any provision in these Bylaws, in a manner and to the extent permitted by applicable law.

SECTION 2. The Association shall indemnify each of its directors and officers, as aforesaid, from and against any and all judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, and reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually and necessarily incurred or imposed as a result of such action or proceedings, or an appeal therein, imposed upon or asserted against him or her by reason of being or having been such a director or officer and acting within the scope of his or her official duties, but only when the determination shall have been made judicially or in the manner hereinafter provided that he or she acted in good faith for the purpose which he or she reasonably believed to be in ISCA’s best interests and, in the case of criminal action or proceeding, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. This indemnification shall be made only if the Association shall be advised by its Board of Directors acting (1) by quorum consisting of Board of Directors members who are not parties to such section or proceedings upon a finding that, or (2) if a quorum under (1) is not obtainable with due diligence, upon the opinion in writing of independent legal counsel that, the Board of Directors or officer has met the foregoing applicable standard of conduct. If the undergoing determination is to be made by the Board of Directors, it may rely as to all questions of law on the advice of independent legal counsel.

SECTION 3. Every reference herein to a member of the Board of Directors or officer of the Association shall include every member and officer thereof or former member and officer thereof. This indemnification shall apply to all judgments, fines, amounts in settlement, and reasonable expenses described above whenever arising allowable as above stated. The right of indemnification herein provided shall be in addition to any and all rights to which any ISCA member or officer might otherwise be entitled, and the provisions hereof shall neither impair nor adversely affect such rights.

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENT & PUBLICATION OF BYLAWS

SECTION 1. Amendment of Bylaws.

Proposal of amendments. An amendment shall be proposed by the Board of Directors or by petition over the signature of not less than 25 Professional or Retired members of ISCA in good standing. Petitions for Bylaws amendment must be submitted to the Board of Directors not less than 90 days prior to the first session of the annual meeting or a general membership meeting where Bylaws revisions will be considered. All proposed Bylaws amendments shall be reviewed by the Bylaws & Policies Committee.

Copies of amendments proposed under the precision of the foregoing paragraph shall be distributed to the general membership not less than 30 days prior to the first session of the annual meeting or a general membership meeting where Bylaws revisions will be considered.

Amendments by Members. The members may amend these Bylaws pursuant to a vote at a meeting of the members for which proper notice was provided as required by these Bylaws and shall be adopted at such meeting upon receiving an affirmative vote by a majority of the members present.

In the event the attendance at the annual meeting or general membership meeting does not constitute a quorum, Bylaws amendments may be approved by electronic ballot or other means approved by the Board of Directors. In such case, amendments shall be approved by a majority of ballots or votes received.

Amendments by the Board of Directors. These Bylaws may be amended by majority vote of the Board of Directors after submission of the proposed amendment. A proposed amendment to the Bylaws shall take effect after it has received a simple majority vote at a Board meeting.

Bylaw amendments that affect Board services, such as terms of office or eligibility, shall not be applicable to Bard members who are in office, newly elected, or engaged in an election at the time the amendment is approved unless the ISCA membership explicitly approves applying the Bylaw amendments immediately.

SECTION 2. Publication of Bylaws.

The Bylaws of this Association shall be published in their entirety and available on the association’s website.

The Idaho School Counselor Association is a division charter of the American School Counselor Association