Guiding principles

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

ARTICLE I: NAMES AND PURPOSES

SECTION 1. The name of the Association shall be the Idaho School Counselor Association (ISCA), a State division of the Idaho Counseling Association (ICA). This Association, also known as a Division, shall be autonomous in the conduct of its affairs, consistent with the constitutions and Bylaws of ACA, ASCA and ICA.

SECTION 2. The Purposes of the Association shall be:

a. To foster a close personal and professional relationship among school counselors and with counselors in other settings.

b. To advance the academic discipline of counseling and human services in order to maximize the educational, vocational, and personal-social growth of each student; to foster, within each school, offerings which are tailored to each student's particular pattern of aptitudes, needs, interests, achievements, and motivations.

c. To improve the standards of school counseling and the relationships with other professionals in education for students m elementary, middle/junior high, secondary, and post-secondary settings.

d. To assume an active role in helping people to understand and access such programs.

e. To promote the professional growth of school Counselors and other human service professionals in Idaho.

f . To develop, implement, and/or foster interest in career development programs.

g. To publish or disseminate scientific, educational, and professional materials.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Classes and Types Or Membership. This Association shall include five classes of membership - -professional, regular, retired, student and affiliate.

SECTION 2. Requirements of Membership. The following requirements must be met to qualify for the respective types of membership.

a. 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; or be employed as a counselor educator in a graduate program that prepares school counselors--all in the state of Idaho

b. Regular Member. Regular members shall be credentialed as school counselors by a state, district, or territory of the United States or shall hold a master's degree in counseling or the substantial equivalent.

c. Retired Membership. Retired members shall retain all the privileges of Regular Members.

d. 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 or Regular Member.

e. Affiliate Membership. Any person who subscribes to the purposes and ideals of the Association and who wishes to support its goals, but is not eligible for any other type of membership

SECTION 3. Counselor Defined. The term "counselor" wherever used herein, shall include persons engaged for the requisite periods of study or employment at any level of education or employment related to development of the whole person across the lifespan including, but not limited to: training and education, responsive services, individual planning, and program management.

SECTION 4. DUES. Dues shall be recommended by the Governing Board

SECTION 5. Rights and Privileges. Professional, Regular, 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 6. Severance of Membership.

a. A member may be dropped from membership for any conduct that tends to injure the Association, or adversely affect its or which violates principles slated in the Bylaws or Ethical Standards of ISCA, ICA, ASCA, or ACA. 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 Governing Board, whose decision shall be final. A committee on Ethics 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 accused shall be permitted to resign, or whether the charges are sustained, subject, however, to the right of any accused member to appeal to the Governing Board from any final decision of the Committee.

b. A member may be dropped from membership for the non-payment of dues.

c. Non-discrimination. There shall be no discrimination against any individual on the basis of ethnic origin, color,creed, sex, sexual orientation, disabling condition or age.

ARTICLE III: ISCA OFFICERS

SECTION 1. Officers and terms of Office.

a. The officers of the Association shall be the President, President-Elect, President-Elect-Elect, Immediate Past President, six Regional Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer. All ISCA officers must be members of ICA.

b. All officers of the Association, except the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Student Representative shall be elected at large from among the eligible members of the association.

c. The President-Elect shall automatically become President of the Association one year after the commencement of his/her term of office as President-Elect, or upon the death or resignation of the President.

d. The President-Elect-Elect shall automatically become President-Elect of the Association one year after the commencement of his/her term of office, or upon the death or resignation of the President-Elect.

e. The Immediate Past President shall serve for one year following the expiration of the term of President.

f. The Secretary shall be appointed by the President, with the approval of the Governing Board, and shall serve a concurrent term with the President who appoints him/her.

g. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Governing Board and shall serve at its pleasure.

h. There shall be six Regional Vice-Presidents representing the six educational districts determined by the state department of education. Regional Vice-Presidents shall be elected for a two-year term and shall be eligible for re-election for one additional term.

i. An elected officer, with the exception of the Vice-Presidents, shall not be a candidate to succeed him/herself in the same office. The term of office for any elected officer of ISCA shall begin on a date established by the Governing Board, which shall coincide with the date ICA officers begin their terms of office.

SECTION 2. Nominations and Elections of Officers.

a. The President-Elect-Elect and Vice-Presidents shall be elected annually by secret ballot, mailed to and so returned by individual general members of the Association.

b. Only professional members having membership in ASCA may represent ISCA at the ASCA Delegate Assembly.

c. During each annual meeting, the Nominations and Elections Committee shall issue a call to all members of the Association for nominations of officers for the coming year. Nominations must be received by a date set by the Governing Board.

d. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall determine the eligibility of these members nominated and shall select for placement on the elections ballot the candidates of no more than three candidates for each of the positions, i.e., President-Elect-Elect, and six Regional Vice-Presidents.

e. If any officer elect should be unable to assume his/her office on or about the first day of his/her term, the next ranking candidate on the election return shall assume that position. The Governing Board shall have the authority to fill any vacancy for which there are no other provisions.

SECTION 3. Duties of Officers.

a. During the term of office, the President shall serve as the presiding officer of ISCA and as a member and chairperson of the Governing Board. The President, with the approval of the Governing Board, shall appoint all committees and perform such duties as are incidental to the office, or as directed by the Governing Board

b The President-Elect shall perform such duties as may be directed by the Governing Board. In the event that the President should not complete his/her full term for any reason, the President-Elect shall succeed to the unexpired remainder thereof and continue through his/her term

c. The President-Elect-Elect shall perform such duties as may be directed by the Governing beard and shall follow the President/Elect in the line of succession.

d The Immediate Past President shall perform such duties as may be directed by the Governing Board.

e. The Vice-Presidents of the Association shall be responsible for generating interest and activities within their respective areas of responsibility. They shall also perform other duties as directed by the Governing Board, including informing the membership about counseling issues.

f. The Secretary shall serve as an appointed member of the Governing Board. He/She shall keep the records of all meetings of the Association as well as the minutes of the Governing Board. He/She shall assist in conducing the official corporation of the Association and shall perform such other duties as are incidental to this office.

g. The Treasurer shall serve as an appointed member of the Governing Board. He/She shall review and validate monthly statements, and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Governing Board upon notice by the Board --at least annually.

h. The student representative shall serve as an appointed member of the Governing Board. He/She shall serve as liaison representing concerns and interests of counseling students of the universities to the Governing Board

SECTION 4. Removal from Office. An elected officer or member of the Governing Board may be removed from office, for cause, by a two-thirds majority vote of the Governing Board.

SECTION 5. Compensation and Expenses of Officers. None of the elected officers of the Association shall receive any compensation for his/her services.

ARTICLE IV: GOVERNING BOARD

SECTION 1. Governing Board Composition

a. The Governing Board shall be composed of ISCA Officers. and the standing committee chairs.

b. If a member leaves the Governing Board during his/her term of office other than during the election period, the President, with the approval of the Governing Board, shall appoint a replacement to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. That replacement may be elected to serve a full term.

SECTION 2. Powers and functions.

a. The Governing Board shall be the agency through which the general administration and executive functions of the Association are effected

b. The Governing Board shall have the power to establish regulations and application forms for determining whether applicants for membership meet the requirements for membership as specified by the Bylaws.

SECTION 3. Meetings.

a. The Governing Board shall meet at the time and place of the annual ISCA Fall Conference, LDC, the annual ICA Conference, ISCA Spring Conference, and at such other times as may be designated by the Executive Council.

b. A majority of the members of the Governing Board shall constitute a quorum. the Governing Board shall take such action as is necessary for the conduct of the Association's affairs.

c. The reasonable expenses of Board members in attending meetings of the Board shall be paid from Association funds.

Section 4. Executive Council.

a. The Executive Council shall consist of the President, Past President, President-Elect, President Elect-Elect, Treasurer and Secretary.

b. The Executive Council shall conduct, manage, and control the business of the Association between official meetings of the Governing Board

c. The Secretary shall keep minutes of Executive Council decisions and report same to the Board

ARTICLE V: ANNUAL MEETING

SECTION 1. Composition Of the Annual Meeting. The annual business meeting shall consist of the Governing Board, and members of the Association in attendance at the meeting.

SECTION 2. Functions Of the Annual Meeting. The purpose of the annual meeting shall be to inform the membership Of the activities of the Governing Board, and to present committee reports including the financial status of the Association.

SECTION 3. Meetings of the Association.

a. The Association shall meet at its Annual Meeting during the ISCA Fall Conference and during the Spring Regional Conferences. Time and place of all meetings shall be fixed by the Governing Board; notice thereof shall be given to the membership at least 30 days prior to each meeting.

ARTICLE VI: LOCAL DIVISIONS

SECTION 1. Organization of Local Divisions.

a. Any group of Association members residing or working within a particular locale may apply for an Association Local Division charter, provided the following conditions are met:

(i) The group must consist of at least seven members of the Association.

(ii) The group must be representative of the Association members in the locale.

(iii) The purposes and activities of the group must be compatible with those of the Association.

b. There is nothing to prevent the Local Division from affiliating with the local educational association, if it so desires.

SECTION 2. Formation of Local Divisions.

a. Application for charter as a Local Division should be made to the President of the Association or the Governing Board

b. Applications shall be considered and approved by the Governing Board.

SECTION 3. Revocation of Charter. The Governing Board shall consider all charges, submitted in writing and made over the signature of an ISCA member in good standing, which suggest a Local Division is no longer observing the conditions made its charter under which it was initially granted. A Local Division so charged shall be given the opportunity to present evidence in its behalf through witnesses against the Local Division, and shall be offered an opportunity to appear at a hearing before the governing Board. A written report from the Governing Board to the Annual Meeting concerning charges brought against a Local Division shall be made within a period of one year from the time that such charges are officially made. Decisions made by the Governing Board in matters relating to the revocation of Local Division charters shall be final.

ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. Standing and Special Committees. The President, with the approval of the Governing Board shall appoint all standing and special committee chairpersons and coordinators. Standing committee chairs shall serve for a period of one year following appointment. Special Committee chairs and their members shall serve until purpose of the committee is accomplished. All committee chairs shall submit written annual reports at the fall Association Meeting.

SECTION 2. Standing Committees. The standing committees and their purpose shall be:

a. Bylaws. Review the Bylaws of this Association annually and make recommendations concerning revisions to the Governing Board; make available copies of the Bylaws to members; to assist the Governing Board, the Executive Council and the membership in following the Bylaws.

b. Ethics. Review the ethics of this Association annually and notify of deviations as specified elsewhere in this document; assist the membership in understanding the Association's Ethical Standards.

c. Nomination and Elections. Prepare and submit election ballot to the membership in April of each year.

d. Publications. Oversee and coordinate all publications of this Association with approval of the Governing Board. Chair or member of this committee shall serve as ISCA editor for newsletter.

e. Professional Awards. To recognize the achievements of school counselors and advocates of school counseling programs.

f. Public Policy and Legislation. To oversee and promote legislation beneficial to the counseling profession in general and to school counseling in particular.

g. Advocacy. To advocate for school counseling through the media and various associations.

h. Membership. To encourage membership not only in ISCA, but also in ICA, ASCA and ACA To register participants for conferences.

SECTION 3. Committee Supervision. Each Committee shall be supervised by an elected officer.

ARTICLE VIII: BUSINESS AFFAIRS OF THE ASSOCIATION

SECTION 1. Fiscal Year.The fiscal year shall be established by the Governing Board to coincide with that of ICA.

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

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 President to be present at meetings.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

SECTION 1. Amendment. These Bylaws may be amended in one of two ways: at a Governing Board meeting by a two thirds vote, a quorum being present, providing the proposed amendment has been mailed to the members at least two weeks prior to the meeting, or amendments accepted and recommended by the Governing Board may be mailed to the membership for ratification by mail ballots. A two thirds vote of the members voting is required for ratification.

SECTION 2. PUBLICATION. The Bylaws of this Association shall be published in their entirety from time to time and shall available to any member upon request.