SECTION 210:40-3-3. Oklahoma advisory council on bilingual education; operational procedures

(a)   Name. The name of the organization shall be the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Bilingual Education, hereinafter referred to in these Procedures as the Council.

(b)   Purpose. The purpose of the Council shall be to advise and recommend directions for the Bilingual Education/National Origin Section of the Oklahoma State Department of Education in providing technical assistance and services to Title VII Projects and schools in the State of Oklahoma in the improvement of education for limited English proficient children. The Council exists for advisory purposes only and no recommendation shall be official unless formally adopted by the State Board of Education.

(c)   Membership. The Council shall consist of 12 members selected to reflect a cross section of educational personnel and organizations involved and/or interested in bilingual education in Oklahoma. The composition by category and number of members shall be as follows: six (6) Title VII Project Directors, two (2) Bilingual/ESL Program Directors (non- Title VII), two (2) representatives from Higher Education, one (1) school administrator, and one (1) representative from the State Department of Education. The Bilingual Education/National Origin Section of the State Department of Education shall obtain nominations for recommendations to the State Board of Education for approval. The right to vote is restricted to only those individuals officially appointed to serve on the Council. Resignations shall be made by written statement and submitted to the Council Chairperson. Absence from two (2) consecutive meetings will result in removal from the Council. In the case of either resignation or removal, an interim appointment to serve the balance of the unexpired term may be made by the State Board of Education upon the recommendation of the Bilingual Education/National Origin Section.

(d)   Term of appointment. The term of appointment to the Council shall be three (3) years on a rotating schedule. In July of each year, the Bilingual Education/National Origin Section will call for nominations to allow for the rotation of one-third (1/3) of the membership. The composition of the Council as outlined in membership, paragraph 1 of (c), will be maintained.

(e)   Officers. The officers of the Council shall be chosen from among the membership and consist of a Chairperson, a Chairperson-Elect, and a Secretary. The term of office for all officers shall be one (1) year. The Chairperson-Elect and the Secretary will be elected each year at a meeting in the fall. Nominations will be made from the floor of said meeting. The Chairperson-Elect of the previous year will assume the office of Chairperson.

(f)   Chairperson. Meetings shall be called at the request of the Chairperson. Chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the Council.

(g)   Chairperson-elect. The Chairperson-Elect shall assume the duties of the Chairperson if the position is vacated and shall preside over the meetings in the absence of the Chairperson.

(h)   Secretary. The Secretary shall be responsible for the minutes of all meetings; preserve all documents and records of the Council and transmit them to the successor and issue notices of meetings. Copies of all records shall be filed with the Bilingual Education/National Origin Section of the State Department of Education.

(i)   Meetings. The Council shall meet a minimum of three (3) times each year. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Oklahoma Open Meeting Laws. The Council will not meet without the representation of the Bilingual Education/National Origin Section of the State Department of Education. Meeting dates and official meeting announcements shall be cooperatively agreed upon by the Council Chairperson and the Bilingual Education/National Origin Section of the State Department of Education. Advance notice (reasonable time) of dates and locations of meetings shall be sent to each member in order to facilitate their attendance. Official business cannot take place without a quorum. A quorum shall consist of 51 percent of the membership. Other meetings shall be held at the discretion of the Chairperson or upon the written request of five members. Such meeting(s) shall be coordinated with the Bilingual Education/National Origin Section of the State Department of Education.

(j)   Mail ballots. Action taken by the Council requiring formal voting by the official membership may be taken by a seven (7) day mail ballot.

(k)   Amendments. Possible procedural changes must be sent to all official members for their consideration and review 15 days prior to the next scheduled meeting. Proposed amendments and/or revisions to the Procedures must be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the official membership at an official meeting and recommended to the State Board of Education. No changes are official without State Board of Education approval.

(l)   Approval. Approved by the State Board of Education January 24, 1985.