Constitution Review Process

Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by any Active Member, Association Division, or the Association’s Board of Directors.

Those seeking to amend the Constitution often submit their proposal as part of the Resolutions Process, and the Resolutions Committee submits the proposed amendment to the Board of Directors through the Director of the division in which the submitting entity is located.

The IASB Board of Directors has a policy that requires the Executive Director to review the Constitution and provide recommended changes and updates during even-numbered years or any other year that a review may be needed.

The Executive Director provides a report to the Board of Directors regarding a review of the Constitution in June.  In November the IASB Board of Directors President appoints a Constitutional Review Committee to review and recommend changes based on the Executive Director’s report and any proposed amendments that have been submitted. The work of the Constitution Review Committee begins in January and is completed in March/April of the following year, with proposed changes going to the Board’s Policy Review Committee, and then to the Executive Committee. In June, the Board of Directors reviews and approves proposed changes for presentation to the Delegate Assembly. If the Board of Directors cannot finish the work of the proposed changes before the 105 days prior to the Delegate Assembly, the Board will permit the authority of the Executive Committee to approve proposed changes. The final recommendations from the Board of Directors or Executive Committee will then be sent to the Delegate Assembly in November for member vote.

A Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) is appointed by the Board of Directors President. It is made up of 15 members, including Board of Directors members, Resolutions Committee members, and Members-at-Large. This ad-hoc committee reviews recommendations and seeks input from both members and IASB staff. The IASB Board of Directors reviews and approves recommendations from the CRC review, via recommendations by the Policy Review Committee and Executive Committee.

Information about proposed constitutional amendments will be included in the Resolutions Committee Report which is posted online and sent to all member boards in September. It includes all the information to be voted on at the November Delegate Assembly, which takes place at IASB’s Joint Annual Conference. In addition to Resolutions submitted by members for consideration, the report will include the proposed amendments to the IASB Constitution, and rationale for each proposed change.

Each school board that is a member of the Association is entitled to one voting delegate at the Delegate Assembly. Every member board is encouraged to select one individual board member to serve as its voting delegate. Delegates should review each proposed constitutional amendment with their full board before determining a vote.

The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of all delegates present and voting at an official meeting of the IASB Delegate Assembly, held each year during the Joint Annual Conference. At the Delegate Assembly, discussion is held before votes are taken. Delegates vote on the Board of Directors' recommendations of “yes” or “no” to amend the Constitution. Voting must be done in person (though a delegate is not required to be registered for the Joint Annual Conference).

The Delegate Assembly vote determines the final decision on all constitutional amendments. If approved by the Delegate Assembly, the amendments become effective immediately. IASB mails the Constitution and Position Statements to members each year following the Delegate Assembly. It is also available online.