Proposed Constitution & Bylaws Updates

4/11/2023

by Cajon Keeton

As an association, we must hold a business meeting each year to elect our leaders (read more on page 20), to approve minutes of the previous business meeting, and, sometimes, we have additional business that members must vote on. This year we have something additional up for a vote – updates to the OASBO Constitution and Bylaws. The OASBO leadership has diligently reviewed our organization’s constitution and bylaws and made several proposed updates – a vast majority of which are simple: including clarifying language, defining terms, removing redundancies, and reordering sections for clarity. The members will be asked to approve the proposed changes at the business meeting during the Second General Session of the Annual Conference on April 20.

Another proposed update creates a new membership type, Auxiliary Membership, open to those working for institutions of higher education in positions related to the field of school business administration; employees of state agencies and other public institutions in Ohio who are directly concerned with the business operations of Ohio public schools; and those who hold a treasurer or business manager license in Ohio but are not currently employed in a school district. This membership type will be separate from the Associate Membership, which has been clarified to be for those currently employed in the business affairs of school districts in Ohio, including support staff for school district business and fiscal operations.

In addition, the OASBO Nominating Committee made a few suggested updates to the bylaws around the election of the Board of Directors. This includes adding that no regional director or at-large director shall be elected to consecutive three-year terms, unless there are no applicants for the position. The nominating committee also suggested adding that an individual must serve one two-year term as secretary/treasurer or one three-year term as a regional or at-large director to qualify for election as vice president.

More details on these proposed updates, as well as a copy of the minutes from last year’s business meeting will be sent to all Professional members via email several times before the Annual Conference business meeting, and we hope you will attend the business meeting to vote! The board is confident that these updates will help OASBO better serve its members and strengthen the school business profession throughout Ohio. If you have any questions, please reach out to any member of the board to discuss.

Cajon is treasurer at Benton-Carroll-Salem Local Schools and President-Elect of OASBO. He can be reached at ckeeton@bcssd.com or 419.898.6210 ext. 306.

Click here to download the proposed changes summary.