Constitution of the Trainers of School Psychologists (TSP)

Below you will find the Constitution and Bylaws of the Trainers of School Psychologists (TSP) which was revised in March of 2006.

CONSTITUTION of the TRAINERS OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS
(REVISED MARCH 2006) in Acrobat/PDF Format

ARTICLE I NAME, PURPOSE, AND LIMITS

Section 1. Name

The name of the organization shall be Trainers of School Psychologists and shall be referred to as TSP.
Section 2. Purpose

The purpose of TSP shall be:

a. To advance the standards of training in school psychology programs;
b. To inform member institutions of current trends in the graduate education of school psychologists;
c. To furnish opportunities for collaboration between and the professional growth of school psychology faculty;
d. To encourage innovation in the development of more effective graduate training;
e. To support the continuing education of school psychology practitioners and field supervisors in; and
f. To support legislative efforts that promote satisfactory standards of training.
Section 3. Limits
TSP shall be nonprofit, nonpartisan, and nonsectarian in its purposes and activities.
This association is formed exclusively for educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
Upon the winding up and dissolution of this association after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the association, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or association, which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious and/or scientific purposes and which has established its tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
No part of the net earnings of this association shall ever inure to or for the benefit of or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the association shall be empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the exempt purposes for which it was formed.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an association exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP, VOTING, AND DUES
Section 1. Membership
a. Institutional membership in TSP shall be open to any university or college training program in school psychology. Membership is limited to one per degree-granting institution; each program upon payment of dues shall be considered an institutional member of TSP. No more than eight primary school psychology faculty designated by the program's director on the yearly dues statement shall be considered associate members of TSP. Additional school psychology faculty members may be added as associate members upon payment of an additional membership fee per person.

b. Individual membership shall be open to any school psychology program faculty from institutions that are very small (1-2 full-time faculty), international members, or individuals who are not trainers but have a professional interest in the training of school psychologists.

c. Membership terms in both categories (i.e., institutional and individual) shall run from September 1 to August 31, to coincide with the academic year and with current billing practices.
d. A roster of current institutional members of TSP shall be made available at the yearly conference and is available upon request.

Section 2. Voting
a. Each institutional member shall have one vote in any decision requiring membership action. The program director or appointed designee shall cast the ballot; each program shall decide for itself the manner in which a decision is reached concerning the ballot cast by the program director or the program director's designee.
b. Individual members shall not have voting privileges in any decision requiring membership action.
c. Decisions requiring ballots shall be decided by a majority vote of voting members (except for constitutional changes, requiring a two-thirds assent), responding to the electronic ballot or those present at a general meeting.
d. Quorum at a general meeting for voting purposes shall constitute representation from one-third of the current institutional members.
Section 3. Dues
a. Dues shall be assessed annually for membership. They shall be payable to the designated TSP officer upon receipt of a dues statement. Dues received during the last quarter of the membership year shall be applied to the following year's membership in TSP, unless the institution or individual has allowed dues to lapse for that year and has continued to receive mailings that year as if a member.
b. There shall be no dues for the first eight associate members affiliated with an institutional member; additional associate members shall incur an additional fee. Associate memberships shall be automatically granted after receiving a list of names from the designated program director on the membership application returned with the annual dues. The amount of dues for both institutional and individual members shall be set by majority vote of the Executive Board and ratified by a majority membership vote at the Annual TSP Business Meeting.
ARTICLE III OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Offices
a. The elected offices shall consist of a six to eight person Executive Board which shall serve as the governing body of TSP. Each person elected to serve on the Executive Board shall serve a three-year term (except when an individual is elected to office). Two persons shall be elected to the Executive Board each year, so that the terms of office for the members of the Executive Board shall be staggered with two newly elected persons beginning a three year term of service each year.

b. The Executive Board shall yearly elect its own officers at an Executive Board meeting held within two months of the time the election results are known.
c. The elected officers of the Executive Board shall include the President and Secretary.
d. The remaining members of the Executive Board shall be the President-elect, Past President, and other members known as Members-at-Large.
e. To maintain continuity, the Treasurer and the Forum editor shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Board.
f. Application for the position of Trainers’ Forum editor and associate editor shall be submitted to the Executive Board along with qualifying materials (such as writing samples). This position will be voted on by the Executive Board (or an appointed Board). The editor will be considered an Executive Board member with voting privileges.
g. Once an Executive Board member’s term is expired, that individual may be eligible to serve on the Advisory Board.

Section 2. Elections
a. Nominations for election to the Executive Board shall be solicited through an announcement to the voting membership prior to the annual TSP Business meeting held at the NASP convention each year. Elections shall be held immediately thereafter.
b. To be eligible for election to the Executive Board, a candidate must be an associate or individual member in good standing as specified in Article II, Section 1a.
c. Two persons shall be elected each year to serve on the Executive Board to replace the two persons whose terms of service on the Executive Board expire that year.
d. A minimum of four names shall be presented by ballot to all voting members each year as candidates for the two Executive Board positions to be filled. The two candidates receiving the largest number of votes cast shall be elected.

e. Persons may serve on the Executive Board for two consecutive terms for a maximum of six years. After one three-year term off the Executive Board, a person would be eligible for nomination again.

f. The term of service of a member of the Executive Board shall begin with the membership year immediately following the election.

Section 3. Procedures for Filling Vacancies
a. The Executive Board shall, by majority vote, fill any unexpired vacant position on the Board. The person so appointed will serve until the next election of Executive Board members. At that time the election ballot shall be expanded to include candidates to serve out the remaining time of the unexpired term. The person selected by the Executive Board to fill the vacant position shall have the opportunity to serve as one of the candidates for the unexpired term.
b. If the position of one of the officers becomes vacant, the remaining members of the Executive Board, prior to the appointment of replacement membership on the Executive Board, shall elect the new officer(s) from its own ranks to complete the year's service in that office.
Section 4. Subcommittees
a. The Executive Board may, by majority vote, establish standing and ad hoc subcommittees. Any associate or individual member may serve as a member of a standing or ad hoc subcommittee of TSP. The chair of a subcommittee must be a member of the Executive Board. A standing committee may be dissolved by majority vote of the Executive Board.
Section 4. Other appointed positions
a. The Executive Board may, by majority vote, appoint persons to other positions, including manager of the TSP listserv and TSP Webmaster. These positions must be held by associate or individual members of TSP.

ARTICLE IV MEETINGS
Section 1. General Meetings
a. General meetings of the membership shall be scheduled at least one time per year. These would be expected to occur in association with the annual meetings of either the National Association of School Psychologists or the American Psychological Association.

b. Programs and scheduling of the meetings shall be arranged by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.
c. Members shall receive written notice of the time, location, and agenda of general meetings at least thirty (30) days in advance.
d. Changes in the schedule of meetings may be made by a majority of those present at a general meeting.
e. For voting purposes, a quorum shall consist of representation by at least one-third (1/3) of the institutional members. Each individual present, whether an associate or individual member, has one vote. Votes with less than a quorum may act as an advisory vote, but do not become TSP policy until they receive majority assent through a follow-up ballot.

Section 2. Executive Board Meetings
a. The President shall call an Executive Board meeting at least twice annually. These would normally occur in association with the conventions of the National Association of School Psychologists and the American Psychological Association.
b. A quorum at Executive Board meetings shall consist of the President (or designee) and at least two other Executive Board members.
c. Decisions requiring a vote require a majority in favor for passage. Each Executive Board member shall have one vote.

ARTICLE V PUBLICATIONS
a. A periodical, Trainers’ Forum, containing peer-reviewed articles related to the graduate education of school psychologists shall be distributed to all members.
b. The periodical shall be published regularly, with an expected schedule of at least four times a year.
c. The Editor of the Forum shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Board with voting privileges.

ARTICLE VI BY-LAWS
Section 1. Voting Procedures for By-laws
a. Procedures necessary to the formal conduct of TSP shall be enacted as By-Laws, which must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Board members present at a regularly scheduled meeting.
b. No By-Law shall supercede or be contrary to any section of this Constitution.
Section 2. Powers and Duties of the Executive Board
a. The President shall:

1. Preside at all TSP meetings.
2. Act as chairperson of the Executive Board.
3. Act as ex-officio member of standing and ad-hoc Committees.
4. Take responsibility for official communication necessary with other organizations or persons.
5. Schedule and establish the program for all TSP general meetings.
6. Represent TSP in all duties usually pertaining to that of the office of President.

b. The Secretary shall:

1. Attend all Executive Board and general meetings and record the minutes of
these meetings.
2. Promptly submit a typed transcript of the minutes to all members of the Executive Board and to the Editor of the Forum for publication in the next issue.

c. The Treasurer - Membership Chair shall:
1. Supervise all financial matters for TSP, including collection, investment, and expenditure of monies.
2. Send annual renewal dues notices to all members no later than the month preceding the start of each membership year with a follow-up inquiry if dues have not been received
3. Inform members of the receipt of dues and their membership status by issuing a receipt listing the registered associate members.
4. Submit lists of current members to the Executive Board at least twice a year.
5. Submit a budgetary report to the Executive Board at quarterly intervals during the year.
6. Present both a written and an oral financial report to the members at each general meeting.
d. The President-Elect shall:
1. Be responsible for planning the annual School Psychology Trainers’ meeting with members of the Executive Board.
e. The Past-President shall:
1. Solicit nominations for the School Psychology Trainers’ award to be presented each year at the TSP business meeting.
2. Solicit and receive nominations for the Executive Board through the Trainer's Forum, SPTrain, and other appropriate media.

f. Each Member-at-Large shall:
1. Attend Executive Board and general meetings.
2. Serve as representatives of the TSP membership, bringing matters of interest and concern to the attention of the Executive Board for possible action.
3. Assume responsibilities in the execution of TSP programs and Executive Board activities as delegated by the President.
Section 3. Powers and Duties of the TSP Advisory Board
a. The TSP advisory Board will consist of a maximum of four past Executive Board members, plus the current past-president serving for a five year term, with no more than two consecutive terms.

1. Advisory Board members have no voting privileges and will have staggered terms.
2. Advisory Board members are expected to participate in at least five conference call meetings and the annual TSP meeting.
3. Any advisory Board member may voluntarily resign from the advisory Board by notifying the President at any time.
4. At the June conference call meeting of the TSP Executive Board the President-Elect shall recommend a nomination slate to the Executive Board to be sent out prior to the scheduled meeting for comment. The President-Elect will contact each nominee to ascertain their agreement to serve.

ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
a. TSP members shall vote on all proposed amendments to the Constitution.
b. Proposed amendments require a two-thirds (2/3) assent of those voting for passage.
c. Electronic or paper ballots must be received within 30 days of the date the ballot was sent out to be counted.

ARTICLE VIII EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon ratification by members, this Constitution shall become effective immediately.