BYLAWS

1.1 Name 

1. The Staff Development Affiliate ("SDA") is an affiliate of the Educational Service Unit Professional Development Organization ("ESUPDO"), overseen by the ESU Coordinating Council ("ESUCC").

1.2 Purpose

1. The SDA’s purpose is to provide collaboration and learning opportunities for its members.

1.3 Beliefs

1. Implementation of high quality professional learning improves practice and results.

2. Sharing information, skills, and expertise builds capacity.

3. Collaborative partnerships and professional relationships expand overall outreach and impact.

2.1 Membership

1. SDA membership is open to ESU employees whose primary role is providing professional development for educators.

2.2 Membership Opportunities

SDA members have the following opportunities:

1. Attend SDA business meetings and training sessions.

2. Attend ESUPDO events.

3. Participate in cadres.

4. Vote and participate in SDA feedback opportunities.

3.1 Purpose

1. SDA business meetings support the purpose and beliefs of SDA.

3.2 Logistics

1. The business meeting schedule for the upcoming year shall be shared with the membership on or before the final meeting of the current year.

2. Business meeting agendas shall be shared with the membership at least ten days in advance, and may be amended by the strategists.

3.3 Quorum

1. The members in attendance during business meetings shall constitute a quorum.

3.4 Voting

1. Revisions to the SDA bylaws require a two-thirds majority vote of members attending an SDA business meeting. All other matters shall be decided by a simple majority vote.

4.1 Role

As a collaborative leadership team, the strategists shall have the following responsibilities:

1. Advance the purpose and beliefs of SDA.

2. Promote collaboration and networking.

3. Coordinate mentoring and recognition of members.

4. Execute effective communication.

5. Act as an information liaison  between SDA and the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE).

6. Assess, prioritize, and advocate for the professional learning needs of the membership. 

7. Coordinate SDA related events with the ESUCC.

8. Select members to serve as strategists.

9. Engage in a process to facilitate the transition of strategists’ duties.

10. Collaborate with other ESUPDO affiliate groups.

11. Undertake a formal review of the bylaws and appendices.

4.2 Meetings

1. Strategists shall meet as needed to fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

4.3 Quorum

1. A simple majority of strategists shall constitute a quorum for strategist meetings.

4.4 Positions

1. There shall be five strategist positions: past chair, chair, recorder, reporter and representative. Each position is a one-year term.

2. Once appointed to the representative position, strategists shall advance accordingly, culminating with the past chair position.

3. The transition of strategist positions shall take place following the final business meeting.

4.5 Selection

1. The strategists shall consider the selection criteria specified in the appendices when appointing a member to the representative position.

2. The chair shall communicate selection of the new strategist to the membership, upon acceptance of the appointment, on or before the final business meeting.

4.6 Vacancies

1. In the event a vacancy occurs within the leadership team, the strategists shall consider the options specified in the appendices.

2. Once a vacancy has been filled, the chair shall notify the membership.

3. The newly-appointed strategist's term shall commence immediately upon acceptance.

5.1 Ad hoc Committees

1. Ad hoc committees shall be created as needed.

2. The SDA chair appoints all committee chairs, if warranted.

3. Upon completion of designated tasks, ad hoc committees shall be dissolved.

6.1 Bylaws

1. Revisions to the bylaws require a two-thirds majority vote during an SDA business meeting.

2. The process for submitting and considering bylaws proposals is specified in the appendices.

6.2 Appendices

1. Revisions to the appendices may occur through a simple majority vote during an SDA business meeting.

6.3 Certification

1. These bylaws were approved by a two-thirds majority vote on 2025.05.06.

A.1 Organizational Norms

1. Share information, skills, and expertise.

2. Collaborate and partner with other members.

3. Notify respective SDA members when their districts request your support.

A.2 Meeting Norms

1. Be present, prepared, and professional.

2. Listen to learn.

3. Reflect to respond.

4. Consider and plan to implement.

A.3 Video conferencing Norms 

1. Turn on the camera to be visually present and engaged.

2. Turn off the camera when appropriate (e.g., breaks, unstable internet, visual distractions).

3. Mute the microphone when not speaking.

4. Use the chat feature to communicate with the session host and other participants.

5. Refrain from recording SDA events.

B.1 Past Chair

1. Provide historical perspective.

2. Capture SDA moments through photos and videos for historical and programming purposes as appropriate.

3. Collaborate with the chair as needed and requested.

4. Serve on the ESUPDO planning committee (with chair).

B.2 Chair

1. Serve as the point of contact for all matters pertaining to SDA.

2. Coordinate the development of agendas for strategist and SDA business meetings with the other strategists.

3. Facilitate strategist and SDA business meetings.

4. Communicate information to the membership in a timely and efficient manner.

5. Coordinate the strategist selection process.

6. Appoint ad hoc committee chairs.

7. Serve on the ESUPDO planning committee (with past chair).

8. Create and submit SDA budget requests to the ESUCC (with recorder).

9. Attend ESUCC/NDE Rule 84 meetings (with recorder).

10. Attend and provide SDA updates at  ESUCC Education Resources Committee meetings (with recorder).

B.3 Recorder

1. Record minutes at SDA business meetings.

2. Review and update SDA membership information.

3. Coordinate the annual membership professional learning needs assessment.

4. Review and update the SDA website.

5. Create and submit SDA budget requests to the ESUCC  (with chair).

6. Attend ESUCC/NDE Rule 84 meetings (with chair).

7. Attend and provide SDA updates at  ESUCC Education Resources Committee meetings (with chair). 

B.4 Reporter

1. Record minutes at strategist meetings.

2. Provide strategist meeting reports at SDA business meetings.

3. Coordinate mentoring of new SDA members (with representative).

B.5 Representative

1. Serve as the video conferencing host for SDA events.

2. Coordinate mentoring of new SDA members (with reporter).

C.1 The strategists will consider the following criteria for both annual and vacancy strategist appointments:

1. Leadership qualities

2. Participation and involvement in SDA and ESUPDO

3. Areas of expertise

4. Geographic balance

5. Willingness and availability to serve

C.2 The strategists will consider the following options when a vacancy occurs within the leadership team:

1. Appoint a member to the representative position with the current strategists advancing their positions accordingly.

2. Appoint a member to fill the vacated position for either the balance of the term or as a replacement for the position.

3. Leave the position vacant with the remaining strategists temporarily assuming the responsibilities for the balance of the term.

Communication with the membership takes place primarily through these means:

1. SDA online presence

2. Email groups

3. Business meetings

4. Needs assessments and feedback surveys

5. ESUPDO Event Registration website

E.1 Cadres exist to:

1. Provide guidance and support in the areas of literacy, mathematics, science and social studies.

2. Engage and collaborate with NDE content area specialists.

3. Connect content-specific representatives at each ESU.

4. Create and share facilitator and educator resources.

E.2 Cadres meet twice each year.

1. Agendas are planned by the SDA cadre chairs with input from NDE content area specialists.

2. Additional meetings or work sessions may be scheduled as needed.

E.3 Cadre chairs provide updates at SDA meetings. 

E.4 All other cadres fall under ESUCC guidance.

1. New members are assigned mentors from the current membership prior to the first SDA business meeting. 

2. To strengthen networking, new members and their assigned mentors will be from different ESUs. 

3. The SDA reporter and SDA representative serve as coordinators.

1. Bylaws revisions will be considered through two means:

   1. SDA members may submit proposals for bylaws revisions to the strategists. The exact language to be considered and the rationale for the submission must be included.

   2. A formal review of the bylaws and appendices shall be conducted during years that are evenly divisible by five. This includes reflection on the SDA’s purpose and beliefs with the membership.

2. Upon review, the strategists shall determine whether proposals will be presented to the membership for approval consideration, returned for additional clarification or rationale, or denied. 

3. Strategists shall communicate proposed bylaws revisions to the membership at least two weeks prior to the SDA business meeting at which approval will be considered in compliance with Article VI.