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By-Laws of
Islamic Education
Center of Orlando
(Madrasah Orlando)
Effective
October 7th, 2001.
PREAMBLE:
Acquire
knowledge, because he who acquires it, in the way of God, performs an act of
piety; who speaks of it, praises the Lord; who seeks it, adores God; who
dispenses instruction in it, bestows alms; and who imparts it to its fitting
objects, performs an act of devotion to God. Knowledge enables its possessor to
distinguish what is forbidden from what is not; lights the way to Heaven; it is
our friend in the desert; our companion in solitude; our companion when bereft
of friends; it guides us to happiness; it sustains us in misery; it is our
ornament in the company of friends; it serves as an armour against our enemies.
With knowledge, the creatures of the Lord rise to the heights of goodness and to
noble positions, associate with the sovereigns in this world and attain the
perfection of happiness in the next. – Prophet Muhammad (SAWW)
Islamic Education Center of Orlando (IEC) Mission:
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To
nurture conscientious practising Muslims.
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To
prepare the IEC student for meaningful participation in his/her own community
and larger society.
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Help
the graduate to develop a sense of identity with his/her beliefs to better
meet social challenges.
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To
enable the graduate to make considered and informed choices consistent with
Islamic spiritual and moral norms.
ARTICLE I - Name
The name
of this educational institution shall be the Islamic Education Center of Orlando
and shall hereafter be referred to as the IEC.
ARTICLE II - Objectives
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The IEC
shall be an organization of learning and teaching of the Shia Ithna-asheri
faith.
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The IEC
shall provide communally organised support to the primary parental obligation
to educate their children in matters of faith and religion.
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The IEC
shall provide core competencies in the critical understanding and practices of
the Shia Ithna-asheri faith.
ARTICLE III - Membership
Membership is confined to the stakeholders of the IEC.
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Each
parent, or legal guardian, of students enrolled during the academic year will
be deemed stakeholders of the IEC, hence considered members.
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Teachers, accepted upon application will be deemed members for the academic
years they are active.
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Staff
other than teachers or eligible parents upon acceptance of their applications,
will be deemed members for the academic years they are active.
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Members
must be at least 16 years or older.
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Members
must be of the Shia Ithna-asheri faith.
ARTICLE IV - Executive Board
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The
Executive Board shall comprise of five members.
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Principal.
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Vice-Principal.
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Parents Advisory Board representative.
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Husseini Islamic Center (HIC) elected President and/or HIC President’s
nominee from HIC Management Committee.
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A
nominee of the Principal.
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Minimum
requirements of the Executive Board members shall be:
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Principal – Must have been a teacher in the IEC for at least one year in the
immediate past three years.
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Vice
Principal – Must have been a teacher in the IEC for at least one year in the
immediate past three years.
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Parents Advisory Board representative – Elected by the Parents Advisory
Board.
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Husseini Islamic Center (HIC) elected President and/or HIC President’s
nominee from HIC Management Committee – As long as the office is tenured.
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A
nominee of the Principal – From amongst the Shia Ithna-asheri community at
large, and not restricted to local representation.
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The
Executive Board shall serve as the policy making body for the IEC with the
interest of promoting the IEC objectives.
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The
Principal shall serve as the Chairperson of the Executive Board; the
Vice-Principal shall assume this role in the absence of the Principal.
ARTICLE V - Parents Advisory Board
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A five
member Parents Advisory Board shall be elected from the membership at the
annual meeting.
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The
Parents Advisory Board shall elect a Chairperson by simple majority amongst
itself. This Chairperson shall serve on the Executive Board for a term of one
year.
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The
Parents Advisory Board shall meet a minimum of two times in every calendar
year with the Executive Board, or whenever requested by either the Executive
Board or the Parents Advisory Board, to discuss any issues placed on the
agenda by the Principal and/or the Chairperson of the Parents Advisory Board.
The Principal and/or the Executive Board may meet with the
Parents Advisory Board as often as mutually agreed to.
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The
Parents Advisory Board will be re-elected every year.
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The
Parents Advisory Board shall be the sounding board for the concerns of the
parents and the active students.
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The
Parents Advisory Board will include one of the IEC Coordinators.
ARTICLE VI - Annual Meeting
An annual meeting will be held within two weeks of the end of the
academic year, with 30 days notice sent to the current members.
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The
following will be elected at the Annual meeting:
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Principal – Every two years.
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Vice-Principal – Every two years.
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Parents
Advisory Board – Every year.
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The
Principal in office just prior to the election of the new Principal will
present a report outlining the status of the IEC.
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The
members present at the meeting will constitute a quorum.
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A
simple majority shall constitute the success of an election or resolution.
ARTICLE VII - Terms of Executive Board
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The
Principal and Vice-Principal shall serve for a term of two years.
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The
Parents Advisory Board representative shall serve for a term of one year.
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The
nominee of the Principal shall serve for a term of two years.
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The HIC
President and/or nominee shall serve for the duration of his/her tenure.
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In the
case of vacancy of the Principal, the Vice-Principal shall assume the office
of the Principal.
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In the
case of the vacancy of the Vice-Principal, the Principal shall appoint an
eligible candidate for the remaining term.
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The
Parents Advisory Board shall appoint one of its members in the case of a
vacancy on the Executive Board by such a representative.
ARTICLE VIII - Responsibilities
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The
Principal shall have overall operational responsibilities of the IEC.
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The
Vice-Principal shall assist the Principal in the operations of the IEC.
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The
nominee of the Principal shall serve to represent the
progress/benchmark/comparison to other comparable institutions of learning.
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The HIC
President and/or nominee will liase with the HIC membership and represent the
larger interest of the community.
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The
representative of the Parents Advisory Board shall promote and protect the
interests of the parents of active students.
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The
Principal shall appoint a Treasurer and a Secretary from the community at
large with the advice and the consensus of the Vice-Principal.
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The
Treasurer and Secretary shall serve as ex-officio members of the Executive
Board.
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The
Treasurer shall handle all the finances of the IEC and report to the
Principal.
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The
Secretary shall maintain all the records and correspondences, and report to
the Principal.
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The
Principal or Vice-Principal shall agree as to who will most effectively serve
as the external liaison of the IEC.
ARTICLE IX - By-laws
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These
by-laws shall be effective upon adoption by the ad hoc membership comprising
of teachers, parents of active students, and staff.
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After
adoption, the by-laws may be amended or repealed by two-thirds of the
membership present at an Annual meeting.
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The
by-laws can only be amended at an Annual meeting by a written request to the
Principal of the IEC at least 90 days prior to the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE X - Fees and Subscriptions
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The IEC
shall charge and collect fees for each student of the Madrasah, payable and
due on the first day of the Madrasah calendar year.
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The IEC
shall charge and collect monies for any provisions of materials and/or
services and/or activities on a “non-profit” basis.
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The IEC
shall charge and collect subscriptions for any consistent provisions of
materials and/or services.
ARTICLE XI - Bank Account
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The
Executive Board shall operate one bank account under the name of the IEC.
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The
office bearers of the IEC shall be signatories to this account. Any two office
bearers shall sign checks and documents on behalf of the IEC.
ARTICLE XII - Special General Meetings
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The
Executive Board shall call a Special General Meeting for all its members at
anytime during the year, provided that:
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A
Notice of Meeting is served at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
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The
subject is specified as matter of Agenda in such notices.
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A
members requisition, having signatures of at least 1/3 of the membership, can
seek a Special General Meeting and the Executive Board shall call such
meeting(s) within fourteen (14) days of receipt, provided all the specifics of
the subject are submitted in writing.
ARTICLE XIII - Quorum at Meetings
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Four
members of the Executive Board in attendance shall constitute a quorum at
Executive Board Meetings.
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In case
of lack of quorum, all meetings, except meetings for amendment to the By-laws,
can be adjourned for 30 minutes and reconvened, whereat the reconvened
meeting, such quorum would not be required.
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Any
amendment to By-laws will require two-thirds of the membership present (Refer
to Article IX).
ARTICLE XIV - Voting rights
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A
member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote.
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Votes
by proxy, as well as nominations for any post, by proxy or letter, will not be
admissible.
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Each
parent will be entitled to one vote, providing they are present.
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Any one
member can request vote by ballot – otherwise a show of hands will be the mode
of voting.
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