Adopted: October 2025
Revised:
Download 801.17AR - River Valley Project Explore Advisory Council Volunteers
1. Purpose – The purpose of the River Valley Project Explore Advisory Council (Project Explore Advisory Council) is to provide a forum for collaboration regarding the educational, recreational and social needs of adults with disabilities living within the five school districts of the River Valley Project Explore consortium.
2. Role
2.1 The Project Explore Advisory Council receives reports and gives input and advice concerning the programming, goals and objectives of Project Explore.
2.2 The Project Explore Advisory Council services as a liaison between the Project Explore program and the community.
2.3 The Project Explore Advisory Council serves as an advocate for high quality programs for adults with disabilities in the community.
3. Membership
3.1 The Project Explore Advisory Council is comprised of up to 20 individuals with a shared interest in providing educational, recreational and social programming for adults with disabilities in the community.
3.2 To be eligible to serve on the Project Explore Advisory Council, an applicant must be a stakeholder of one or more of the five school districts in the River Valley Project Explore consortium. Stakeholders include residents, parents/guardians of residents with disabilities, employees of one of the five districts or business owners within one of the five school districts of River Valley Project Explore consortium.
3.2 The Project Explore program coordinator and the District 196 community education manager serve as ex-officio members of the Project Explore Advisory Council.
3.3 Member terms begin upon approval of the member. Terms are for two years. When positions are filled mid-year, any portion of a school year served will count as one year on the member’s term. Members shall be eligible to renew their term. No member can serve more than two consecutive terms (four years) without the approval of the Project Explore Advisory Council.
3.4 New members selected are officially appointed upon the recommendation of the River Valley Project Explore program coordinator and approval by the Project Explore Advisory Council. They are appointed throughout the year based on space on the council and interest in a position.
4. Meetings
4.1 The Project Explore Advisory Council holds a meeting once every two months, September through May and members communicate electronically between meetings.
4.2 Project Explore Advisory Council meetings are publicized on the District 196 website.
4.3 Project Explore Advisory Council meetings are open to the public. The Project Explore Advisory Council may, at its discretion, permit members of the public to address the Project Explore Advisory Council.
4.4 The Project Explore program coordinator and the District 196 community education manager ensure that minutes are taken at each meeting and maintain a copy in district records.
References:
- Minnesota Statute 124D.19, Community Education Programs; Advisory Council