AGAWAM EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS

Revised 2007

 

ARTICLE I:            Name

 

The name of this organization shall be the Agawam Education Association, hereinafter referred to as the “Association.”

 

 

ARTICLE II:            Objectives

 

We the members of this Association in order to fulfill our responsibilities to society and to our profession do hereby adopt the following:

 

            SECTION 1:            General Objectives

 

A.    To promote the interest of the schools in Agawam.

B.      To promote within the teaching group the highest type of professional practices; to urge and encourage active participation of all teachers and teacher assistants in the solution of school problems; to urge every member of the profession to be a progressive student of education; and to arouse allegiance to a genuine spirit of professional ethics

C.     To act as the bargaining agent for the teachers and teacher assistants with the School Committee.

D.    To cooperate with county, state, and national education associations.

 

SECTION 2:            Specific Objectives

 

The Executive Board is authorized and directed to establish specific objectives within the framework of the general objectives within the framework of the general objectives in Section I above.  These specific objectives shall be reviewed annually, revised if necessary, and published.

 

 

ARTICLE III:            Membership

 

SECTION 1: Agawam Education Association membership shall be comprised of teachers, department chairmen, guidance counselors, librarians, school psychologists, and teacher assistants.

 

SECTION 2: Active members of the Association shall be members of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and the National Education Association.

 

SECTION 3: Active membership shall be continuous until the member leaves, resigns from the Association, or fails to pay membership dues.

 

SECTION 4: Honorary membership is to be conferred upon retired teachers and teacher assistants by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Board or a general meeting of the membership.

 

SECTION 5: Only members as defined in Section 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this Article III shall have the privilege of voting and holding office in the Association.

 

SECTION 6: A retired teacher or teacher assistant may continue the privilege of voting and holding office in the Association for one full school year following the completion of the year during which retirement is taken.

 

SECTION 7: (Except as provided for in Section 4 – 6 above), the membership year shall be from September 1 to August 31.  A member may elect to be a continuing member.  Membership shall then be continued from year to year until death, retirement, or a member cancels election with a sixty (60) day notice in writing.  The current membership lists will be updated by December 31 each year.

 

 

ARTICLE IV:            Officers, Directors, and Coordinators

 

            SECTION 1: 

 

A.    The elective offices of the Association shall be President, Secondary Vice President (9 – 12), Intermediate Vice President (5 – 8), Elementary Vice President (Early Childhood – 4), Secretary, Treasurer, and Unit B Coordinator.  There will also be an appointed (hired) Executive Director and an appointed (hired) Membership Coordinator.

 

B.      The Officers, Executive Director, and Coordinators of the AEA shall be compensated.  Compensation changes shall be established by the Executive Board and approved by the AEA membership (Attachment A).

 

            SECTION 2:            Powers and Duties of Officers, Directors, and Coordinators

 

A.    President

1.      The President shall preside at all Association and Executive Board meetings.

2.      He/she shall be a member ex-officio of all committees, supervise all plans for the efficient work of the Association and performs such duties as usually devolve upon the President.

3.      He/she shall submit an annual report to the members of the Association at the annual spring meeting.

4.      He/she shall be the Executive Officer of the Association except when it employs an Executive Director.  (The Executive Director is defined as the person who carries out the policies of the Association.)

5.      He/she shall serve a term of office for two (2) years.

6.      He/she shall request chairpersons of various standing committees to give progress reports at Executive Board meetings.

7.      He/she shall call the first meeting of each committee on an as needed basis.

8.      He/she shall provide for the preparation of an agenda for Executive Board meetings.

9.      He/she shall appoint members to fill vacancies.

 

B.      Secondary, Intermediate, and Elementary Vice Presidents

1.      Either Vice President shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the President in case of his/her absence or at his/her request.

2.      The most senior Vice President in terms of seniority in his/her current term shall become President in the event the office of President is vacated.  He/she shall serve as President until the next election of officers.

3.      Each Vice President shall be elected by levels as follows:

a.      The Secondary Vice President shall be elected by the teachers and teacher assistants of the secondary level, and represent that level (9 – 12).

b.      The Intermediate Vice President shall be elected by the teachers and teacher assistants of the intermediate level and represent that level (5 – 8).

c.       The Elementary Vice President shall be elected by the teachers and teacher assistants of the elementary level, and represent that level (Early Childhood – 4).

4.      Each Vice President shall serve a term of office of two (2) years; said terms expiring on alternating years.

5.      The Vice Presidents may serve as ex-officio members of all committees.

6.      The Vice Presidents shall share the responsibility for supervising the communication of information to the membership through AEA Newsletter or any format which may be considered necessary.

 

C.     Recording Secretary

1.      He/she shall be responsible for the records and minutes of the general and Executive Board meetings.

2.      He/she shall serve a term of office for two (2) years.

3.      He/she shall be responsible for the distribution of meeting notices to all members at least three (3) days before the regular meeting date and one (1) day before a special meeting according to the directives of the President or Executive Board.

4.      Each Secretary shall submit a month by month detailed description of his/her respective duties before leaving office.

 

D.    Treasurer

1.      The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all dues and shall have charge of all funds of the Association; shall deposit them kin the bank and in the name of the Association, and shall disburse them as authorized by the Association or the Executive Board.

2.      He/she shall be responsible for the payment of dues to the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the National Education Association.

3.      All disbursements over one hundred dollars ($100) shall be countersigned by the President.

4.      He/she shall present a written statement quarterly of the financial status of the Association to the Executive Board.

5.      He/she shall serve a term of office for two (2) years.

6.      He/she shall be bonded.

7.      He/she shall be the Membership Coordinator of the association except when it employs a Membership Coordinator and will receive compensation as the Membership Coordinator in addition to his/her Treasurer’s compensation.

8.      Each Treasurer shall submit a month by month detailed description of his/her respective duties before leaving office.

 

 

 

E.      Membership Coordinator

1.      The Membership Coordinator will work in tandem with the Treasurer and oversee the continuing membership enrollment.

2.      He/she will maintain and update membership rolls.

3.      He/she will distribute and collect new member MTA forms.

4.      He/she will collate information with the Treasurer so that members’ dues paying status is properly maintained.

 

F.      Unit Coordinator

1.      He/She shall be under the direction of and responsible to the Executive Board.

2.      The Unit Coordinator shall be elected by the Teacher Assistants (hereinafter referred to as Unit B).

3.      He/She shall serve a term of office for two (2) years.

4.      He/She shall prepare and keep on file a correct list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the membership.

5.      He/She shall be responsible for the dissemination of pertinent information to all Unit B members.

6.      He/She shall serve as Chair of the Salary Committee of Unit B.

7.      He/She shall act as liaison from Unit B to the Executive Board and report any problems or concerns at regular Executive Board meetings.

8.      He/She shall call a Unit B General Meeting no later than October 1.

 

G.     Executive Director

1.      He/she shall be under the direction of and responsible to the Executive Board.

2.      He/she shall supervise and coordinate the administrative and professional activities of the Association.

3.      He/she shall be responsible for relationships with affiliated education associations and with Association members when possible.

4.      He/she shall attend meetings of the Executive Board.  Membership shall be purely advisory with no voting privileges.

5.      He/she shall submit a report at the annual spring meeting of the Association.

6.      He/she shall be responsible for the preservation of records and minutes of the Association.

7.      He/she shall continue to hold office unless relieved by a majority vote of the entire Executive Board or until he/she resigns.

8.      Every three (3) years a formal review by the Executive Board will be required, at this time a majority vote would be needed for his/her removal.

9.      He/she shall be a member in good standing of the Agawam Education Association (AEA), Massachusetts Teacher Association (MTA), and the National Education Association (NEA).

10.  He/she shall maintain official files and assist the President with Association correspondence.

11.  He/she shall be a member, ex-officio of all standing committees and special committees.  Membership shall be purely advisory with no voting privileges.

 

H.    Board of Directors

1.      The officers of the Association shall meet on a regular basis between the Executive Board meetings in order to facilitate communication, and to act on emergency matters.  Committee chairmen shall be invited to attend when necessary.

 

SECTION 3: New officers shall assume office on the first day of the school year during the General Meeting.

 

 

 

ARTICLE V:            Executive Board

 

SECTION 1: The Executive Board shall consist of the officers of the Association, the Building Representatives (who shall be elected within each building), the Chairperson of each standing committee, and the immediate past President.  It shall be the executive authority of the Association.

 

            SECTION 2:  Power and Duties

 

A.    The Executive Board shall hire an Executive Director.

B.      Within policies established by the general membership, the Executive Board shall be responsible for the management of the Association and shall carry out policies of the Association.

C.     It shall direct the expenditure of such funds as may be required to carry out the work of the Association.

D.    It shall adopt an annual budget for the operation of the Association.  It shall have the accounts of the Association audited annually.

E.      It shall create committees to perform such duties as may be assigned to them and at its discretion may continue such committees.

F.      It shall report its transactions to the general membership and suggest policies for consideration by them.

G.     Dismissal

1.      Whenever a majority of the Executive Board shall agree that an officer with an exception of the Executive Director is incapacitated or has been grossly negligent in his/her duties as defined by these bylaws, it shall recommend immediately to the general membership that the office be declared vacant.  If the general membership so votes by two-thirds (2/3) majority to uphold the recommendation of the Executive Board, it shall immediately elect a replacement to fill the unexpired term.

2.      Any active member may submit in writing a request to have the Executive Board consider the dismissal of an officer.  The written request must contain reasons.

 

SECTION 3:            The Executive Board shall meet monthly and at the discretion of the President.

 

SECTION 4: The term of office for Executive Board members shall coincide with the term of the constitutional offices that they hold.

 

SECTION 5:            All business shall require a majority vote of members present and voting.

 

 

ARTICLE VI:            Building Representative

 

SECTION 1: In each public school in Agawam members in good standing of the Association shall elect for a term of three (3) years two building representatives for the first twenty-five (25) Association members plus one representative for every additional twenty-five Association members or portion thereof.  There shall be at least one (1) representative from each building.

 

            SECTION 2:  Duties

 

A.    Building representatives shall be members of the Executive Board.

B.      They shall be in charge of the membership drive.

C.     They shall be responsible for distributing Association communications to the members of their respective buildings, for keeping their members informed, and shall further act as liaison from the members of their respective buildings to the Executive Board.

 

SECTION 3: Building representatives may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Association members of that building present and voting.

 

 

ARTICLE VII:            Nominations and Elections

 

SECTION 1: Any active member of the Association shall be eligible to hold office in the Association.

 

SECTION 2: Names of candidates for the five offices shall be submitted to the members by the Election Committee either at a general meeting or in a memorandum at least two weeks prior to elections.  Building representatives shall be in charge of the voting in their respective buildings.  Ballots will be counted at the close of the school day by the Election Committee.  The elections shall take place in the spring with results reported.

 

SECTION 3: Building representatives will be nominated and elected by secret ballot in their respected buildings.

 

SECTION 4: Should an office be vacated by resignation for any reason, a special election will be held as soon as candidates are nominated for the office.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII:            Meetings

 

            SECTION 1:            General Membership Meetings

 

A.    The annual meeting shall be held in May unless ordered otherwise by a majority vote of the Executive Board.  The time and the place shall be posted in each building in writing at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

B.      There shall be two (2) general membership meetings each school year.  One shall be held on the first day of the school year and the second in May.  A tentative agenda shall be prepared for each meeting by the President.

C.     All business of a general membership meeting shall require a majority vote of the members present and voting with the exception of the contract ratification, dismissal of an officer, and amendments to the Constitution & Bylaws.

D.    Ratification of Unit “A” contract shall require two-thirds (2/3) majority of those members compromising Unit “A” present and voting.

E.      Ratification of Unit “B” contract shall require two-thirds (2/3) majority of those members compromising Unit “B” present and voting.

 

SECTION 2:            Executive Board Meetings

 

A.    The Executive Board shall meet at least monthly during the school year on a schedule to be determined by the Board.

B.      Additional meetings shall be called by the Secretary at the request of the President of any three (3) Board members.

 

SECTION 3: Special meetings of the general membership may be held at the call of the President or upon written request to the Executive Board from ten percent (10%) of the membership.  Business to come before Special Meetings must be stated in the call which shall be sent in writing to each Building Representative for distribution to each member.  Business shall be confined to these items.

 

SECTION 4:            Quorum

 

A.    A quorum of fifty (50) members shall be necessary to begin AEA General Meetings but remain unchallengeable until below thirty (30) members in attendance.

1. A general membership meeting for teacher assistants will require are quorum of ten (10) members but remain unchallengeable until below five (5) members are in attendance.

B.      A majority of the members of the Executive Board present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the Board.

C.     A majority of their members shall be a quorum for the Standing Committees and/or Special Committees.

D.    Those officers with ex-officio status shall be counted if present in determination of Standing Committees or Special Committee quorum.

 

 

ARTICLE IX:            Standing Committees

 

SECTION 1: There shall be the following Standing Committees having the specific functions as outlined below:

 

A.    Each committee shall consist of two (2) building representatives for the first twenty-five (25) Association members plus one representative for every additional twenty-five Association members or portion thereof.  If there are no volunteers from any school, that school shall be without representation.

B.      A representative may serve unlimited terms.

C.     A member may represent his building on more than one (1) committee.

D.    Each committee with the approval of the Executive Board may organize from the membership special subcommittees and task forces for specific activities.

E.      Each committee shall elect a chairperson.

F.      The Chairpersons of the P.R.& R., Negotiation, and Social Committees shall be compensated.  Compensation changes shall be established by the Executive Board and approved by the AEA Membership (Attachment A).

G.     All Standing Committees shall be responsible to and subordinate to the Executive Board unless otherwise specified in the Constitution & Bylaws.

SECTION 2: Each Standing Committee shall meet according to a calendar established by Standing Committee Chairpersons.  Special meetings may be called by the chairpersons.

 

SECTION 3: Each Committee shall choose a secretary who shall record all activities of the committee.  The Chairperson shall report to the general membership meetings any action items.  He/she shall prepare an annual written report which the Executive Board shall file as part of the records of the Association.

 

SECTION 4:            Titles and Duties

 

A.    Constitution and Bylaws

1.      It shall prepare amendments to the Constitution & Bylaws suggested by Association members and to present these proposals to the general membership for action.

2.      All amendment proposals to the Constitution & Bylaws shall be submitted to the Constitution Committee with they name of the person or persons making the proposal.

3.      All proposed amendment changes shall be submitted to the Constitution Committee by the first Friday of February of each year.

 

B.      Education Committee

1.      It should discuss any educational matters which are of concern to teachers and teacher assistants.

2.      It shall perform any research needed on items under discussion.  Research materials shall be referred to the proper department.

3.      It shall handle any material referred by the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent, such as in-service courses wanted, planning for release time days, etc.

4.      It shall facilitate communications among teachers, teacher assistants, administration, and School Committee.

5.      It shall plan a program for National Education Week.

 

C.     Election Committee

1.      It shall supervise and conduct the nominating and election process for all elective offices of the Association with the exception of the Executive Secretary who is appointed by the Executive Board.

2.      The nominations procedure for candidates seeking elective office shall be determined by the Election Committee.

3.      It shall be responsible for securing candidates for each of the elective offices.

4.      The names of the candidates for elective office together with information about each candidate shall be published no later than two (2) weeks preceding the date of the election.

5.      The committee shall be responsible for meeting the requirements of Special Elections.

6.      It shall conduct all elections by secret ballot.

7.      To be elected a candidate must have received a majority of the votes case or a plurality if there are more than two candidates for an elected office.

 

 

 

D.    Grievance Committee

1.      It shall aid and represent all the AEA members in the Agawam School System in resolving grievance matters as outlined in the Unit “A” and Unit “B” contracts.

2.      The committee shall decide the matter of the grievance.

3.      It shall keep abreast of grievance situations, inform the teachers and teacher assistants of grievance procedures in the contracts, and inform them of all legal rights and responsibilities.

4.      Grievance committee meetings shall be closed to all but committee members except those specifically invited by the committee via majority vote.

5.      Minutes of all meetings are not to be circulated outside the committee meetings and will always be in the possession of the committee’s Secretary, who will show them to the committee members on request.  A copy of the minutes will also be given to the chairperson and the Executive Director.

 

E.      Public Relations Committee

1.      It shall publicize information with the objective of service to teachers and teacher assistants and to the cause of public education.

2.      It shall be responsible for the monthly publication of the Agawam Education Association newsletter

 

F.      Negotiation Committees

1.      It shall determine through research and membership polling the proposals on salary, hours, and working conditions which shall be used in collective bargaining.

2.      It shall elect a chairperson pro-term at its first meeting who shall act as chairperson until the negotiating team is chosen.

3.      The negotiating team shall elect a chairperson who then automatically becomes a permanent chairperson of the Negotiations Committee.

4.      The negotiating team shall perform the actual negotiating.

5.      All contract proposals arrived at via negotiations by the Negotiations Committee shall be presented to the Executive Board prior to ratification by AEA.

6.      The Executive Board shall vote to favor or oppose contract proposals.  Contract proposals shall then be submitted to AEA membership with the results of the Executive Board vote attached.

7.      Unit “B” shall be the second of the two Negotiation Committees.

a.      Unit “B” shall be comprised of teacher assistants.

b.      Unit “B” shall negotiate a contract affecting “B” Unit membership.

 

G.     Insurance Committee

The committee shall research and investigate insurance programs that affect the general membership.

 

H.    Political Action Committee

1.      It shall have broad concern for local, state, and national legislation affecting the interest of the schools, teachers, teacher assistants, and Association.

2.      It shall encourage members to exercise their civic and political rights and keep them informed about new legislation.

3.      It shall be the responsibility of this committee to study candidates who are friends of education; to study pending legislation and promote activities in the support of desirable legislation; to educate members on the civic rights and responsibilities of teachers and teacher assistants; and, to develop programs that will encourage participation.

 

I.        Social Committee

1.      It shall promote activities aimed at increasing the congeniality of the membership.

2.      It shall raise funds to support Association activities.

 

SECTION 5: Each year the President may appoint such other committees as may be necessary and shall discharge them upon completion of their duties.

 

 

ARTICLE X:            Finance

 

SECTION 1: The annual dues shall include dues as assessed by the Association, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and the National Education Association payable on or before December 1^st.  Payroll deductions can be arranged for payment of dues.

 

A.    Decision on payroll deduction must be made before October 1 unless hired after this date.

B.      Persons on payroll deduction who obtain a leave of absence during the school year are responsible for notifying the Treasurer and making arrangements to pay the balance of their dues by June 30.

 

SECTION 2: The annual dues assessed for the Association shall be determined by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

 

 

ARTICLE XI:            Amendment Process

 

SECTION 1: The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the general membership present and voting at any regular meeting of the Association provided that copies of the proposed amendments have been sent to all members of the Association at least two calendar weeks in advance of the general membership meeting.

 

SECTION 2: The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall be responsible for amendment proposals.  The committee shall present all proposed amendments to the Executive Board prior to sending them to general membership.

 

SECTION 3: The Executive Board will vote to favor or oppose proposed amendments.  Proposed amendments will then be submitted to the membership with the results of the Executive Board vote attached and with a statement of reasons why the amendment was favored or opposed.

 

 

ARTICLE XII:            Rules and Procedures

 

SECTION 1: Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the authority on all questions of procedure not specifically stated in this Constitution and Bylaws.

 

SECTION 2: The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian who shall attend all general membership and Executive Board meetings of the Association.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attachment A

 

Compensation Schedule

The Officers, Executive Director, and Committee Chairpersons of the AEA shall be compensated according to the following schedule:

 

 

Executive Director                      $5,000

President                                 $5,000

Treasurer                                $1,500

Secretary                                 $1,200

Secondary VP                         $600

Intermediate VP                   $600

Elementary VP                   $600

Unit Coordinator (B)                   $1,500

P.R. & R. Chair               $500

Negotiations Chair               $500

Social Comm. Chair               $500

Membership Coordinator            $1,000