HILLIARD EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION (Revised May 2014) ARTICLE l NAME The name of this association shall be the Hilliard Education Association. The Hilliard Education Association, henceforth referred to as the Association, shall maintain affiliation with the National Education Association, the Ohio Education Association, and the Central OEA/NEA Inc. ARTICLE ll PURPOSE The purpose of the Association shall be to: 1. Help set and promote the educational objectives of the local school system and of the state and of the nation; 2. Unify and strengthen the education profession, and promote all terms and conditions as they relate to educators and the education profession; 3. Enable members to speak with a common voice on matters pertaining to the teaching profession and to present their individual and common interests before the school administration, the Board of Education, and other legal authorities; 4. Hold property and funds, enter into service contracts, and to employ a staff as needed, (pursuant to recommendation and approval by the Executive Board and Representative Council), for the attainment of these purposes; 5. Establish and maintain helpful, friendly relationships within the membership and school community; 6. Foster professional attitudes by working with the national, state, regional, and district professional education associations. ARTICLE lll MEMBERSHIP All certified/licensed professionals employed by the Hilliard City Schools Board of Education, except those certified as administration, shall be eligible for active membership. 1
Active members shall be members of the National Education Association, the Ohio Education Association, the Central OEA/NEA, and the Hilliard Education Association. All members shall abide by the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession. A fair share fee payer is a non-member without voting and/or office holding privileges. ARTICLE lv OFFICERS The Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, the Immediate Past President (if still an active Association member), a Secretary, and a Treasurer. All Officers shall hold office for a two-year term. The President and Treasurer shall be elected in even numbered years. The Vice-President and Secretary shall be elected in odd numbered years. Successions and Vacancies Whenever the office of President becomes vacant due to death, incapacity, termination, resignation, retirement or recall, the Vice President shall automatically assume the presidency for the remaining part of the term. A vacancy in the office of Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer shall be filled for the remainder of the term by majority vote of the Representative Council, upon recommendation of the Executive Board. Whenever the offices of both President and Vice-President become vacant, the remaining members of the Executive Board shall choose one of their number to serve as President Pro Tempore until a special election by the membership is conducted. In such case the Elections Committee shall provide a slate of candidates for both offices. ARTICLE V EXECUTIVE BOARD The Executive Board shall consist of the Association officers and chairpersons of standing committees. The Executive Board shall: 1. Act as advisors to the officers, assign duties, and be responsible for all committees of the Association; 2
2. Carry out policies established at general membership meetings. 3. Prepare recommendations for the consideration and action of the Association; 4. Ensure the Association acts on an annual financial report presented by the Association Treasurer. 5. Report its transactions to all members. No business or financial transaction involving a member of the Executive Board or agent of the Association, or their spouse, children, or parents, or otherwise as described in this Section, shall conflict with the fiduciary responsibility of such person to the Association. Such relationships with the members of the Executive Board include relationships with any person that would reasonably be expected to affect the person s judgment with respect to the transaction or conduct in question in a manner adverse to the Association. ARTICLE Vl REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL The Representative Council shall consist of the Executive Board, one or more representatives from each building faculty, and any HEA member holding an elected position in NEA, OEA, or Central OEA/NEA. 1. Building representation shall not exceed one (1) representative per fifteen (15) members, or major fraction thereof. There shall be at least one representative from each building. The Representative Council shall: 1. Have policy making authority with full legal and governing powers as provided in this Constitution and Bylaws 2. Act as the authoritative voice of the Association on positions affecting the Association; 3. Approve the budget; 4. Make recommendation to the membership on dues for the Association; 5. Act on reports of committees; 6. Vote on all Memoranda of Understanding; 7. Report its transactions and those of the general membership to all members; 3
8. Direct an independent audit of the Association s financial records at regular intervals not to exceed two (2) years; 9. Have the power to employ a staff or hire services for the efficient management of the Association, staying within the annual budget; 10. Adopt procedures for implementing the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession. Any member of the Association who is not a member of the Representative Council may attend its meetings and may speak when recognized by the President. Voting privileges shall remain with elected members of The Representative Council. ARTICLE VII ELECTIONS Section E. Section F. Section G. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee whose duty it shall be to present a slate of officers for each office. Candidates for office may also be submitted by a petition signed by at least fifteen (15) active members or by nomination from the floor. No member shall be nominated for office without the knowledge and consent of the individual. There shall be no write-in candidates. The President shall appoint an Elections Committee whose duty it shall be to conduct elections in accordance with the OEA Elections Manual and to resolve all challenges or protests to an election. No nominee for office shall serve concurrently on the Elections Committee Elections of officers and delegates to the OEA and NEA Representative assemblies shall be conducted by secret ballot in each building during a time designated by the Elections Committee. Failure to return ballots on or before the specified date will nullify said ballots. Unopposed candidates shall be elected by acclamation. The Elections Committee shall report the outcome of the election to the total membership within five (5) calendar days following the election. Newly elected officers shall be installed at the last Representative Council meeting of the school year and shall assume office the first Monday in June. All ballots (marked, unmarked, and voided) and all other records pertaining to the election of officers of the Association and OEA and NEA delegates and alternates shall be preserved for one (1) year from the date the election was held; and such ballots and other records shall be made available to OEA officers upon request for inspection and examination. 4
Section H. Non-members of the Association, including fee payers, shall not have the right to vote, hold office, or otherwise have privilege of Association membership. ARTICLE VIII IMPEACHMENT OF OFFICERS Officers of the Association may be impeached for violation of the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession or for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office. Impeachment proceedings against an officer may be initiated by written petition submitted to the Executive Board and Representative Council by a least twenty-five (25) percent of the members. If, after a due-process hearing, a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Representative Council sustains the charge, the office shall become vacant. The officer may appeal the decision to a special meeting of the general membership. ARTICLE IX COMMITTEES The Association shall have such standing committees as are necessary to carry out the responsibilities and program of the Association. Ad hoc (temporary) committees may be formed as necessary to achieve the Association program. All committees shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. All committee chairs shall be nominated and appointed by the Rep Council or the President, and/or removed at the discretion of the President. ARTICLE X DUES The Association shall have a dues structure adequate to fund an active program. ARTICLE XI RULES FOR AMENDING Amendments to this Constitution may be introduced at any regular meeting of the Representative Council. With the approval of the Representative Council a copy of the proposed amendments shall be made available to the Association 5
membership. Ballots shall be distributed through the building representatives for a vote of the general membership. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of those voting is required to adopt the proposed amendments. Ballots shall be returned to the HEA office and tabulated by the Elections Committee. Failure to return ballots on or before the specified date will nullify said ballots. ARTICLE XII REVISION TIMELINE This Constitution shall be reviewed every five (5) years by a committee appointed by the President. This committee shall consist of not less than three (3), and not more than five (5) Association members representing primary, intermediate and secondary levels. Any revisions recommended by the committee shall be brought to the Executive Board, the Representative Council and the membership following procedures as outlined in Article XI, Section A, of the HEA Constitution. ARTICLE XIII THE FISCAL YEAR The fiscal year shall be the same as the OEA and NEA, September 1 st to August 31 st. 6