WASHOE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I NAME The name of this Association shall be the Washoe School Principals Association. The purpose of this Association shall be: ARTICLE II PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES To provide effective collective bargaining and to secure favorable working conditions and encourage favorable performance. To advise members of their rights and to defend those rights. The objectives of this Association shall be: Section 6: Section 7: Section 8: Section 9: Section 10: Section 11: To promote the unity and strength of certified school administrators. To negotiate contract changes and develop and promote policy changes to improve the welfare of certified school administrators. To coordinate efforts to secure constructive school legislation. To encourage mutual understanding among members. To provide a voice for certified administrators to the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees. To promote and improve the educational welfare of the children of this country. To improve the image of and increase the public understanding of the role of certified school administrators. To encourage professional activity, growth, and study among certified administrators. To assure the equal, fair, and just treatment of all certified administrators as they perform their duties. To serve as the collective negotiations representative of its members for the purposes of improving terms and conditions of employment in consonance with the laws of the State of Nevada. To work in cooperation with other state and national Administrator organizations. 1
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP All certified administrators of the Washoe County School District shall be eligible for membership, with the exception of such employees who are excluded by the laws of the State of Nevada for collective bargaining. Those certified administrators shall, upon payment of dues in the manner described by the Washoe School Principals Association (WSPA) Executive Board, be eligible for active membership in the Association. No person shall be denied membership on the basis of sex, race, national origin, religious or political belief, or social status. ARTICLE IV DUES AND ASSESSMENTS Section 6: Dues and assessments shall be payable by payroll deduction or by personal payment. Membership in this Association is dependent upon the payment of membership dues. Dues are set by the Executive Board with the approval of membership demonstrated by a secret ballot with a 50% vote in the majority. Dues money may be used for the following expenditures: professional development, public relations, Administrators Advocate, Collective Bargaining, and other miscellaneous expenditures. One dollar ($1.00) per month per member is allocated for the Association s student scholarship program. Membership in the Association will consist of two types: a. Active; b. Associate. Active members are those certified school administrators, whereas Associate Membership is for Area Superintendents, Senior Directors, or other individuals eligible to join the Association but are not eligible to serve on the WSPA Executive Board or serve on the Negotiations team. Withdrawal of a member from the Association can only occur during the period of July 1-31. 2
ARTICLE V ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS AND FILLING VACANT OFFICER AND BOARD POSITIONS Section 6: Section 7: The Executive Board shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Elementary Representative, Secondary Representative, and At-Large Representative. Officers and Executive Board Members shall be elected in May for a two year term to commence July 1 of the same year. The President, Treasurer, and Elementary Representative shall be elected in the even numbered years. The Vice President, Secretary, Secondary Representative, and At-Large Representative shall be elected in the odd numbered years. Elections shall be by ballot sent to each member. Vacancies, other than that of President, shall be filled for the remainder of the term by recommendation of the President and approval by the WSPA Executive Board. In the event the President and Vice-President positions are both vacant, the President and then the Vice-President will be selected from the remaining WSPA Executive Board members by the Executive Board. ARTICLE VI DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS The President shall: a. be the presiding officer at all meetings of the membership, and the WSPA Executive Board; b. be an ex-officio, non voting, member of all standing committees; c. appoint, with the approval of the Executive Board, the chairs of all standing and special committees; d. be responsible for the ongoing administration of the Association; e. receive, report, and respond to correspondence of the Association; f. be one of the responsible financial officers of the Association and shall be authorized to co-sign financial instruments and make regular and usual disbursements of funds; g. represent the Association before bodies of the Washoe County School District, executive and legislative officials; 3
h. represent the Association before the public, community organizations, and the news media; i. make a semi-annual report to the membership of the Association summarizing the accomplishments of the Association and outlining plans for the next year; j. be able to delegate the responsibilities of the office except where otherwise specified by the constitution; k. attend all Washoe County School District School Board meetings or appoint a representative to attend; l. work with the Secretary who will prepare an agenda for Executive Board and General Membership meetings; m. at the end of his/her term of office shall deliver by July 1 to the new President all records of the Association in his/her possession and shall provide assistance to ensure a smooth transition; n. appoint, with the approval of Executive Board, delegates to state and/or national conferences; o. vote only in the event of a tie; p. perform other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board. The Vice President shall: a. assume the duties of the President in the event of the absence, illness, resignation, removal, or death of the President; b. be the Chairperson of the Membership Committee and shall oversee their work and report monthly to the Executive Board on the committee s activities; c. be an authorized co-signer on the bank accounts; d. perform other duties as delegated by the President or assigned by the Executive Board. The Secretary shall: a. record and keep accurate minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board and general membership; b. assist the President in handling the correspondence of the Association; c. notify the Executive Board and membership of all meetings; d. be an authorized co-signer on the bank accounts; e. keep the election ballots for one year; f. maintain a file on all committee reports and Association correspondence; 4
g. keep all communications, records, etc., in a permanent file located at a place designated by the Executive Board; h. conduct the roll call and maintain attendance records of the Executive Board members; i. at the end of his/her term of office, shall deliver by July 1 to the new Secretary all records of the Association in his/her possession and shall provide assistance to ensure a smooth transition; j. appropriately acknowledge members and families illnesses, deaths, and other special occasions; k. perform other duties as delegated by the President or assigned by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall: a. keep all financial records and shall maintain and disburse funds as authorized by the Executive Board; b. reconcile all Association accounts monthly; c. present a monthly financial statement at the Executive Board meetings and regularly scheduled general membership meetings; d. record and deposit all dues, monies, and other income in the name of the Association; e. prepare checks to be signed by two of the following Officers: President, Vice President, and Secretary. Make regular and usual disbursements of funds; f. maintain all financial records of the Association; g. with the approval of the Executive Board, arrange for an independent audit of the finances of the Association annually; h. pay all expenses/bills authorized by the adopted budget, retaining vouchers/invoices for the statements. Expenses not authorized in the budget must be presented to the Executive Board for authorization; i. have an audit performed of all accounts of the Association whenever there is a change in the position of Treasurer; j. at the end of his/her term of office, and no later than July 1, deliver to the new Treasurer all records of the Association in his/her possession and shall provide assistance to ensure a smooth transition; k. perform other duties as delegated by the President or assigned by the Executive Board. Executive Board members shall: 5
a. have the power to act for the Association between meetings; b. shall meet once a month except for during the month of July unless otherwise noted; c. conduct monthly meetings at a date and time determined by the President and Executive Board, unless otherwise ordered by the President; d. administer the Constitution, By-Laws and policies of this Association; e. be empowered to make contracts and incur expenses deemed necessary for the operation of the Association consistent with the approved budget; f. approve and present to the General Membership an annual budget; g. approve the Chairperson and membership of all standing and special committees of this Association; h. have the final authority to make all decisions affecting the welfare and management of this Association. ARTICLE VII REMOVAL AND DISCIPLINE OF OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS, AND MEMBERS The Executive Board may, by a vote of two-thirds of Executive Board Members voting, remove any Officer or Board of Director during his/her term if, in its sole judgment, he/she is physically or mentally unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the office or has breached the trust or otherwise acted to the detriment of the welfare of the Association. In the event of any such removal, the Officer or Executive Board member so relieved shall immediately cease to function in the office and the office shall be declared vacant. Officers, Executive Board Members, and members may be removed for any, but not limited to, the following: a. violation of any specific provision of the Association s Constitution, By- Laws or policies; b. secession or fostering the same; c. conduct which is disruptive of, interferes with, or induces others to disrupt or interfere with, the performance of the Association s legal or contractual obligations; d. causing or participating in an unauthorized work slow down or stoppage; e. disruption of Association meetings; 6
f. assaulting or provoking assault on fellow members or officers; g. failure to follow the rules of order or ruling of the presiding officer at Association meetings; h. retaliating or threatening to retaliate against any member for having filed disciplinary charges or otherwise participated in a disciplinary hearing; i. retaliating or threatening to retaliate against any member for exercising rights under this Constitution and By-Laws; j. being absent from three consecutive meetings without an excuse that the Executive Board determines to be valid. The Executive Board shall then declare the position vacant. Charges against any Officer or Executive Board member may be brought by any member directed in writing to the Chapter President. The President shall notify the concerned Officer or Executive Board Member of the specific charges against him/her and give the date, time and place the Executive Board will meet to hear the charges. The concerned Officer or Executive Board Member shall be notified within ten days that he/she will be granted the right to appear before the Board, examine and cross-examine witnesses, and to present such testimony as he/she may wish. He/she shall have the right to counsel of his/her choice provided the representative is not affiliated with another labor organization. The decision of the Executive Board shall be final. Officers, Executive Board Members, and members may be disciplined as follows: Any member, including Officers and the Executive Board, may be subject to reprimand, suspension from membership for a certain period of time or expulsion from membership entirely, upon submission to the Executive Board by a member or members, if written allegations that said member, has behaved in a detrimental manner to injure the good name of the Association or cause concern. When charges are filed against a member, they shall be reviewed by the Executive Board within ten working days of the filing and if actions are to be taken, a hearing shall be scheduled within ten working days of the Board s decision. ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS Meetings shall be held as follows: General membership meetings shall be held a minimum of two times per year. The time and location will be determined by the President and/or the Executive Board. 7
A quorum at a general membership meeting shall be those members present and voting and at least two Executive Board members. Executive Board meetings will be held monthly with the date, time and location to be determined by the President and/or Executive Board. Special meetings of the Association and/or Executive Board may be called by the President or by request of two Executive Board members. Special general membership meetings may be called by a written request of 50 members indicating the business proposed for discussion or action requested at the special meeting. ARTICLE IX QUORUM AND PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY A quorum at the Executive Board meeting shall be a majority of its members, including the President. Members present at general membership meetings shall constitute a quorum. The rules contained in Robert s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are consistent with the Constitution or special rules of order of the Association. ARTICLE X COMMITTEES Standing Committees of this Association shall be: a. Election; b. Insurance; c. Membership; d. Negotiations; e. Scholarship; f. Sick Leave Bank. Upon appointment by the President, with the Executive Board approval, committee chairs shall have one month to select committee members and present their names to the Executive Board for approval. The President and Executive Board may establish special committees or subcommittees. The actions of any committee shall be subject to review by the Executive Board. All business transacted by committees shall be officially reported to the Executive Board and not reported to any other person or organization unless so directed by the Executive Board. Upon completion of a committee assignment, the Chairperson shall file with the President a report of the business of the committee and all documents pertaining to the committee s work. 8
Section 6: Section 7: Each committee shall keep a written record of its activities and shall submit a copy to the Executive Board monthly or as deemed necessary. The term of office of Chairpersons and members for each committee shall be two years. ARTICLE XI FISCAL YEAR The Association s fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30 of each year. ARTICLE XII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern in all cases not covered by this Constitution or By-Laws of this Association. ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in writing by the Executive Board or any member of the Association. The Secretary shall submit proposed amendments to the active members at least one week before amendments are presented for a vote. Adoption of proposed amendments shall be by written ballot and shall require two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of those members voting. Amendments shall become effective immediately upon adoption. April, 2005 9