MADISON ONEIDA BOCES TEACHERS ASSOCIATION ARTICLE I NAME The name of this organization shall be the Madison Oneida BOCES Teachers Association. AXTICLE II PURPOSE The purpose of this organization shall be: 1. To promote the best interests of education. S. To foster closer cooperation and the exchange of ideas among members and administrators. 3. To promote closer cooperation and the exchange of ideas among other Associations 4. To promote the sponsorship for keeping teachers current with the latest developments in their respective fields. 5. To make industry aware of existing and future programs in Vocational and other special areas of education. 6. To help promote desirable public relations for Secondary programs, Special Education, and other special areas of education at the community level and with participating school districts. 7. To help promote desirable public relations for Secondary Programs, Special education, and other special areas of education within the teaching profession. e. To promote legislation for the advancement of Secondary Programs, Special Education, and other special areas of education. MADISON ONEIDA BOCES TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 1
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Membership in the Madison Oneida BOCES Teachers Association shall include membership ir the New York State United Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers. Section 2. Active membership is open to all teachers and teaching assistants who come under the jurisdiction of Madison Oneida BOCES or are paid by the Madison Oneida BOCES. It is further understood that they must be employed in teaching, in guidance and supportive and related services to be eligible for active membership, or are students of the Industrial Teachers Training while in Madison ONEIDA BOCES, ARTICLE IV GOVERNING BODY A. The governing body of the Madison Oneida BOCES Teachers Association shall be the elected officers. B. The elected officers shall consist of: 1. President 2. Vice-president S. Recording/ Corresponding Secretary 4. Treasurer C. All officers named in Article IV, Section B. shall be elected at the annual meeting held during the month of May and shall serve a term of two years as indicated below: 1. Term of office of elected officers: a) President-two years, b) Vice-president two years. c) Secretary and Treasurer-two years. 2. Term of office shall start July 1, after election at May meeting. MADISON-ONEIDA BOCES TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 2
D. All officers shall be elected by secret ballot and a simple majority (more than half votes cast), with a quorum present, shall constitute election. E. The nominating committee shall be appointed prior to the scheduled meeting in May to prepare a slate for offices mentioned in IV, C. 1. ARTICLE V. Section 1. DUTIES OF OFFICERS Elected Officers A. Executive Committee. Shall be composed of all elected officers and be charged with carrying out the daily operations of the organization. Executive Committee shall approve annual budget. B. President. It is the duty of the President to call the meeting of the Association to order at the appointed time; to announce the business in its proper order; to state all questions and put them to a vote; announce the results of every vote and the next business in order; to be impartial in recognizing a member; and to protect the rights of each member. He/she shall be empowered to name standing and special committees and chairpersons when necessary when expediting the business of the Association. He/she shall be a member without voting rights) of all standing committees and those especially appointed by the President. He/she shall be empowered to protect and promulgate the purpose of the constitution. The President shall also appoint a Parliamentarian, Negotiation Chair and committee, Grievance Chair, and Building Representatives and Advisory Committee. The immediate past President may serve, on a consulting basis, to the Executive Committee for a period of one (l} year. C. Vice-president. 1. The Vice-President shall be Chairperson of the Teachers Advisory Committee. 2. Shall assume the duties of the president during his/her absence or disability. MADISON NEIDA BOCES TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 3
D. Treasurer. The treasurer shall be the comptroller of all funds received by the Association. His/her duties will he: 1. Shall submit a proposed budget for the year at the October meeting. This to be the first approved by the Executive Committee then presented to the membership for approval and passage. 2. Submit a written report of income and expenditures at each scheduled meeting. The books will be closed for reporting two days before monthly meeting. 3. He/she will disburse funds when needed, based upon the budget. 4. Receive and deposit funds in Association account. S. Treasurer s books to be audited by President and three (3} appointed members who will be one (1) from Oc. Ed., one (1) from Special Ed., one (1) Teacher Assistant. This audit is to be conducted prior to July 1st. 6, Keep an active list of members and locations. E. Recording/ Corresponding Secretary, The Recording secretary shall keep a complete and exact record of all General and Executive Committee proceedings conducted by the Madison-Oneida BOCES Teachers Association, Verona, New York. The Recording Secretary shall he responsible for all internal and external correspondence and the d-distribution thereof. He/She will be chairperson of the Newsletter Committee unless otherwise appointed. Section II. Appointed Officers, A. Parliamentarian Parliamentary Authority in all questions of procedures and conduct shall be resolved by the Parliamentarian based upon Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, an official copy of which shall be in the hands of the Parliamentarian and his decision shall be final and binding. B. Chair and members of standing committees. MADISON-ONEIDA BOCES TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 4
ARTICLE VI Meetings Section I. The standing committees of the association shall be: A. The Public Relations Committees: Shall be composed of the Chairman and. those whom the President appoints. It shall be charged with the responsibility of disseminating to the school and to the community information which will project a favorable image of the alms and purposes of the Association,. B. The Representative Council: Shall be composed of all elected officers, building representatives, and the immediate past president who may serve for a period of one (1) year and this committee will dispose of business, etc. C. The Negotiating Committee: Shall be comprised of a chairperson and a minimum of three members. (Secondary Programs, Special Education, Teacher Assistant). The President will appoint these members. 1. Each member will be paid a stipend. 2. Each member will be paid for all expenses, including mileage, incurred to conduct negotiations by submitting a bill. D. The Grievance Committee. Shall be composed of the Grievance Chairperson and Executive Committee. It shall be the responsibility of the committee to contract for any and all grievances brought to the Association by a member. E. Building Representatives: Shall be members, appointed by the President, who will keep constant contact with all members in their buildings. These contacts will be for the purpose of keeping these other members current with all business of the Association and carrying out duties established by Representative Council. F. The Newsletter Committee: Shall be composed of the Chairperson and necessary staff. It shall have the responsibility of submitting information to the members through the Newsletter. MADISON ONEIDA BOCES TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 5
G. The Advisory Committee shall be composed of a Chairperson and the necessary members. The operation of this committee will follow the procedures established in the current negotiated contract between Board of Education and Teachers Association of BOCES, Article XII. ARTICLE VIII The Association will provide monies to President (and/or designee to attend all dinners, seminars, workshops and conferences concerning local, state and national business, when additional members accompany the President a vote must be taken by the Executive Committee. ARTICLE IX ASSOCIATION AUTONOMY The Madison-Oneida BOCES Teachers Association is affiliated with the New York State United Teachers, American Federation of Teachers, AFL~CIO. It retains its autonomy as established in this constitution. It shall further retain its right to unrestricted communication as established in Article I. ARTICLE X ASSOCIATION LEAVE Approval for Association Leave will be determined by the Executive Committee according to the current negotiated contract. Written request for Association Leave will be submitted to Executive Committee for approval and forwarded to the District Superintendent. MADISON-ONEIDA BOCES TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 6
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS Any and all proposed changes in the constitution shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the individuals present and voting at an Association meeting. ARTICLE XII Bylaws This Association shall be empowered to incorporate bylaws to meet its own particular needs. These bylaws shall in no way be contrary to this constitution. Any and all proposed bylaws shall be proposed at a regular or special meeting arid publicly posted for at least ten school days prior to action by the membership. A two-thirds majority vote by members present shall be necessary for adoption of any and all bylaws. Bylaw 1. The Association President will be eligible to attend the state and national conventions as a delegate, unless Association members have elected to attend. (7/94) Election Procedures 1. The Union will give notice by mail of offices to be filled by March 15th. The Union will also send out the notice of 7
elections including a written form on which people will submit nominations. This form will need to be returned by April 1St to the Chairperson of Elections committee 2. Nominated individuals must sign a nomination form indicating they accept the nomination and are willing to accept the position if elected. 3. By May 1st the Union will send a secret ballot by mail to each member in good standing. Enclosed will be a selfaddressed return envelope for the ballot to be mailed to the Union Office. The ballot must be returned by May 15th. 4. The Election Committee will then count the ballots and then post the results in every building by May 30th. 5. The candidates will be permitted to have observers: a) Present at the preparation and mailing of the ballot. b) At the opening and counting of the ballots. 6. Write in votes are not permitted. 7. Proxy votes are illegal per the Landrum-Griffin Act, which covers all union elections. Uncontested Elections An election of officers or delegates in which the act would normally require the use of a secret ballot need not be held by secret ballot when all candidates are unopposed and the following conditions are met: a) The union provides a reasonable opportunity for nominations. b) Write in votes are not permitted. c) The union complies with all other provisions of title IV. 8