CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I - NAME
Glencoe Education Association CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS Glencoe District #35The name of this association shall be the Glencoe Education Association.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSES
Section 1. To work for the welfare of school children, the advancement of education, and the improvement of instructional opportunities for all.
Section 2. To develop and promote the adoption of such ethical practices, personnel policies, and standards of preparation and participation as mark a profession.
Section 3. To unify and strengthen the teaching profession and to secure and maintain the salaries, retirement, tenure, professional sick leave, and other working conditions necessary to support teaching as a profession.
Section 4. To enable teachers and associate teachers to speak with a common voice on matters pertaining to the teaching profession and to present their individual and common interests before the Board of Education and other legal authorities.
Section 5. To hold property and funds for the attainment of these purposes.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active Members
a. Active membership in the association shall be open to professional personnel in the district (which includes teacher associates) with the following exceptions: Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Administration Assistants, Principals, and Assistant Principals of the Education Profession.
b. Active membership shall be continuous until the member leaves the school system, resigns from the Association, or fails to pay membership dues.
c. Active members of the Association shall also be members of the Illinois Education Association and National Education Association.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the Association shall consist of a (or Co-Presidents), a Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, a Membership Chairperson, Concerns Committee Chairperson and Immediate Past President.
Section 2. No one shall be eligible for office without having been a member of the Association for one complete year.
Section 3. No one shall be eligible for the office of President without a minimum of one year service as a member of the Representative Council.
ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers of the Association. It shall be the executive authority of the Association. All schools must have at least one officer on the Executive Board.
Section 2. Whenever a majority of the Executive Board shall agree that an officer or a member of the Representative Council has been grossly negligent of the duties defined in the by-laws or is incapacitated, they shall recommend to the Representative Council that the office be declared vacant. If the Council so votes by a two-thirds (2/3) majority, the members of the Association shall immediately elect a replacement to fill the unexpired term. If the unexpired term is less than one year, the Executive Board shall appoint a replacement.
ARTICLE VI - REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
Section 1. The legislative and policy-forming body of the Association shall be the Representative Council.
Section 2. The Representative Council shall consist of the Executive Board, and representatives, including both teachers and associate teachers, from each school, according to membership needs as determined by the Executive Board.
Section 3. Any member of the Association who is not a member of the Representative Council, may attend its meetings, shall sit apart from the voting body, but may receive permission to speak.
ARTICLE VII - AFFILIATION
The Association shall affiliate with the NEA under its rules and the IEA under its rules.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
The procedure for amending this constitution shall be as follows:
Amendments must be introduced at the meeting of the Representative Council preceding the general meeting at which the amendment will be presented for discussion. Amendments must be ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the general membership voting. Voting by secret ballot shall be conducted by the Association Representatives within one week following the general membership meeting.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1 - MEETINGS
Section 1. Executive Board - The Executive Board shall meet when necessary, at the call of the President(s). Special meetings may be called at the request of three (3) members of the Board.
Section 2. Representative Council - The Representative Council shall meet each month at the call of the President(s). Special meetings may be called by the Executive Board or by petition of five (5) members of the Council.
Section 3. Special Meetings - Business to come before the Special Meeting must be stated in the call.
Section 4. General Membership Meetings - The Executive Board shall arrange at least two (2) meetings of the members each year for discussion of professional issues.
ARTICLE II - QUORUM
A majority of their members shall be a quorum for the Representative Council, Executive Board and committees.
ARTICLE III - RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. President(s) - The President(s) shall prepare the agenda and preside over regular meetings of the Executive Board and Representative Council. The President(s) shall appoint the chairperson of all committees, with the exception of the Negotiating Team. The appointments must be approved by a majority of the Executive Board. The President(s) shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, the executive officer of the Association, the Representative of the Association before the public either personally or through delegates, and shall perform all other functions usually attributed to this office. The President(s) shall meet monthly with the Superintendent.
Section 2. Vice-President - The Vice-President shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the President(s) and perform such duties as the President(s) directs. In case of prolonged absence of the President(s), the Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President(s) by action of the Executive Board.
Section 3. Recording Secretary - The Recording Secretary shall keep and report accurate minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board and Representative Council, and shall maintain official files. A copy of the approved minutes shall be given to the membership.
Section 4. Corresponding Secretary - The Corresponding Secretary shall be the chairperson of the committee on Public Relations.
Section 5. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall hold funds of the Association and disburse them upon authorization by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall collect and bill members for annual dues, shall keep accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements, shall report to each meeting of the Representative Council, and shall prepare an annual financial statement for publication to members as directed by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall keep the President(s) and Executive Board informed of the financial condition of the Association. The Treasurer shall prepare documentation for taxes. The Treasurer shall disburse funds for gifts at the end of each Executive Officer’s term. In addition, the Treasurer shall disburse funds for gifts for retiring members of GEA.
Section 6. Membership Chairperson(s) - The Membership Chairperson(s) shall organize and oversee the enrollment of members and work with the Treasurer to maintain a membership role for the Association and the IEA.
Section 7. Concerns Committee Chairperson(s) – The President(s) shall serve as the Concern Committee Chairperson(s) and shall gather and present membership concerns in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. As part of the grievance process, selected members of the Executive Board will serve as the Professional Rights and Responsibilities Panel.
ARTICLE IV - TERMS OF OFFICE
Section 1. The officers shall serve for two (2) years and may be re-elected for additional terms.
Section 2. The terms of the Executive Board shall be staggered so that no more than two-thirds (2/3) the Board shall be replaced at one election. Whenever the offices of both President(s) and Vice-President shall become vacant between elections, the remaining members of the Executive Board shall choose one of their number as President Pro Tempore until the vacancy can be filled as provided in Article 5, Section 2 of the Constitution.
Section 3. Elections for the Executive Board shall be held in April. New officers shall take their seats by July 1.
ARTICLE V - RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the management of the Association, approving all expenditures, carrying out all policies established by the Representative Council, reporting its transactions and those of the Council to the members, presenting policies for consideration by the Council and making decisions between meetings of the Council. The Executive Board shall select the Negotiating Team.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall attend all meetings of the Executive Board and Representative Council unless they receive prior approval from the President(s). The President(s) may declare a seat vacant after three (2) unexcused absences of an officer and fill the vacancy in accordance with Article 5, Section 2 of the Constitution.
ARTICLE VI - RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
Section 1. The Representative Council shall set the dues for the Association, shall approve the stipend for the President(s), the Negotiating Team, and other Executive Board stipends as deemed necessary. The Council shall approve all other Association expenses.
Section 2. The Representative Council shall laws as deemed necessary.
ARTICLE VII - RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES
amend the by-
Section 1. In each public school in Glencoe faculty members who are members in good standing of this Association shall elect for a term of one (2) year Association Representatives to the Representative Council in accordance with Article 6, Section 2 of the Constitution. Elections shall be held in April and Representatives shall take their seats July 1. Each building shall elect at least (2) Representatives.
Section 2. Association Representatives shall attend regular meetings of the Representative Council.
Section 3. The Association Representatives shall call faculty meetings of the Association members to discuss District #35, Association business, shall organize and oversee elections, the enrollment of members, and two-way Association communication within the building.
Section 4. Selected Association Representatives shall meet monthly with their respective building principals.
ARTICLE VIII - STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Structure – Each committee may, with the approval of the Executive Board, organize special sub-committees and task forces for specific activities from the membership of the Association.
Section 2. Meetings - Each standing committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson or President.
Section 3. Reports - Each committee shall keep a continuing record of activities. Chairpersons shall report as necessary to the Representative Council.
Section 4. Titles and Duties
a. Committee on Public Relations shall be chaired by the Corresponding Secretary. This committee shall publish a newsletter for the membership, shall seek to develop public understanding of the purposes and programs of the Association, the values and importance of education, and in cooperation with the administration, the educational philosophy of the schools. It shall develop procedures by which the Association can work cooperatively with parents and public in civic, fraternal, and social organizations and through all available channels
of communications.
b. Social Committee shall organize such social
activities as may serve the needs of the members and promote fellowship within the Association.
c. Committee on Civic Responsibility shall have broad concern for local, state, and national legislation affecting the interests of the Association and for the exercise of civic responsibilities by members. The committee shall be diligent to inform members about newly enacted legislation.
d. Elections Committee shall be chaired by the Vice-President. This committee will seek nominations for vacancies on the Executive Board, prepare the ballot, set election dates, oversee the election, tabulate results and inform the membership.
e. Survey Committee shall conduct surveys of the Association members twice a year. Information gathered shall be shared with the School Board.
ARTICLE IX – NEGOTIATING TEAM
Section 1. The Executive Board will select the members of the Negotiating Team.
Section 2. Each school building will be represented.
Section 3. Both teachers and teacher associates will be represented.
Section 4. Negotiating Team members need to have served on the Representative Council.
Section 5. It would be helpful to choose the Negotiating Team in the fall of the year before the Contract expires to allow for members of the Team to attend the December conference hosted by IEA.
Section 6. A GEA note taker will be present at the bargaining sessions only.
