WTEA Constitution
ARTICLE I Name
SECTION 1 The name of the organization shall be the Washington Township Education Association.
SECTION 2 It shall be incorporated as a non-profit corporation under Title 15, Section 1-12 of the Revised Statutes of the State of New Jersey.
ARTICLE II Purpose
SECTION 1 The purpose of this Association shall be to advance the educational interests of the total community of Washington Township.
SECTION 2 To develop and promote the adoption of such ethical practices, personnel policies, and standards of preparation and participation as mark a professional organization.
SECTION 3 To secure equitable improvements in working conditions among all disciplines. To secure competitive salaries, tenure, and a sound retirement system. To secure improvements in working conditions that will improve the professional growth, morale, and security of teachers and secretaries.
SECTION 4 To unify and strengthen the professional organization, to enable and encourage members to speak with a common voice on all matters of mutual concern, and to represent individual and common interests of members before the Board of Education and other legal authorities.
SECTION 5 To hold property and funds, to engage services, and employ personnel for the attainment of these purposes.
ARTICLE III Membership
SECTION 1 Active Teaching Staff Members
(A) Active membership in the Association shall be open to any member of the professional teaching staff covered under the WTEA-WTBOE contract.
(B) Active members of the Association shall be expected to abide by the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession.
(C) Active membership shall be in effect until the member leaves the school system, resigns from the Association, or fails to pay membership dues.
(D) Active members of the Association shall also be members of the Gloucester County Education Association, the New Jersey Education Association, and the National Education Association.
SECTION 2 Active Secretarial Staff Members
(A) Active Secretarial Staff membership in the Association shall be open to any secretary covered under the WTEA-WTBOE contract.
(B) All Active Secretarial Staff Members shall also be covered by ARTICLE III, SECTION 1, subsections C and D of this Constitution.
SECTION 3 Retired members will continue as Associate Members for life.
ARTICLE IV Officers
SECTION 1 The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, 1 Vice President At Large, 3 Vice Presidents (1 Elementary, 1 Secondary and 1 Secretary/Special Services) and a Secretary/Treasurer. The Immediate Past President shall be an ex-officio officer of the Association.
SECTION 2 The offices of President, Vice President At Large, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Association shall be voted upon by the entire membership. The other three Vice Presidents shall be voted upon by the members they represent.
ARTICLE V Executive Committee
SECTION 1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and nine (9) members (three elementary teaching members, two middle school teaching members, two high school teaching members, one secretarial staff member, and one special services staff member), elected by those they represent. It shall be the executive authority of the Association.
SECTION 2 Under the personnel policies adopted by the Representative Council and within the annual budget, the Executive Committee shall have the power to engage services and employ personnel for the efficient management of the Association and attainment of Association purposes.
ARTICLE VI Representative Council
SECTION 1 The policy-forming body of the Association shall be the Representative Council.
SECTION 2 The Representative Council shall consist of the Executive Committee, one or more representatives from each building, and special committee chairpersons.
SECTION 3 Any member of the Association who is not a member of the Representative Council, may attend its meetings, and shall sit apart from the voting body. They shall be afforded the opportunity to speak during the Member Discussion portion(s) of the agenda.
ARTICLE VII Affiliation
The Association is affiliated with the National Education Association, the New Jersey Education Association, and the Gloucester County Education Association; under its rules.
ARTICLE VIII Amendment
Amendment(s) to this Constitution may be made by a 55% majority of the Active Members of the Association present at a regular or special meeting called for this purpose. Amendment(s) must have been previously introduced at a regular meeting of the Representative Council and copies distributed to each Active Member of the Association at least two calendar weeks in advance of the meeting.
Approved by Executive Committee 3/9/06
Approved by Representative Council 6/01/06
WTEA By-Laws
ARTICLE 1 Meeting
SECTION 1 Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month, or at the call of the President, or at the request of any three members of the Committee.
SECTION 2 Representative Council
(A) The Representative Council shall meet once a month. The Executive Committee shall prepare the agenda for each meeting and shall circulate it to all members of the Council, at least five (5) school days prior to the scheduled Council meeting date, so that the Representatives have time to discuss it with their building members.
(B) Special meetings of the Representative Council may be held at the call of the President, or upon written request to the Executive Committee, of five building representatives. Business to come before special meetings shall be limited to items stated in the call, which shall be given, in writing, to the President.
SECTION 3 General Membership
General Membership meetings shall be held at least once during the year. Emergency meetings may be called by the Executive Committee at other times during the year.
ARTICLE II Quorum
A majority of their members shall be considered a quorum for the Representative Council, Executive Committee, and committees.
ARTICLE III Powers of the Officers
As per WTEA Constitution-The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, 1 Vice President At Large, 3 Vice Presidents (1 Elementary, 1 Secondary and 1 Secretary/Special Services) and a Secretary/Treasurer.
SECTION 1 President
Being the executive officer, the President shall be responsible for presiding over all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Representative Council. He/She shall appoint the chairpersons and members of the standing and special committees. He/She is an ex-officio member of all committees. The President shall represent the Association before the public either personally or through a designated representative. He/She shall perform all other functions usually attributed to this office, and may serve as a delegate to the NEA convention during his/her term of office (one delegate seat will be reserved for the president of the Association).
SECTION 2 Vice Presidents
The Vice President At Large shall assume all the duties of the President in his/her absence and shall work closely with one or more standing or special committees as the President may suggest. Each Vice President shall be responsible for overseeing the Grievance Procedure at his/her respective level and shall be a member of the Grievance Committee. The Vice President At Large shall be the chairperson of the committee.
SECTION 3 Secretary/Treasurer
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee and Representative Council accurately, shall maintain official files, shall coordinate the office calendar, shall organize and develop professional library services for the benefit of members in each building - particularly for the distribution of materials from NJEA, NEA and their respective departments, shall assist the President with Association correspondence, and shall distribute the preliminary Representative Council agenda, prior to each meeting, to Representative Council members as per Article I, Section 2, Paragraph A of these By-Laws. The Secretary/Treasurer shall hold all funds of the Association and disburse them upon authorization by the President and/or the Executive Committee. He/She shall keep accurate records of receipts and disbursements, shall report at each meeting of the Executive Committee and Representative Council, and shall prepare an annual financial statement, for publication to members, as directed by the Executive Committee. He/She shall assist the Budget Committee in drafting the annual budget. He/She shall be bonded by the Association.
SECTION 4 Terms and Succession
(A) Officers shall serve for a two year term and may be reelected without an intervening term.
(B) When the office of the
President shall become vacant between elections, except as provided in Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution, the Vice President at Large shall serve as President for the remainder of the term.
ARTICLE IV Powers of the Executive Committee
SECTION 1 The Executive Committee shall:
As per WTEA Constitution- The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and nine (9) members (three elementary teaching members, two middle school teaching members, two high school teaching members, one secretarial staff member, and one special services staff member), elected by those they represent. It shall be the executive authority of the Association.
• serve a term of two years and may be reelected without an intervening term
• be responsible for the management of the Association
• approve all expenditures
• carry out the policies established by the Representative Council
• cause to be reported to the members the association's expenditures of income and distributed at each Rep Council meeting
• establish such special committees as may be necessary
• suggest policies for consideration by the Council
• provide a forum for the open exchange of ideas and concerns of the membership
SECTION 2 The Executive Committee shall represent the Association in negotiating any policies of mutual concern with the governing and appropriating bodies of the school system. Within the policies established by the Representative Council, the Executive Committee may make decisions binding the Association in these matters. The Executive Committee may delegate its power to negotiate specific issues to other appropriate committees or representatives.
SECTION 3 The "at-large" members of the Executive Committee shall be area representatives, each of whom shall counsel the building representatives in his/her area and chair one of the standing committees of the Association. The committees shall be assigned by the President of the Association.
ARTICLE V Powers of the Representative Council
SECTION 1 The Representative Council shall:
• Serve a term of two years and may be reelected without an intervening term
• approve the budget
• set dues for the Association
• act upon reports of committees as needed
• approve resolutions and other policy statements
• adopt rules governing the engagement of services and the employment of WTEA office personnel
• adopt rules governing the conduct of the Association
• adopt rules governing the conduct of meetings as are consistent with this Constitution and these By-Laws
• be the final judge of the qualifications and elections of officers and building representatives
SECTION 2 Powers not delegated to the Executive Committee, the officers, or other groups in the Association shall be vested in the Representative Council.
ARTICLE VI Building Representatives
SECTION 1 Teacher/Secretary Representatives
In each school building in the Washington Township School District, the members in good standing of this Association shall hold an election for Senior Building Representative and Building Representatives. Each building shall be entitled to one (1) building representative to the Representative Council for each fifteen (15) members or major fraction thereof. There shall be at least one (1) Building Representative for each school building. If no member has stood for election to Senior Building Representative, the President shall designate one (1) of the members elected as Building Representative to serve as Senior Building Representative.
SECTION 2 Senior Building Representatives
Senior Building Representatives shall:
• organize and oversee building elections
• be the contact person for the President in his/her building
• make available to Association members the results of each Representative Council meeting by written communication or building meeting
• oversee the enrollment of new members
• initiate the Grievance Procedure at Level I and shall discuss and attempt to resolve, with the immediate supervisor or principal, any grievance under which a member or group of members feels administrative policies are not justly applied. In the event a grievance is not resolved at Level I, the Senior Building Representative shall forward such grievance to the appropriate Vice President for further action.
• be members of the Washington Township Education Association Grievance Committee
SECTION 3 Building Representatives
All Building Representatives shall attend regular meetings of the Representative Council unless they receive prior excuses from the President. After two consecutive unexcused absences of a Representative, the President may declare the seat vacant and, subject to approval by the Representative Council, designate a member in good standing to fill out the term of office. Building Representatives shall have been members in good standing for at least one (1) year prior to their election and shall maintain their membership in good standing during their term of service.
SECTION 4 Elections
Elections for Building Representatives shall be held in accordance with article IX of the by-laws and Representatives shall take their seats at the September meeting (new school year) of the Representative Council.
ARTICLE VII Standing Committees
SECTION 1 Structure
There shall be eighteen (18) standing committees carrying the specific functions outlined below. They shall each have members selected to be broadly representative of all Association members. Each committee may, with the approval of the Association President, organize special sub-committees and/or task forces, for specific activities, from the membership of the Association. Each executive Committee Member shall chair/co-chair a standing committee. Unassigned chairs of standing committees shall be appointed by the President with consent of the Executive committee.
SECTION 2 Meetings
Each standing committee shall meet as frequently as necessary to accomplish its goals.
SECTION 3 Reports
Each committee shall choose a secretary who shall keep a continuing record of activities. Chairpersons shall report as necessary to the Representative Council and shall prepare an annual written report summarizing objectives, action programs, gains, and unreached goals. These reports shall be submitted to the Executive Committee and shall become part of the continuing committee record in the Association files.
SECTION 4 Titles and Duties
(A) Negotiations: Shall explore and prepare action programs in all areas of teacher welfare, creating, if necessary, sub-committees, for research on salaries, leave, fringe benefits insurance, credit and investment facilities, and general working conditions.
* a. Salary Guides
b. Benefits
c.Language
d. Co-curricular
(B) Grievance: Shall explore and prepare action programs for achieving personnel policies and procedures for redress of grievances. This committee, chaired by the Vice President At Large, in collaboration with area Vice President, shall advise the Executive Committee in situations involving the defense of individual teacher/secretary rights. *(no stipend)
(C) Public Relations: 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 and programs of the schools. It shall develop procedures by which the Association can present material through newspapers, radio, television, and other mass media, and work cooperatively with parents and the public in civil, fraternal, and social organizations. The public relations committee shall work in conjunction with other committees where appropriate.
(D) Professional Development: Shall develop and explore action programs to improve opportunities for pre-service, continuing, and in-service professional education; and to create and maintain rapport between the Association, administration and professional organizations.
(E) Liaison: Shall (1) coordinate the activities of the Superintendent's Liaison Committee and the Special Education Liaison Committee and shall (2) institute methods to review, monitor and provide input to the administration and board of education relative to school board policies that affect the members of the association.
*Policy-make membership more aware of Board Policies, keep updated policy books.
(F) Legislative/County: Shall have broad concern for state and national legislation affecting the interests of the Association. The committee shall inform members about newly proposed and enacted legislation in the field of education, promote activities leading to the passage of desirable legislation, and encourage members to exercise their responsibility for voting and their right to participate in political activity. The chairperson of this committee shall act as official liaison to the Gloucester County Education Association.
(G) Membership: Shall organize and conduct unified local, county, state, and national membership enrollment and inform the Representative Council of the policies, programs and accomplishments of all related associations. Shall organize and oversee subcommittees on: 1) Orientation: to develop and conduct programs for the orientation of new teachers and/or secretaries to the community, the school system, and professional associations.
*New job description to follow
(H) Communications: Shall publish every other month the Commentator newsletter. Web Master
*(I) Health Benefits Committee: Description to follow
Philanthropic -committee of the whole Executive Committee. The president will appoint one member of Executive to whom requests will be forwarded. (No stipend)
Special Elections
Action Committee-provides for professional development and advocacy Training
Health and Safety
Pride
WTEA Voting/Rules
Co-curricular
Special Education Liaison-(no stipend)
*Stipends to be determined by Executive Committee
SECTION 5 Appointments
The President, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, shall appoint members of the standing committees, and fill all unexpired terms as vacancies occur.
SECTION 6 Relation to the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall require and assist committees to define their immediate and long term goals, objectives, and plans of action. It shall review committee plans as necessary and shall decide any jurisdictional questions between committees.
SECTION 7 Relation to County, State, and National Associations
Standing Committees shall seek to implement, where beneficial to WTEA, those objectives and programs of corresponding units of county, state and national associations.
ARTICLE VIII (Special Committees) Ad Hoc Committees
Each year the President, subject to the approval of the Representative Council, shall establish a Budget Committee. At any time he/she may establish such other committees as needed. He/She shall discharge all special committees upon completion of their duties. These committees shall operate according to the rule approved by the Representative Council.
ARTICLE IX Elections
SECTION 1 Nominations
(A) The President, subject to approval by the Representative Council, at its March meeting, shall establish an Elections Committee which shall seek nominations for one or more candidates for President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Executive Committee, Representative council and conduct such elections. No officer shall serve on the Elections Committee.
(B) The Elections Committee shall make its recommendations to the Representative Council at its April meeting. Members of the Council may nominate other candidates from the floor. Any additional names may be placed into nomination, upon presentation, at this meeting, of petitions signed by ten per cent (10%) of the active members of the Association.
(C) The Elections Committee shall cause to be published, to the active members, brief information on each candidate.
SECTION 2 Voting
(A) Elections for officers, Executive Committee, and Representative Council shall be held two calendar weeks after the April Representative Council. In no case shall elections be held after the May Representative Council.
(B) Voting will take place in an accessible, neutral location. Photo ID required.
(C) A member may obtain an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be obtained from the Elections Committee Chairperson, voted, and returned to the Elections Committee Chairperson by the voting member. Absentee ballots must be returned prior to Election Day. Photo ID required.
(D) The Elections Committee shall report the results to the President who shall cause them to be published in each building. New officers shall be installed at the September meeting of the Rep Council.
ARTICLE X Annual Honorariums
SECTION 1 The Association shall provide annual honorariums to the officers of the Association using the following guide:
The school year 2005/06 is to be considered the base year and annual honorariums are established at the following rate:
a) President $8500
b) Vice-President $6000
c) Secretary / Treasurer $6000
SECTION 2 Each year the honorarium, for the above listed positions, shall increase by 2.5% over the previous year's honorarium beginning with election 2007-2008
SECTION 3 (A) The Executive Committee members shall be reimbursed at the rate of 200% of the Unified dues providing they have attended eighty percent (80%) of the regularly scheduled Executive Committee and Representative Council meetings.
(B) The Senior Building Representatives shall be reimbursed their Unified dues plus $200 Honorarium-providing they have attended eighty percent (80%) of the regularly scheduled Representative Council meetings and have caused Representative Council notes to be distributed to members on a timely basis.
(C) The Building Representatives shall be reimbursed 200% of their local dues providing they had attended eighty percent (80%) of the regularly scheduled Representative Council meetings.
SECTION 4 Positions established by a 2/3 majority vote of the Representative Council shall be awarded honorariums in amounts determined by the Representative Council. These honorariums shall not exceed the amount paid to the Association Treasurer. Honorariums also must be established by a 2/3 majority vote of the Representative Council.
ARTICLE XI Authority
Roberts Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for the Association on all questions not covered by the Constitution and/or the By-Laws and such standing rules as the Representative Council may adopt.
ARTICLE XII Contract Ratification
(A) Upon reaching a tentative agreement with the Board of Education on a new contract, the Negotiations Team will present the terms to the Executive Committee. A special meeting may be called for this purpose. If accepted by simple majority endorsement of the Executive Committee, the President shall direct the WTEA Voting /Rules Committee to initiate contract ratification process.
(B) The negotiated contract must be distributed to all applicable staff members five (5) weekdays prior to the ratification vote. There shall be two (2) question and answer meetings to address any contract concerns of the staff within those five days. The 2 general meetings will be scheduled at a time convenient to all members. At least three (3) members of the Negotiations Team must be present at the two (2) question and answer meetings.
(C) The ratification of the negotiated contract must be by a 55% majority of those who vote. The vote will be determined by secret ballot. This vote will occur at the date, place and time set by the WTEA Voting/Rules Committee.
(D) In the event of a tentative contract agreement during a no contract-no work situation the Executive Committee shall call a special meeting of the staff members covered by the agreement within twenty-four (24) hours of said tentative agreement. At this meeting the staff members will be presented with those contract items of primary interest (i.e. salaries, benefits, and working hours). At that time a back to work vote will be taken. A decision to return to work, prior to contract ratification, shall be determined by a simple majority of those covered by the contract.
(E) a member may obtain an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be obtained from the WTEA Voting/Rules Committee Chairperson, voted and returned to the WTEA Voting/Rules Chairperson by the voting member within three (3) calendar days of the vote. Absentee ballots must be returned prior to Election Day to the WTEA Voting/Rules Committee. Photo ID required.
ARTICLE XIII Amendment
These By-Laws shall be amended according to Article VIII of the Constitution.
ARTICLE XIV Constitution and By-Laws Review
The Constitution and By-Laws of the Washington Township Education Association shall be reviewed for possible revision at least every three (3) years.
ARTICLE XV Unification Resolution
Whereas, the Washington Township Education Association is an incorporated organization, that has as its purposes: working for the welfare of children, the improvement of educational and instructional opportunities for all, the development of ethical practices, to secure competitive salaries and other fringe benefits, to improve working conditions, to unify and strengthen the teaching and secretarial professions, to represent individuals and common interests of members before the Board of Education. Whereas, it has always been recommended that active members of the Association shall also be members of the Gloucester County Education Association, the New Jersey Education Association, and the National Education Association. Therefore, be it, resolved that the Washington Township Education Association, in order to better fulfill its stated purposes and objectives, will unify with the Gloucester County Education Association, the New Jersey Education Association, and the National Education Association, this 8th day of February 1971.
Addendum
Dues Increase
WTEA dues will increase each year by twenty-five cents per pay period for total of five dollars a year.
Approved by Executive Committee 3/09/06
Approved by Representative Council 6/01/06
