PREAMBLE

We, the teachers, in order to improve ourselves intellectually and socially, to increase our efficiency as teachers, to raise and maintain a higher standing, to promote loyalty to the profession of teaching, and to create in the district at large a deeper sense and knowledge of the importance of public education and its relation to the general welfare, to ordain and establish this constitution of the U.S. D. #321 Teachers Association (KVEA).

ARTICLE I-Name

The name of this organization shall be: Kaw Valley Education Association or KVEA.

ARTICLE II-Purpose

The purpose of this Association shall be to improve teaching efficiency and to emphasize quality education for children; to encourage the active participation of teachers in the solution of school problems; to improve community relations and to interpret the functions, the problems, and the progress of the schools to the public; to stimulate professional attitudes and a genuine spirit to adhere to the Code of Ethics; to coordinate local action with the National Education Association; to work for professional and economic security of teachers; to sponsor educational, professional and recreational programs for its members.

ARTICLE III-Affiliation

Kaw Valley Education Association shall be affiliated with the Kansas National Education Association and the National Education Association.

ARTICLE IV—Membership

Section I. Active Members:  All teachers and administrators who are actively engaged in teaching with USD #321 area are automatically eligible for membership in the USD #321 Teachers Association upon payment of the annual dues determined annually by the executive board subject to the approval of the association.

Obligations and Privileges of active members of the Association shall be to:

a.       a.       Give support in the development and application of the purposes and programs of the Association.

b.      b.      Pay membership dues promptly.

c.       c.       Vote on all matters submitted to the membership.

d.      d.      Discuss and determine the policies and procedures of the Association.

e.       e.       Hold elective and appointive office in the Association after meeting the basic qualifications for that office.

f.        f.        Participate in Association meetings.

Section 2.  Associate Members:  All teachers and administrators who retire with at least twenty-five years of active teaching service with no less than ten years of such service in USD #321 shall be eligible for associate membership upon payment of dues as herein provided.  An associate member shall not have the right to vote, to serve as a delegate, or to hold elective or appointive office.

ARTICLE V—Meetings

Section 1.  Members of the Association will be notified of upcoming events through the use of the district’s electronic mail system or via district delivery.

Section 2.  Special meetings shall be held at the call of the President or the President shall call a special meeting upon the written request of twenty percent of the members.

Section 3.  The Executive Board and Association shall correspond with each other through the use of the electronic mail system, as needed.  Special meetings and regular meetings may be held at the call of the President or upon the request of a majority of the Board.

Section 4.  The order of business for Association and Executive Board meetings shall be as follows unless changed by the vote of those present:

a.       a.       Call to order

b.      b.      Approval of the minutes of the last meeting

c.       c.       Report of the Treasurer

d.      d.      Reports of the (1) officers, (2) executive board, (3) standing committees

e.       e.       Reports of special committees

f.        f.        Special orders

g.       g.       Unfinished business and general orders

h.       h.       New Business

i.         i.         Adjournment

ARTICLE VI—Officers, Delegates, and Association Representatives

Section 1.  Qualifications

                        Qualifications for President are membership in:

a.       a.       Kaw Valley Education Association

b.      b.      Kansas National Education Association

c.       c.       National Education Association

Section 2.  Officers

            The officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice-President, a secretary, a treasurer, and the state delegate.

            Section 3.  Election 

                        The election of officers and building representatives shall be annually at the spring meeting if needed when a contested position is to be filled.

            Section 4. Term of Office

                        The term of office for the President, the Vice-President, the secretary, and the treasurer shall be for a minimum of one year.  The term of office for building representatives shall be for a minimum of a one-year term and for the delegates a minimum of a two-year term.  Upon election, officers for the ensuing year may proceed with duties and activities that pertain to the term of office for which they were elected.

            Section 5.  President

                        The President shall have the following powers and duties:

a.       a.       To conduct all regular meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board

b.      b.      To serve as an official representative

c.       c.       To be an ex-official member of all committees except auditing and nominating committees

d.      d.      To countersign all orders drawn on the treasury

e.       e.       To be responsible for filing the annual report of activities of the Association in accordance with the KSTA constitution

f.        f.        To perform such other duties as may be prescribed in this constitution or assigned by the Association or by the Executive Board

g.       g.       To serve as a member of the Executive Board during their term as President and for one year thereafter

Section 6.  Vice-President

            The duties of the Vice-President shall be as follows:

a.       a.       In the absence or the inability of the President to act, the Vice-President shall preside as President

b.      b.      If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice-President shall succeed to the presidency for the unexpired term and shall be eligible for the office of President for the following term

Section 7.  Secretary

            The secretary shall:

a.       a.       Keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Association and make a written report thereof to the membership to be distributed prior to the next meeting.

b.      b.      Carry on correspondence as directed by the President

c.       c.       Serve as secretary to the Executive Board

d.      d.      Preserve in a permanent file all records and letters of value to the Association not possessed by the President

e.       e.       Keep an up-to-date list of all names and addresses of the membership

Section 8. Treasurer

            The treasurer shall:

a.       a.       Receive all funds belonging to the Association and pay out the same on orders countersigned by the President

b.      b.      Keep an itemized account of receipts and expenditures

c.       c.       Make written financial reports to the membership regularly

d.      d.      Keep an up-to-date list of all members

The treasurer’s accounts shall be examined annually by an auditing committee of not less than three members, appointed by the President.  The report of the auditing committee shall be made available to the membership.

            Section 9. KSTA Delegate

The state Sectional Delegates shall be elected for two-year rotating terms.  The delegate in his second year shall serve as a State Representative Delegate.  The immediate past President shall be and serve as one of the State Sectional Delegates.  The delegates shall:

a.       a.       Represent the Association at the Sectional and State Delegate Assemblies.

b.      b.      Assist in developing plans to get the opinions of the membership prior to attendance of the Sectional Delegates and the State Delegate Assemblies.

c.       c.       Be responsible for making a report to the membership following the Sectional or State Assemblies.

Section 10.  Association Representatives

            The building representatives will be one representative from each building in the district.

The building representatives shall serve as liaisons between the Association and their teachers and shall perform such other duties as shall pertain to their office.

Vacancies shall be filled by called election in the building affected. 

ARTICLE VII-Executive Board

Section 1.  Composition

            The elected officers, the immediate past President, the state delegate, and the building representatives shall form the Executive Board.

Section 2. Duties

            The Executive Board will transact the business of the Association.  It shall have the following powers and duties as prescribed herein or by the Association:

a.       a.       Approve all committee appointments made by the president.

b.      b.      Fill all vacancies excepting the offices of President and the building representatives.

c.       c.       Provide for a special election in the building affected in the event of vacancy of a building representative

d.      d.      Prepare an annual budget for the fiscal year for presentation and approval by the Association at the first regular meeting.

e.       e.       Set the membership dues after approval of the budget by the Association

f.        f.        Speak and act for the Association with full authority.

ARTICLE VIII--Commissions and Committees-Objectives

Section 1. Chairman   Each committee shall be directed by a chairman whose duty is to guide the committee and lead in planning the agenda, objectives, and procedures.  A file of materials and resources shall be maintained.

Section 2.  Reports   A report of the work done by each committee and its recommendations for action shall be presented to the membership at the direction of the President.  An annual report shall be filed with the secretary with a copy provided to the committee for the ensuing year.

Section 3.  Membership   At least two members of each committee shall be retained for the second term.

Section 4.  Meetings   Each committee shall hold a sufficient number of meetings to conduct the committee.

ARTICLE IX—Committee Duties

Section 1.  Standing Committees   There shall be the following standing committees appointed by the President, subject to the approval of the Executive Board/Association:

            a.  Legislative Committee    The legislative committee shall:

1.      1.      Keep all members informed in legislative matters

2.      2.      Support desirable candidates for election

3.      3.      Establish and maintain good relationships with legislators and congressmen

4.      4.      Encourage teachers to register and vote

5.      5.      Be a source of information for legislators, teachers, and lay public on general and specific needs of education

b.  Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee

The duties of this committee shall be:

1.      1.      To interpret and clarify the Code of Ethics

2.      2.      To review situations reported to be detrimental to the educational program and staff morale

3.      3.      To promote growth in the area of professional rights and responsibilities

c.       c.       Public Relations Committee

The duties of this committee shall be:

1.      1.      To interpret the role and program of the schools to the lay public

2.      2.      To promote increased understanding and support for public education

3.      3.      To foster good will between the schools and the community

4.      4.      To encourage participation in programs such as American Education Week

d.      d.      Salary Committee

The duties of this committee shall be:

1.      1.      To clarify the basic principles of salary scheduling

2.      2.      To study and evaluate the present salary schedule

3.      3.      To assemble facts concerning costs and financial resources for salary

4.      4.      To develop and recommend professional and equitable salary schedules

e.       e.       Professional Negotiations Committee

The duties of this committee shall be:

1.      1.      To propose a negotiating agreement for approval by the Board of Education

2.      2.      To represent the teachers of the district in efforts to reach mutual agreements with the Board of Education

f.        f.        Social Committee/AEW Committee

The duties of this committee shall be:

1.      1.      Make arrangements for meeting facilities

2.      2.      Provide decorations when appropriate

3.      3.      Make arrangements for dinners

g.       g.       Orientation and Courtesy Committee

The duties of this committee shall be:

1.      1.      To acquaint members with the school policies and the education program

2.      2.      To inform new members of the privileges, benefits, and obligations of the Local, State, and National Association

3.      3.      To send cards, flowers in cases of illness or death

4.      4.      To honor retired teachers at a regular meeting

5.      5.      To introduce new teachers at a regular meeting

Section 2.  Special Committees   Special committees as deemed necessary or desirable to implement the purpose and programs of the Association shall be appointed by the president and approved by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE X--Quorum

            A quorum for all meetings of the Association, Executive Board, and all committees shall consist of a majority of the members.   A quorum would also include business conducted through electronic mail. 

ARTICLE XI--Amendments

This constitution may be amended or revised by a two-thirds vote at any regular meeting provided a notice in writing of a proposed revision shall have been filed with the secretary and presented at the meeting proceeding the one at which it is to be voted upon and prior to the voting.

ARTICLE XII—Parliamentary Authority

Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the authority on all questions of procedure not specifically stated in this Constitution.

ARTICLE—Ratification

a.                            a.                  This constitution shall become effective when adopted by the majority of the voting members present.

b.                            b.                  Ratification of the negotiated agreement will be by fifty one percent of the voting certified personnel.

Date of adoption ___________________________

Date revised _______________________________