<Back
to WEA Information>
WATERFORD
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MEA-NEA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I- NAME
Section 1. The name of this non-profit corporation shall be the Waterford Education Association, MEA-NEA, a district of the Michigan Education Association and the National Education Association, incorporated under the laws of the State of Michigan.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSES
Section 1. To work for the welfare of school children, the advancement of education and the improvement of educational 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 professional.
Section 3. To unify and strengthen the teaching profession and to secure and maintain the salaries, retirement, tenure, professional and sick leave, and other working conditions necessary to support teaching as a profession.
Section 4. To enable members 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, as provided by law.
Section 5. To cooperate with parent-teacher associations and other civic bodies having educational objectives, and to aid in interpreting to the public the problems, functions and progress of the public schools.
Section 6. To encourage teachers to exercise their rights and privileges as citizens, and to accept, willingly, leadership in civic affairs.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active membership in the Association shall be open to all professional teaching personnel who hold an earned Bachelor's Degree or higher, and a provisional, permanent, continuing or professional teaching certificate and are employed by the Waterford School District. Active membership shall also be available to those persons employed by the Waterford School District who hold a Vocational or Technical certificate but no earned degree.
Section 2. Active members of this organization shall also be a member of the Michigan Education Association and the National Education Association.
Section 3. Local membership dues, fees and assessments for all membership categories shall be set by the WEA Representative Assembly.
Section 4. Membership and the rights of membership shall be subject to the laws of the State of Michigan.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of this Association shall be the President, Vice President, Preceding Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, Delegates to the M.E.A. Representative Assembly, Delegates to NEA Representative Assembly, one Member-at-Large from the High School Level, one Member-at-Large from the Middle School Level, one Member-at-Large from Special Education and two members-at-Large from the Elementary Level.
Section 2. All officers of the Association must have successfully completed the probationary period with the Waterford School District.
Section 3. All officers shall have a two year term of office. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected in even numbered years . The President and Vice President shall be elected in odd numbered years. Members at large, NEA and MEA Delegates shall have staggered terms. WEA Representative Assembly Delegates shall have a one-year term of office. Members-at-large and MEA Representative Assembly Delegates shall have staggered two-year terms of office.
Section 4. The officers shall perform the usual duties of such offices and such other duties as specified in the By-laws.
ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers of the Association. The Standing Committee Chairpersons, UniServDirector and MEA/NEA Board of Directors shall be ex-officio members without vote.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall be responsible, but not solely responsible, for the initiation of policy recommendations to the WEA Representative Assembly.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall execute policies as established by the WEA Representative Assembly and such other duties as stated in the By-laws.
ARTICLE VI - WEA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
Section 1. The WEA Representative Assembly shall be the policy-making body of the Association. It shall have the authority to establish such policies and programs as it shall deem necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of the Association.
Section 2. The WEA Representative Assembly shall be composed of the officers of the Executive Board, Association Representatives and Chairpersons of Standing Committees. The UniServ Director and MEA/NEA Board of Directors Members shall be ex-officio without vote.
Section 3. Qualifications for Association Representatives and apportionment of same, shall be established in the By-laws.
ARTICLE VI I- STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. There shall be standing committees in the Waterford Education Association comparable to those in the Michigan Education Association and the National Education Association as established in the By-laws.
Section 2. The WEA Representative Assembly may establish special (ad hoc) committees as it deems necessary.
Section 3. All committees shall work for the purposes as stated in the Constitution or as charged by the WEA Representative Assembly.
ARTICLE VIII - AFFILIATION
Section 1. The Association shall be affiliated on a national level with the National Education Association.
Section 2. The Association shall be affiliated on a state level with the Michigan Education Association.
ARTICLE IX- MEETINGS
Section 1. The Association shall conduct a minimum of two general member ship meetings during each school year. The fall meeting shall be held prior to Thanksgiving and the spring meeting during the month of April.
Section 2. Other general meetings may be scheduled or called at the direction of the President, Executive Board, or by a written request of twenty or more members.
ARTICLE X- WATERFORD COORDINATING COUNCIL
Section 1. The Association shall be a member of the Waterford Coordinating Council which employs a full-time Executive Director.
ARTICLE XI - BOARD OF REFERENCE
Section 1. There shall be a Board of Reference, consisting of five members appointed by the president,subject to the approval of the Executive Board, to serve as the judicial branch of the Association.
Section 2. The Board of Reference shall pass judgement on Association members whose conduct is in violation of the Code of Ethics of the National Education Association or the Association's master agreement with the Waterford Board of Education. In addition, the Board of Reference shall pass judgement on Association operation within the framework of the Constitution and By-laws.
ARTICLE XII - RULES FOR AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Section 1. An amendment to this Constitution may be introduced by a member at any meeting of the Executive Board, WEA Representative Assembly, or general membership.
Section 2. A copy of the proposed amendment, with the recommendation of the Executive Board, shall be given to each member of the Association, after which it shall be submitted to a vote of the membership at the next officially called general election. A two-thirds majority of those voting is necessary for adoption.
Constitution last amended by vote of the membership May 9-10, 2000.
BY-LAWS
The Waterford Education Association has the same membership and fiscal year as that of the MEA, (September 1 through August 31).
ARTICLE I - RULES OF ORDER
Section 1. Roberts' Rules of Order (Latest Edition) shall be the standard by which the meetings of the Waterford Education Association, MEA-NEA, shall be conducted.
ARTICLE II - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. President:
a. The President shall be chairperson of the Executive Board and shall be the presiding officer at WEA Representative Assembly meetings.
b. He/she shall prepare and distribute the WEA Representative Assembly meeting agenda at least three school days prior to the meeting.
c. He/she shall perform the usual duties of a presiding officer and shall enforce the observance of the National Education Association, the Michigan Education Association
and the Waterford Education Association, MEA-NEA, Constitution and By-laws.
d. He/she shall appoint the chairpersons of all standing committees, with the approval of the Executive Board.
e. He/she shall appoint chairpersons of special committees, with the approval of the Executive Board.
f. He/she shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.
Section 2. Vice-President:
a. The Vice-President shall be chairperson of the Executive Board in the absence of the President.
b. He/she shall preside at the WEA Representative Assembly meeting in the absence of the President.
c. He/she shall perform other duties as the President may delegate.
Section 3. Past-President:
a. The Past-President shall serve in an advisory capacity to all committees.
b. He/she shall serve as a coordinator to all NEA activities.
Section 4. Secretary:
a. The Secretary shall keep and publish the minutes of each Executive Board, WEA Representative Assembly and General meetings of the Association. The minutes of these meetings shall be sent to each WEA Representative Assembly member
within one week following the meeting.
b. He/she shall perform the usual duties of a corresponding secretary.
Section 5. Treasurer:
a. The Treasurer shall collect all moneys due to the Association, have custody of same and pay all bills approved by the UniServ Director.
b. A report of all financial transactions for the previous month shall be submitted at each WEA Representative Assembly meeting.
Section 6. Delegates to the MEA Representative Assembly:
a. The Delegates to the Representative Assembly are the official representatives of the membership of this Association to the policy-making body of the Michigan Education
Association.
b. They shall keep Association alert to significant actions by the State Association, and issues to be presented to the Representative Assembly.
c. The President and Region Council Delegates of the Waterford Education Association, MEA-NEA, shall be considered elected alternates to the Representative Assembly.
d. The delegates shall be elected according to the Constitution of the Michigan Education Association.
e. Election to the office of President shall constitute election to the MEA-RA.
f. Term of office for each delegate is two years, beginning on August 1.
g. At any time that the representation reaches four or more delegates the Association will elect at least one representative of Third World Persons.
Section 7. a. Members-at-Large shall chair respective level meetings with their Association Representatives; with assignments and meeting schedules to be arranged by the Executive Board.
b. Assure representation of views from their respective levels.
c. Provide assistance to Association Representatives through promotion of Association programs and activities.
d. Assist committee chairpersons in recruitment of all committee members as well as potential officers.
e. Serve as a member on the class size appeal board in regard to their respective levels.
Section 8 - NEA Delegate
a. Shall represent the Waterford Education Association at the NEA Representative Assembly and participate as a member of the WEA Executive Board.
b. Shall assist the WEA in complying with NEA Constitution and Bylaws.
ARTICLE III - ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES
Section 1. Association Representatives shall be active members of the Association, shall have obtained tenure in the Waterford School District, shall maintain their membership in good standing during their term of service. The requirements of tenure may be waived by the President.
Section 2. They shall be elected by secret ballot prior to September 15 and shall assume office immediately. The term of office shall be for one year.
Section 3. In the event the elected representative is unable to complete his term of office, another election by secret ballot shall be held to elect another representative who shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 4. In the event of the opening of a new school, the president of the Association shall conduct an election within 15 school days, the elected representative holding office until the next regular election.
Section 5. Association Representatives:
a. Attend WEA Representative Assembly meetings.
b. Inform the building membership of WEA Representative Assembly action by means of a building meeting or other appropriate communication within five (5) school days of
the WEA Representative Assembly.
c. Assure proper circulation of all association materials.
d. Involve all staff in membership campaigns and gain participation of all in committee work.
e. Keep records of those who participate in Association activities.
f. Keep informed of total building activities, problems and policies and staff reaction.
g. Assist teachers in filing first level grievances and class size appeals.
ARTICLE IV - THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The administration of the Waterford Education Association, MEA-NEA, shall be vested in the Executive Board.
Section 2. It shall plan the course of action for the ensuing year.
Section 3. It shall act as the program planning committee for general membership meetings.
Section 4. It shall review all proposals and make recommendations on same from Association committees.
Section 5. It shall present to the WEA Representative Assembly, for approval, any proposed changes in policies of the Waterford Education Association, MEA-NEA.
Section 6. It shall hold an open meeting at least once during the year.
Section 7. Members of the Executive Board who are absent from three consecutive meetings may no longer be considered a member of the Board. The position may be declared vacant by the Executive Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE V - WEA REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
Section 1. This committee shall consist of the Association Representatives, Executive Board members and standing committee chairpersons. The UniServ Director and MEA-NEA Board of Directors shall be ex-officio members, without vote.
Section 2. A member shall be permitted to address a meeting under rules established by the Waterford Education Association.
Section 3. It shall hold open meetings at least once each month during the school year.
Section 4. It shall serve as the policy-making body of the Waterford Education Association, MEA-NEA.
Section 5. Each school and special group (i.e., elementary music) shall have at least one representative for every twenty teachers or major fraction thereof.
ARTICLE VI - REGION DELEGATES
Section 1. The Delegates to the Region Council are the officers of the Association.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall elect such additional delegates and alternates as are authorized; such delegates and alternates shall be nominated from the general membership.
ARTICLE VII - NEA DELEGATES
Section 1. a. The delegates and successor delegates to the National Education Association Representative Assembly shall be elected for term of two years at the May general election and begin their term on August 1st.
b. NEA/RA delegates are elected in accordance with the one member/ one vote principle.
Section 2. Election to the office of President shall constitute election to the NEA Representative Assembly.
Section 3. The following procedure shall be followed in the selection of delegates:
a. Any member is eligible to be nominated for a delegate position.
b. Nominating petitions must be signed by twenty (20) active members.
c. The necessary number of delegates and minority delegates to meet MEA-NEA requirements shall be determined prior to election.
d. Each member shall vote for the number of delegates to be elected.
e. The candidates shall be ranked in order of votes received. If the necessary number of minority delegates are not ranked in the number to be elected, the bottom name shall
be moved down the list one place and replaced with the first person in the ranking who meets the requirement.
f. All nominees not elected shall be ranked in order of votes received and be classed as successor delegates. The selection of successor delegates shall also be in accordance with the MEA-NEA requirements on minority delegates.
ARTICLE VIII - STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing committees of the Association shall be: (1) Grievance, (2) Public Relations, (3) Professional Negotiations Advisory Committee (PNAC), (4) Negotiations Team, (5) Social, (6) Budget and Finance.
Section 2. The Grievance Committee shall concern itself with implementing the grievance procedure as outlined in the master contract. The chairperson shall have been a member of a previous negotiations committee.
Section 3. The Public Relations Committee shall plan activities to inform and keep the public alerted to the problems, programs and purposes of the school system and the teaching profession. It shall also keep the membership informed on local, state and national programs.
Section 4. Professional Negotiations Advisory Committee will consult with the membership to determine their needs and desires concerning the master contract and shall establish the priorities (based on the membership survey) and advise the Negotiations team on the contract goals of the membership.
Section 5. Negotiations Team shall act in all direct negotiations with the Board of Education or its representative, according to law. It shall include secondary and elementary school representatives and the chairperson of the P.N.A.C., if he/she so desires.
Section 6. The Social committee will assist in planning and organizing the annual WEA Retiree Reception and other social events and activities of the Association.
Section 7. The Budget and Finance Committee will assist the WEA Treasurer in drafting the annual budget and in providing for an annual audit of the books.
ARTICLE IX - GENERAL POLICIES GOVERNING COMMITTEES
Section 1. All Committee Chairpersons shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.
Section 2. The President of the Association shall be a member, ex-officio, of all standing committees.
Section 3. The chairperson of each committee (except the Professional Negotiations Advisory Council and the Negotiations Team) shall appoint committee members and fill any vacancies as they arise.
Section 4. Any member of the Association, who is a member of a state commission or committee shall be a member of the corresponding Association Committee concurrent with his/her term on the state level.
Section 5. At least one member of the Executive Board should be present when any committee meets with the Board of Education or its subcommittees concerning non-contract items.
Section 6. Committee chairpersons shall be prepared to report the committee activities and/or findings to the Executive Board at the request of the Association President.
Section 7. Each Committee chairperson shall submit a detailed report of work done by his/her committee for inclusion in the permanent records of the Association at the final meeting of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE X - BOARD OF REFERENCE
Section 1. The Board of Reference shall be composed of five members appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board and the WEA Representative Assembly. A member must belong to the Association, and not be an Association representative or a member of the Executive Board. The term of office for a member shall be two years with no more than three terms ending in the same year.
Section 2. The first meeting of the Board of Reference each year shall be called by the President, at which time the members of the Board of Reference shall elect their own chairperson. Thereafter, the chairperson of the Board of Reference shall call meetings as necessary. The Executive Board or the WEA Representative Assembly may, by resolution, demand a meeting of the Board of Reference to consider any matter under the jurisdiction of the Board.
Section 3. As the judicial body of the Association, the Board of Reference shall:
a. have judicial power on controversies involving Association members, or Association policies and on all cases arising under this Constitution, By-laws, Code of Ethics, and Master Contract between the Association and the Waterford Board of Education.
b. have the power to censure, or to recommend to the Michigan Education Association or the National Education Association, the suspension or expulsion of any member for cause, after
due notice and with all rights and due process procedures herein guaranteed to the member.
c. have the power to recommend the reinstatement of a suspended or expelled person.
d. shall be guided in its operation by the policy and procedures of the Michigan Education Association Board of Reference.
ARTICLE XI - ELECTIONS
Section 1. The annual election will be held the second Tuesday and Wednesday in May .
Section 2. a.At least 60 days prior to the annual election, the President shall appoint, subject to the approval of the W.E.A. Representative Assembly, the Election Committee.
b. Every active member in good standing shall have the opportunity to vote. All elections shall take place following the one member/one vote principle.
Section 3. The Election Committee:
a. Duties shall be to accept nominations, in writing, from candidates and determine election results (canvassers).
b. In the event an Election Committee member becomes a candidate, he shall withdraw from canvassing responsibilities. Vacancies resulting in such a way may be filled by Presidential appointment.
c. shall report its list of nominees to the WEA Representative Assembly at the meeting preceding the election.
d. Further nominations may be received at a meeting of the WEA Representative Assembly from any member of the Association.
e. The list of the nominees shall be announced and posted in the various buildings at least ten (10) days prior to the election.
f. Ballots will be counted by the Election Committee after 5:00 p.m. on the school day following the election. Ballots not received by that time will not be counted and all members will be so notified.
g. The Election Committee shall count the votes, declare the winners, notify all candidates of the results and inform the general membership of all elections results.
h. The Election Committee will be provided with a copy of the Waterford Education Association, MEA-NEA Constitution & By-laws and other supplies or materials appropriate for determining election results.
i. The Election Committee shall void ballots for the following reasons:
1. Improper marking (not in accordance with instruction).
2. Unofficial ballot
3. Late arrival (not in accordance with Article XI., Sec.3f)
4. If number of ballots exceeds building registration. (All ballots from that one building will be void and all members from there shall be so notified.)
Section 4. Election of all officers, delegates and alternates shall be done by secret ballot. The election of Members-at-Large shall be done by their respective grade levels or Special Education Certification; Elementary teachers may elect the Elementary Member-at-Large; the Middle School teachers, the Middle School Member-at-Large; the High School teachers, the High School Member-at-Large; and the Special Education teachers who are currently teaching in Special Education assignments, the Special Education Member-at-Large.
Section 5. Elections shall be held in each building by the Association Representatives, using official ballots provided in advance. In the event of the absence of Association Representative/s, an alternate may conduct the election.
Section 6. Each member voting must sign a voter roster when receiving a ballot. The WEA office will supply the names of any teacher not eligible to vote to his/her association representative before each election. Ballots will be filled out and immediately returned to the Association Representative/s.
Section 7. As soon as all in a building have voted, the Association Representative will return the
Ballots and roster to the Waterford Education Association office.
Section 8. In the event that a member must be absent from the district or because of professional commitments in the district preventing participation during the election, he may file a written request for an absentee ballot at least three (3) days before the election with his Association Representative or the Waterford Education Association office, and receive a ballot which is to be returned to the Association Representative. In special cases, involving several members in one building, the Association Representative may file a request for absentee ballots providing the election roster is signed by each person voting.
Section 9. In the event of a tie vote for any office, a run-off election will be held the following Wednesday, for that office only.
Section 10. Special Elections may be conducted when necessary, upon recommendations of the Executive Board to the WEA Representative Assembly. In special elections, provisions must be made to receive nominations from the general membership.
Section 11. The officers for the ensuing year (those elected in May), shall assume their duties August 1.
Section 12.* a. The President will file a report of local elections with the MEA no later than 30 days following the election; except in the case of MEA/RA elections which results will be transmitted to the MEA within 10 days after the election.
* b. Ballots and all records pertaining to the elections of RA delegates shall be preserved for one year and shall be kept in the custody of the President of the Association .
ARTICLE XII - INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
Section 1. An initiative petition signed by fifteen percent or more of the active members of the Association requesting that a proposal affecting the Association or its activities be submitted to a vote of the active membership, may be submitted to the President. The Executive Board shall then publicize such proposal in the next official publication of the Association. Within forty school days after the presentation of the petition, the Executive Board shall submit the proposal to a vote of the membership. If the proposal is approved by a majority of the active members voting, the Executive Board and the WEA Representative Assembly shall place such proposal into effect.
Section 2. A referendum petition, signed by fifteen percent or more active members of the Association, requesting that any action or proposed action of the Executive Board or of the WEA Representative Assembly be referred to a vote of the membership may be presented to the President. The Executive Board shall then publicize such proposal in the next official publication of the Association. Within forty school days after the presentation of the petition, the Executive Board shall submit the proposal is approved by a majority of the active members voting, the Executive Board and the WEA Representative Assembly shall place such proposal into effect.
Section 3. A recall petition signed by fifteen percent or more active members of the Association, requesting that an Executive Board member be recalled, because of not fulfilling his/her duties, may be presented to the President. The Executive Board shall then publicize such proposal in the next official publication of the Association. Within forty school days after the presentation of the petition, the Executive Board shall submit the question of the recall of such Board member to a vote of the active membership. If two-thirds of the active members vote to recall such Board member, his/her office shall be declared vacant.
ARTICLE ARTICLE XIII - FILLING VACANCIES
Section 1. President - the Vice-President shall assume the duties of President in case of vacancy in that office. In the event of his/her inability to serve, the Executive Board shall conduct an election to fill the vacancy Pro Tempore in that office.
Section 2. Other vacancies: The President will fill vacancies to said positions on the advice of the Executive Board subject to confirmation by the WEA Representative Assembly.
ARTICLE XIV - CONTRACT RATIFICATION
Section 1. Ratification of the successor master agreements or extensions of master agreements between the Waterford Education Association, MEA-NEA and the Waterford School District shall require approval of the Region 7 Coordinated Bargaining Committee,according to its By-laws, prior to presentation to the general membership.
Section 2. The ratification will take place at a publicly announced general meeting.
Section 3. A majority of the active membership present and voting is required to authorize official action. A secret ballot will be distributed, marked, returned and counted by the election committee, if requested by any member.
Section 4. Only a proposed contract tentatively agreed to by an officially impaneled WEA bargaining team may be submitted to the membership for a ratification vote.
Section 5. Only members in good standing may vote on ratification.
ARTICLE XV - AMENDING THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. The By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at any regular WEA Representative Assembly meeting, provided a notice, in writing, of a proposed amendment shall have been filed with the secretary and presented at a meeting of the Association preceding the one at which action will take place.
Bylaws last amended by vote of the Represenative Assembly on March 15, 2004