NORTHAMPTON ASSOCIATION of SCHOOL EMPLOYEES Constitution and Bylaws

(Revised April 2015)

I. NAME The name of this organization will be the Northampton Association of School Employees, Inc. II. PURPOSE A. To maintain and improve the quality of education for all. B. To uphold high professional standards and to advance the socio-economic well-being of educators. C. To engage in any other related activity as is consistent with the law. III. MEMBERSHIP Any regularly appointed teacher, supervisor, administrator, secretary, educational support professional, library aide, nurse, cafeteria worker, custodian or bus driver in the public schools of the city, or Smith Vocational School may become a member of the NASE by paying the three-way membership dues: NASE, MTA, and NEA. IV. OFFICERS The officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publications Officer and Grievance Chairperson. In addition, each bargaining unit represented by the NASE shall elect, to the same term of office as the President of the Association, a Chapter Coordinator, who shall be entitled to a seat on the Executive Board. V. EXECUTIVE BOARD There shall be an Executive Board of which the aforesaid officers plus the Past-President shall be members. VI. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of: A. The members of the Executive Board. B. Two (2) delegates from each school representing the teacher chapter. C. Two (2) at -large delegates representing each other chapter. D. Each school will also be entitled to one (1) delegate (from any chapter) for every additional fifteen (15) members beyond the first thirty (30) members in the building. VII. POWERS OF THE OFFICERS PRESIDENT A. Shall be empowered to call: meetings of the Executive Board, the Executive Committee, and general membership meetings. Shall be compelled to call special meetings of the Executive Board or Executive Committee upon written request of three (3) members; and general meetings upon the written request of fifteen (15) members. B. Shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and the Executive Committee. C. Shall appoint sub-committees when necessary. D. Shall be empowered to determine what an emergency is. E. After the completion of the term, the President becomes a voting member of the Executive Committee and will act as an advisor to the new President.

F. The President shall be elected for a two-year term and may run for successive terms without limits. G. The President will receive $3,000 per annum and will have three-way dues paid by the NASE. H. Shall represent the Association before the administration, the School Committee, Smith Vocational School Board of Trustees, the media, and all affiliated organizations. I. Shall attend meetings of the Northampton School Committee and Smith Vocational Board of Trustees; or assign members of the Executive Board, on a rotating basis, to attend those meetings. J. Shall present a report at the Executive Committee meeting, orally if present or in writing if unable to attend, describing his/her actions on behalf of the Association, progress on issues affecting members, and other matters of interest to the Executive Committee. K. Shall maintain all membership records for all units and act as liaison between Chapter Coordinators, HR, MTA, and NASE Treasurer. Shall be responsible for new hires, terminations, retirees, and current membership. VICE-PRESIDENT A. Shall be empowered to assume all of the duties of the President during the President’s absence. B. The Vice-President will act as assistant to the President. C. The Vice-President will have three-way dues paid by the NASE and receive $1,250 per annum. D. Shall represent the Association when directed before the administration, the School Committee, Smith’s Board of Trustees, local, state, and national professional organizations. E. Shall perform such other duties as properly pertain to the office or as directed by the Executive Board or the Executive Committee. F. Shall be responsible for keeping membership informed of all legislative matters of concern to said members. G. Shall perform the function of the Association Parliamentarian. TREASURER A. Shall be empowered to collect, hold, and disperse the funds of the Association with the approval of the Executive Committee. B. Shall prepare periodic reports of the financial condition of the Association for Executive Committee and/or the Annual Meeting. C. Will receive $1050 per annum and have three-way dues paid by the NASE. SECRETARY A. Shall be in charge of correspondence concerning the business of the Executive Board and the Executive Committee. B. Shall be responsible for keeping the NASE Constitution and By-Laws updated and for keeping the Executive Board and Executive Committee informed of all constitutional obligations. C. Shall be empowered to record and keep all minutes of meetings of the Executive Board and the Executive Committee and shall submit a written report of the Executive Committee meeting minutes to the respective Association bodies. D. Will have three-way dues paid by the NASE and receive $750 per annum.

GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR A. Shall be in charge of maintaining membership of said committee according to Bylaws, especially building representation. B. Shall keep the Executive Board privy to all information relative to contract maintenance issues necessary to keep policy up to date for the Association, and especially relative to maintaining collective bargaining posture and dealing with new issues and new strategic implementation. C. Shall assist the other officers of the Executive Board in executing their responsibilities wherever and whenever the need shall arise, as assigned by the President. D. Will have three-way dues paid by NASE and receive $750 per annum. CHAPTER COORDINATOR A. Shall have full voting rights on the Executive Board. B. Shall be empowered to call meetings of the bargaining unit which she/he represents. C. Shall be the contact person for all negotiations issues, grievances, and any other matters of importance to the purpose of the Association; provided that such authority shall not be exercised contrary to the overall purpose of the NASE. D. Shall appoint the negotiations team for his/her unit, subject to the approval of the Executive Board, and policies as established by the NASE. E. Shall coordinate the processing and resolution of employee complaints and grievances with the Grievance Committee and the Grievance Committee Chair. F. Chapter Coordinators will have their three-way dues paid by NASE. In addition, Chapter Coordinators representing chapters with 51 -100 members will be paid a stipend of $250, 101-200 members will be paid a stipend of $300; 201 or more members will be paid a stipend of $350. G. Shall act as liaison between the President and chapter members. H. Shall distribute new member materials and contracts, collect completed forms, and distribute agency fee materials when necessary. PUBLICATIONS OFFICER A. Shall maintain the NASE web presence. B. Shall chair the Public Relations Committee. C. Will have their three-way dues paid by the NASE. D. Will be appointed by the President. VIII. POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE A. Shall transact all business pertaining to the Association other than those items later enumerated in this Constitution. (See X, XIV, XV.) B. Shall arrange for periodic audits of the accounts of the Treasurer. IX. POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD In cases of emergencies, the Executive Board shall be empowered to transact all necessary business without the approval of the Executive Committee. X. ELECTIONS The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Grievance Committee Chair shall be elected by ballot at the Annual Meeting of the Association. Any member in good standing is eligible to run for office. Within one (1) week after the Annual Meeting, the

President shall appoint one (1) member in each school to supervise an election by ballot of delegates to serve on the Executive Committee, and their names shall be forwarded by said appointee to the Secretary. XI. TERM OF OFFICE The term of office of the officers of the Association shall extend from July 1 following the Annual meeting to June 30 the following year. A transition period for the newly elected officers shall occur from the time of the Annual Meeting until they assume their offices. XII. VACANCIES A vacancy on the Executive Committee may be filled for the unexpired term by a special election at any time by the members in whose representation it occurs. A vacancy among the officers shall be filled for the unexpired term from the Executive Committee. In the event of a deadlock in the Executive Committee, a vacancy in the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Grievance Chair shall be filled for the unexpired term by a vote from the floor at a general meeting of the NASE. XIII. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS Any officer of the NASE may be removed from holding office. Removal procedure will consist of the following steps: A. A petition requesting a special meeting for the purpose of removing an officer must be presented to the delegates at a regularly scheduled meeting. Said petition must have at least ten (10) signatures of current members. B. Delegates will vote on said petition. If a majority favors removal, a special meeting of the Association will be set up within two (2) weeks. C. If two-thirds (2/3) of those members present at the special meeting vote for removal, the officer is immediately relieved of all duties. Salary will be pro-rated for percent of term served. D. A special election will be held within one (1) month to fill the vacancy. XIV. MEETINGS A. The Annual Meeting of the Association for the election of officers and for further business and reports shall be held on the last Wednesday in April. The Executive Committee shall decide upon the number and the character of all other Association meetings. B. The Executive Committee shall meet once a month during the school year. C. The Executive Board shall meet at least once a month. This meeting should occur before the regularly scheduled Executive Committee meeting, and its business shall include construction of an agenda for said committee meeting. XV. DUES A. Each member of the Association shall pay annual dues, the sum of which shall be determined at the Annual Meeting by a majority vote of those present. Dues will either be deducted through the payroll office or paid in full to the NASE Treasurer by December 31st of each year. B. Special assessments may be voted by a majority of those present at any regular or special meeting of the Association. Such assessments may be used for general operating expenses or special projects.

XVI. ADOPTIONS AND AMENDMENTS A. This Constitution may be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of any general meeting of the Association of this city at which not less than one-half (1/2) of the members in this city shall be present. B. This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the Association by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present provided that the proposed amendment or amendments have been presented in written form to the members of the Association’s Executive Committee at least ten (10) days before the meeting at which the vote is to be taken. Such amendments must be read and explained to the members of the Association before a vote is taken. XVII. QUORUM A. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Association membership shall constitute a quorum at a regular meeting. B. Twenty-five percent (25%) of Chapter membership shall constitute a quorum for a Chapter meeting. C. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the delegates and officers present shall constitute a quorum for an Executive Committee meeting. D. A quorum for Executive Board and standing committees shall be a majority of the members. XVIII. STANDING COMMITTEES A. Public Relations B. Professional Improvement/Negotiating C. Scholarship D. Nominating E. Grievance XIX. POLICIES A. Scholarship to High School Student (Amount to be determined by a majority vote of the members at the Annual Meeting.) B. Affiliated with the MTA and NEA. C. Send delegation to the NEA Convention (Budget to be decided by the Executive Committee). D. Send delegation to the MTA Convention (Budget to be decided by the Executive Committee). E. Negotiation Teams: 1. Membership on all of the following negotiating teams is contingent upon being a member in good standing of the NASE. 2. Teams shall be made up of NASE members from the public school system who will negotiate with the Northampton School Committee and NASE members from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School who will negotiate with the SVAHS Board of Trustees. 3. Teams should be representative of all members of the Chapter; i.e.:

Teachers: Teachers’ Team should include teachers from senior high, middle school, and elementary, counselors, coordinators, department heads, special education, coaches, etc.

Administrators: Administrators’ Team should include elementary, middle school, senior high, directors, etc.

Nurses: Nurses’ Team should include nurses from elementary, middle school and high school.

Smith School: Smith School teachers should include academic teachers, trade teachers, special education, counselors, etc.

Educational Support Professionals: Educational Support Professionals Team should include ESP’s from elementary, middle school, and senior high, and the special collections, etc.

Secretaries: Secretarial Team should include secretaries from the district administrative offices, elementary school, middle school, and high school. Cafeteria Workers: Cafeteria Workers Team should include cafeteria workers from the elementary schools, middle school, and high school.

Custodial Workers/Bus Drivers: Custodial Workers/Bus Drivers Team should include custodial workers/bus drivers from the elementary schools, middle school, and high school.

(Any new chapter’s team should be made up in a similarly representative manner.) 4. At least one (1) member of each Negotiating Team shall have served during the previous round of negotiations. 5. Membership of each team shall be approved by the Executive Board. 6. The President of the NASE or the President’s designee shall be a member of all chapter teams. 7. Each team shall elect a chairperson and a secretary. 8. Teams shall report to the Executive Committee as necessary. F. Finance: The Executive Board is to submit a budget to the Executive Committee for approval by the time of the first meeting of new delegates in June. The funds of the Association may be expended only in matters consistent with the objectives of the Association. G. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of representatives from each public school level and from the Vocational School. Requests for volunteers for this committee shall be made at the February delegates meeting. No person considering running for office can be a member of the Nominating Committee. H. The Grievance Committee shall be composed of one (1) member from Northampton High School, one (1) from the middle school, one (1) from the elementary schools, one (1) member from Administrators’ Chapter and one (1) member from the Smith Vocational and Agricultural Chapter. This committee shall develop Association positions on all matters pertaining to rights of Association members, especially grievance procedures.