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Policies and Procedures for Conducting Elections and Filling Vacancies
- Policies Related to Fiscal Issues
1. The newly elected JCEA President shall appoint a committee to review the Board of Directors Policies. Committee recommendations shall be made to the Board of Directors no later than January 1.
2. JCEA meeting dates shall be cleared with the buildings involved and reported to Mary E. Devin Center for Education Support for inclusion in the District Calendar. (2/4/97)
3. Agenda of the Board of Directors shall be posted in each building prior to each meeting.
4. The secretary’s minutes shall be edited by the JCEA President and posted in each building.
5. Roll call shall be included in the minutes of each meeting.
6. Constitution changes shall take effect as soon as the ballots are tabulated unless otherwise stated.
7. The JCEA secretary shall keep on file the official copy of the JCEA Board of Directors policies.
8. Teachers employed half-time or less shall be charged half amount of JCEA dues.
9. Teachers terminating their employment with the district during the school year may have the dues amount adjusted commensurate with the fractional part of the school year which they were actually employed by the school district.
10. Those persons joining the Junction City Education Association as an active member for the first time shall be enrolled in full standing for the remainder of the membership year by paying the amount of annual local dues which is commensurate with the remaining portion of the membership year. National and state dues will be set in accordance with policies set by NEA and KNEA. (2/4/97)
11. In accordance with the state and national policy, the JCEA cannot authorize the renewal of a member in the Junction City Education Association if that person has an unpaid balance on their dues from a previous year(s).
12. JCEA members who desire refund of their K-PAC contribution shall submit a completed K-PAC Refund Application Form to the membership chairperson prior to January 1 of each year. The names of these members shall be forwarded to the appropriate Political Action Committee Treasurer for payment. K-PAC refund requests made after January 1 shall not be honored.
13. Categories, definitions and privileges of membership shall be:
ACTIVE: open to any person employed by USD 475 of who is on a limited leave of absence from USD 475, or who is serving as an executive officer of the Association. Active members shall hold a baccalaureate or higher degree or the regular teaching, vocational or technical certification required by the employment. Active Membership shall be open to all members of the bargaining unit and all administrative personnel. Those employed on a permanent or contractual basis as a substitute shall be eligible for Active membership. Privileges of Active Members shall include: voting on all matters submitted to the membership; holding elective and appointed positions after meeting stated qualifications; attending JCEA meetings; receiving publications and reports; and receiving services available to Active Members.
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL: open to any person employed by USD 475 who is not eligible for Active membership, including a person who is on a limited leave of absence from such employment. Educational support members shall have all the rights and privileges of Active membership including the right to vote and hold elective or appointive office. (1/6/98)
SUBSTITUTE: open to educational employees who meet the qualification for active membership but who are employed on a day-to-day basis. Privileges of substitute members shall include receiving official publications of the Association and attending JCEA meetings. Substitute members shall not have the right to hold elective office or to vote.
ASSOCIATE: open to any person who is interested in advancing the cause of public education but who is not eligible for any other class of membership. Privileges of associate members shall include receiving official publications of the association.
CONTINOUS MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS, PRIVILEES AND SERVICES: Members of the Junction City Education Association (JCEA) shall be afforded all rights, privileges, and services of their membership classification beginning with the date of their enrollment in the Association. These rights, privileges and services will continue so long as the membership remains in force. Under no circumstances can the rights, privileges of services be afforded to members on a retroactive basis in order to cover a period of time prior to membership enrollment.
JCEA members serving as Armed Forces reservists or in the National Guard on active duty beyond normal peace time responsibilities shall be issued a complimentary membership for the period of time they serve on active duty. Such membership will include all rights and privileges of Active members except the right to vote in association elections.
Bargaining unit members who have been terminated due to a reduction in force and who are Association members at the time of termination shall be entitled to request JCEA services and/or assistance in and when a recall procedure is implemented. The extent to which services are granted shall be subject to the Legal Services Guidelines of the Kansas NEA. (5/9/2006)
14. JCEA Board of Directors Policies shall be posted in the buildings.
15. The JCEA President shall give an annual report at the annual General Membership Meeting.
16. JCEA shall send flowers or make an appropriate donation in case of the death of a member. An appropriate item shall also be sent to the JCEA elected officers in case of serious personal illness or death in the immediate family as defined in the negotiated agreement. An appropriate item shall be sent to the superintendent and the assistant superintendent in case of serious personal illness or death in the immediate family as defined in the negotiated agreement. These are to be paid out of the JCEA budget.
17. Retired teachers shall have an open invitation to attend meetings and/or functions of the JCEA.
18. JCEA each year shall submit the name of a candidate for the Master Teacher Award to the appropriate institution as designated by the Board of Directors.
JCEA shall cooperate with the Board of Education in nominating two (2) classroom teachers, one (1) elementary and one (1) secondary, as Kansas Teacher of the Year. The president shall appoint to the selection committee a number of Association members equal to at least half the committee membership. The remainder of the committee shall be appointed by the Board of Education.
19. JCEA will pay the same mileage rate for Association business as KNEA.
20. All committee actions shall be reported to the Board of Directors. Actions involving expenditures over the budgeted line item amount shall be approved by the Board of Directors if timeliness permits. If timeliness does not permit, such expenditures will be approved by the Executive Committee.
21. No Association member holding elective or appointed office in the National Education Association, Kansas-NEA, UniServ District, or the Junction City Education Association will provide assistance to a non-member in matters related to employment with USD # 475 or in matters related to job performance with USD #475.
The JCEA President may provide services to a non-member when, in the President’s opinion, such services are in the best interest of the Association. The Board of Directors shall be kept informed of all such instances.
This policy will not be interpreted in such a way as to deny to any member of the bargaining unit any services that the Association is required to provide as the recognized bargaining agent. (2/9/93)
23. Payment of stipends for the officers of the Association will take place in two parts. One-half of the stipends will be paid at the last Board of Directors’ meeting of the calendar year. The final one-half of the stipends will be paid at the June Board meeting. An officer may request the treasurer hold the entire stipend for one payment. In this event, the entire stipend will be paid at the May Board meeting. The one exception to this will be the membership chairpersons’ stipend. The stipend for this position will be paid in full at the last Board meeting of the calendar year.
24. No dues dollars shall be spent on alcoholic beverages.
Policies and Procedures for Conducting Elections and Filling Vacancies
1. All JCEA elections shall be conducted with open nominations and secret ballots. A plurality of votes shall be sufficient to elect.
2. Nominations for executive officers shall be due by the last day of February.
3. Elections for executive offices shall coincide with elections held for KNEA offices, i.e., they shall take place no later than March 31.
4. Nominations for executive office shall take place on the approved form. (Appendix A).
5. Nominations for the Board of Directors shall be taken after the completion of the election for executive officers.
6. Nominations for JCEA Board of Directors shall be made on the approved form. (Appendix B).
7. Nominations and elections as delegates to the KNEA Representative Assembly shall take place when JCEA is notified by KNEA of the number of delegates permitted.
8. Nominations and elections for the delegates to the KNEA Representative Assembly shall be repeated in the fall to fill vacancies.
9. Terms for KNEA RA delegates shall be three (3) years.
10. Nominations for delegates to the KNEA Representative Assembly shall be on the approved form.
11. Election to the UniServ Coordinating Council shall be by the Board of Directors from those elected to be delegates to the KNEA Representative Assembly.
12. The constitutional requirement of “leadership experience” for election to an executive office is defined as serving the Association in any way, including, but not limited to, membership on an Association committee, appointment to a USD #475 committee by the Association President, service as an Association Building Representative, election to the KNEA or NEA Representative Assemblies, serving on a KNEA or UniServ Commission or Committee, attendance at KNEA’s Summer Leadership Academy or participating in any other training provided by the Association.
13. JCEA election results shall be made public as soon as the ballots are counted. Election results shall be posted in each building within a week of the election.
14. A short biography about candidates for all offices shall be sent to every member at least one week before elections.
15. Vacancies for the offices of Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer will be filled by an all member mailing soliciting members interested in serving in any of these offices.
Interested members shall fill out an application form and forward it to the President along with a statement of qualifications for serving as an executive officer of JCEA.
The Board of Directors will select the most qualified person to fill the vacancy.
The length of the term will be until the next regularly scheduled election. (2/4/97)
16. Vacancies for the Board of Directors will be filled by an all members mailing soliciting members interested in serving on the Board of Directors.
Current members of the Board of Directors will select the most qualified person(s) to fill the vacancy(ies).
The length if their term will be one year or until the next election.
Policies Relating to Negotiations
1. The bargaining unit shall be polled by building to establish priorities for professional negotiations.
2. The Negotiations Team will submit the tentative agreement to the Board of Directors for review and approval. Upon approval by the Board of Directors, it will be presented to the bargaining unit for ratification. If the Board of Directors does not approve it, it will go back to the table for more negotiations.
3. The vote on ratification of the professional negotiation agreement shall be by building or by mailing if necessary, according to the professional negotiation team.
4. Items submitted in accordance with Article II, Paragraph A of the Negotiated Agreement will be transmitted to the Representative Council two weeks prior to any regular or special meeting called to deal with the item. (2/4/97)
5. Any vote on ratification to amend the negotiated agreement between formal negotiating sessions as provided for in Article II of that document shall be a recorded roll call vote. A majority affirmative vote of the members of the Representative Council as described in article IX of the JCEA Constitution shall be required for ratification. (1/6/98)
Policies Relating to the Spring Banquet
1. The retiring JCEA President shall be presented a plaque at the JCEA Spring Banquet.
2. A gift from the JCEA shall be given to retiring teachers who have members of the Junction City Education Association for the previous five years.
3. Twenty-five year service award certificates shall be given to JCEA teachers who have completed twenty-five years of teaching and have been members of the UEP for the previous five years.
4. The following persons shall be invited to attend the JCEA Spring Banquet at the expense of the Association: (1) Each retiring JCEA member and a guest; (2) Friends of Education Winners and guest; (3) Master Teacher nominee and guest; (4) USD # 475’s nominee(s) for Kansas Teacher of the Year and guest; (5) 25 year teachers who are currently members of the Association (3/16/95), and (6) executive officers of the Association (8/4/03), and (7) JCEA Horizon award winner and guest (5/8/07).
5. A boutonniere or corsage will be provided for the following people:JCEA Retiring teachers, Geary County Master Teacher, JCEA Geary County Kansas Teachers of the Year, JCEA 25 Year teachers, Friends of Education, and JCEA Horizon award winners.
(Adopted 5/8/07)
Policies Related to JCEA Scholarship
1. The Junction City Education Association shall continue to provide a scholarship in the amount of $500 (or an amount less than that given to a valedictorian or co-valedictorian) to the Salutatorian of Junction City High School according to procedures adopted by the JCEA Board of Directors.
A special fund shall be established out of which the scholarship shall be paid.
Funding for the scholarship shall be from the following sources:
1. Dues from members: $500 shall be transferred each year from the JCEA General Fund to the Scholarship Fund. This funding source shall be discontinued when the JCEA Board of Directors determines that the fund has become self-sustaining.
2. The JCEA Board of Directors shall have the authority to accept other donations.
3. Interest on the funds in this account.
(Adopted at the General Membership Meeting, May 20, 1993. Amended by Board of Directors February 4, 1997.)
Policies Related to Teachers' Rights
1. The teachers' rights committee shall be composed of at least four members and shall be configured in the following way: at least one (1) high school teacher; at least one (1) middle school teacher; at least one (1) teacher from an elementary school on Fort Riley; and at least one elementary teacher from an elementary school off Fort Riley. At least one of the members shall be a member of the board of directors. The president shall appoint the members and the chair, with approval of the board of directors. The president shall arrange for the committee to receive the training necessary for the carrying out of their charge.
2. The teachers’ rights committee shall:
- Inform members of both their rights and their professional responsibilities.
· Investigate violations of the negotiated agreement, unreasonable or inequitable administrative acts or other violations of the teachers' rights.
· As needed, meet with any teacher or group of teachers to discuss problems involving working conditions and educational climate.
· Counsel members regarding actions on the part of the employer that might constitute violations and assist those offended to identify alternatives that might provide relief.
· Accompany teacher members in employment related meetings with administrators.
· Assure that the Association's interests are not compromised in the course of all proceedings, including those proceedings involving teachers who are not Association members, and/or teachers who do not choose to proceed with a grievance or other formal actions.
· Propose to the Board of Directors and/or Representative Council positions and/or action plans related to alleged violations of teachers' rights.
· Facilitate the filing of and processing of grievances.
· Propose to the Professional Negotiations Committee needed improvement to the negotiated agreement.
· Report to the President, the Board of Directors, and the Representative Council the status of all teachers' rights problems.
· Issue an annual report to the membership on teachers' rights.
3. Members of the committee shall be the designated teachers' rights representatives for each of these buildings:
· High School (including the Alternative Education Center and Administration Center
· Middle Schools
· City Elementary Schools (including Milford and Grandview Plaza)
· Fort Elementary Schools
Association members will receive information informing them of: the members of the Teachers' Rights Committee, along with the building assignment for each committee member.
The steps to follow when a teacher has a concern:
1. Talk to Building Representative
2. Call the appropriate Teachers' Rights Committee member
3. Call the Association President
(Adopted by the Board of Directors at the April 6, 1999 Board of Directors' meeting.)
Policies Related to Maintaining Contact with BOE Members
1. At least twice a year, a team of JCEA Board members (three or more) shall take two members of the USD # 475 Board of Education to dinner. The Fort Riley Representative shall also be included.
2. The first dinner shall take place after the October meeting of the Board of Directors; the second dinner after the February meeting.
3. At the meeting of the Board of Directors prior to the date of the dinners, the Board shall put together a set of talking points, which could be used by the Association team at these dinners.
4. All Board members shall be asked to participate in this effort. Board members shall have the opportunity to pick the BOE member(s) they want to lobby.
(Adopted by the Board of Directors at the May 10, 1999 Board of Directors' meeting.)
Policies Related to Fiscal Issues
1. Any commitment to overexpend a line item in the JCEA Budget by more than 15% must be approved by the President and reported to the Board. (2003)
2. Whenever possible, any commitment to overexpend a line item in the JCEA Budget by more than 15% will not be made without notification to the Board of Directors. If prior notification is not possible, such overexpenditure will be reported to the Board of Directors at its next meeting. (2003)
3. The Board of Directors must approve any commitment to overexpend by more than 15% the total budgeted amount in a division of the JCEA Budget. (2003)
4. All checking accounts maintained by and for the Association’s General Fund by JCEA shall require two signatures for checks to be valid. Whenever possible, the persons signing checks for the Association should be the President and Treasurer. A minimum of three and maximum of four authorized signatories (including the President and Treasurer) shall be maintained on all bank accounts belonging to the Association, so that business can be conducted in the absence of one or more authorized persons. The Board of Directors shall appoint the signatories other than President and Treasurer. (2003)
