CONSTITUTION

Article I - Name

The name of this association shall be the Kenmore Teachers Association.

Article II - Purpose

Section 1 - To work for the welfare of the school children, the advancement of
education, and the improvement of instructional 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 the teaching
profession.

Section 3 - To develop and promote a continuing program to improve

instructions, salaries, fringe benefits, and working conditions through formal
negotiations with the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Board of Education as the
exclusive representative of the Union Free School District #1 and in compliance with the
current laws of New York State.

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.

Section 5 - To hold property and funds and to employ a staff for the attainment of
these purposes.

Section 6 - To promote the aims and objectives of the New York State United
Teachers and its national affiliates.

Article III - Membership

Section 1 - Active Members

a. Active membership in the Association shall be open to all professional

personnel employed in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda public schools. Every
member in good standing of this organization shall have equal rights and privileges to
nominate candidates to hold office, to vote in elections or referendum, to attend
membership meetings, and to participate in deliberations and voting upon the business
of the organization.

b. Active membership shall be continuous until the member leaves the

school system, resigns from the Association, fails to pay membership dues, or has
membership revoked under Article III, Section 2.

c. Part-time teachers, substitutes, retired teachers, and teachers on leave

may become active members per conditions established by the Executive Board.

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 Section 2 - Discipline of Members

a. According to procedures adopted by the Representative Assembly, the

Executive Board may suspend from membership or expel any member who has acted
against the interest of this Association.

b. No member may be fined, suspended, expelled or otherwise disciplined

(except for nonpayment of dues) unless served with written specific charges, given a
reasonable time to prepare a defense, and afforded a full and fair due process hearing
before the Representative Assembly. Disciplinary action requires a two-thirds vote.

Section 3 - This organization shall show no discrimination towards any individual

or group of individuals on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, creed, color,
marital status, race, national origin, or political activities and beliefs.

Article IV - Officers

The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a First Vice-

President, a Second Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Article V - Executive Board

Section 1 - The Executive Board shall consist of the officers and five members
elected at large. It shall be the executive authority of the Association.

Section 2 - The Executive Board shall have power to employ a staff for the
efficient management of the Association and adopt personnel policies for this staff.

Section 3 - The Executive Board shall elect the trustees of the Kenmore
Teachers Association Welfare Trust.

Section 4 - Whenever a majority of the Executive Board or the members of the

Representative Assembly shall agree that a member of the Executive Board has been
grossly negligent of the duties as defined in the Bylaws, such board member will be
provided with specific, written charges. After the member has been given a reasonable
time to prepare a defense, he/she shall be afforded a full and fair due process hearing
before the Representative Assembly. Following the hearing, the Representative
Assembly may decide by a two-thirds majority vote to discipline the member. In the
extreme, this action could result in the position being declared vacant.

Section 5 - Upon a vacancy occurring in the position of Second Vice-President,

Recording Secretary, or an At-Large member of the Executive Board, the following
procedure shall apply:
• If the vacancy is for less than a year, the President shall appoint a replacement
subject to the majority approval at the next meeting of the Representative Assembly.
• If the vacancy is for more than one year, a special election shall be held.

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Article VI - Representative Assembly

Section 1 - The policy-forming body of the Association shall be the

Representative Assembly.

Section 2 - The Representative Assembly shall consist of one or more

representatives from each school faculty and the central administration office, and
chairpersons of the standing committees.

Section 3 - Members of the Executive Board shall be members of the

Representative Assembly without vote.

Section 4 - Any member of the Association who is not a member of the

Assembly may attend its meetings, shall sit apart from the voting body, but may receive
permission to speak.

Article VII - Amendments

The membership may adopt amendments to this constitution by a two-thirds

majority of those voting, provided that the proposed amendments have been submitted
by 10% of the membership and have been distributed to the membership two weeks
prior to the referendum.

Adopted 3/2/99

BYLAWS

Article I - Meetings

Section 1 - Executive Board - The Executive Board shall meet on a monthly

meeting schedule, at the call of the President, or at the request of three members of the
Board.

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 Section 2 - Representative Assembly - The Representative Assembly shall
normally meet on the first Wednesday of October, December, February, April, and
June. The Executive Board shall prepare a tentative agenda for each meeting and
circulate it to all members of the Assembly so that representatives have time to discuss
it with constituents in advance of the Assembly meeting. The Executive Board, as
necessary, shall assign officers to specific buildings to assist faculty representatives in
such discussions.

Section 3 - Special Meetings - Special meetings of the Representative Assembly

may be held at the call of the President or upon written request to the Executive Board
from ten faculty representatives. Business to come before special meetings must be
stated in the call, which shall be sent in writing to each representative. Business shall
be confined to those items, except that new business may be introduced by a two-thirds
vote of the Representative Assembly.

Section 4 - General Membership Meetings - The Executive Board or

Representative Assembly may arrange meeting of the members as deemed necessary.

Article II - Quorum

A majority of their members shall be a quorum for the Representative Assembly,

Executive Board, and committees.

Article III - Duties of the Officers

Section 1 - President - The President shall

a. be chief executive officer of the Kenmore Teachers Association.

b. administer all affairs and execute all policies of the organization.

c. preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and general membership.

d. appoint members and establish the function of all committees with the
approval of a majority of the Executive Board.

e. call regular and special meetings of the Executive Board and general
membership.

f. fulfill other such duties as the office requires and as are consistent with this
constitution.

g. appoint a member to chair and conduct the annual VOTE/COPE drive.

h. serve as the First Delegate to all state and national conventions of affiliates.

Section 2 - First Vice-President - The First Vice-President shall perform the

functions usually attributed to that office and as assigned by the President. The First
Vice-President shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the President in the
President’s absence and shall succeed at once to the office of the President in case of
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vacancy for a period to last until the next regularly scheduled election as provided in
Article IX.

Section 3 - Second Vice-President - The Second Vice-President shall take

responsibility for assisting chairpersons of committees as designated by the President.
In addition to those duties, the Second Vice-President shall perform the duties of the
First Vice-President when that office becomes vacant under Article III, Section 2 of the
Bylaws.

Section 4 - Recording Secretary - The Recording Secretary shall keep accurate

minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board and Representative Assembly.

Section 5 - Treasurer - The Treasurer shall hold the funds of the Association and
disperse them upon authorization by the Executive Board; shall collect dues and
transmit amounts due to NYSUT/AFT; shall keep accurate accounts of receipts and
disbursements; shall present a financial report to each meeting of the Assembly; shall
prepare an annual financial statement for publication to members as directed by the
Executive Board. The Treasurer shall keep the President and Executive Board
informed of the financial condition of the Association and shall assist the Budget
Committee in the initial drafting of the annual budget. The Treasurer shall be bonded
and have the Association books reviewed by an accountant within two months following
the close of the fiscal year.

Section 6 - Terms and Succession - The members of the Executive Board shall
serve for two years and may be reelected without an intervening term.

Article IV - Duties of the Executive Board

Section 1 - According to policies established by the Representative Assembly,

the Executive Board shall be responsible for the management of the Association,
approve all expenditures, carry out policies of the Association, and appoint the
committee on nominations and elections. The Executive Board shall report its
transactions to the members, and suggest policies for consideration by the Assembly.

Section 2 - The Executive Board shall develop workshops and/or training

conferences as needed for all representatives.

Section 3 - The Executive Board shall distribute to all members minutes of its
meetings and the agenda and minutes of the Representative Assembly.

Article V - Powers of the Representative Assembly

The Representative Assembly shall approve the budget, act on reports of

committees, approve resolutions and other policy statements, including those to be
followed in censuring, suspending, and expelling members for cause or in reinstating
members. It may adopt rules governing the conduct of the Association, which are
consistent with this Constitution and Bylaws. Powers not delegated to the Executive
Board shall be vested in the Representative Assembly.

Article VI - Faculty Representatives

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 Section 1

a. In each public school in Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda, faculty members who

are members in good standing of this Association shall elect for a term of two years one
Faculty Representative to the Representative Assembly for each ten members or major
fraction thereof. There shall be at least one Representative from each building. Where
more than one such Representative is elected, one shall be designated the Senior
Faculty Representative, and the terms shall be staggered. Elections shall be held in
September, and the Representatives shall take their seats at the October meeting of
the Representative Assembly.

b. Retired members of the Association shall elect one Representative to the

Representative Assembly for each one hundred retired members or major fraction
thereof. Such election shall be for a two-year term. If more than one representative is
elected, one shall be designated the Senior Representative.

c. Substitute members of the Association shall elect one Representative to the

Representative Assembly for each forty substitute members or major fraction thereof.
Such election shall be for a two-year term. If more than one Representative is elected,
one shall be designated the Senior Representative.

Section 2

a. Faculty Representatives shall attend the regular meetings of the

Representative Assembly unless they receive prior excuses from the President. After
two unexcused absences of a Representative, the President may declare the seat
unfilled and call for a faculty election to fill the term. The President may designate a
member in good standing to organize this special election.

b. Upon written recommendation of a majority of a Representative’s assigned

members, any member of the Representative Assembly may be recalled by a two-thirds
majority of the building faculty.

c. In the case of vacancies in the Representative Assembly, the President shall

designate a member in good standing to organize special elections.

Section 3 - The Faculty Representatives shall become a KTA Building

Committee with the Senior Representative as chairperson. The Building Committee
shall organize groups of members to meet with Faculty Representatives to discuss
matters such as: proposed agenda for the Representative Assembly, to propose items
for Assembly action, to review action taken by that body, and to discuss action taken in
enforcing the contract. The Building Committee shall meet regularly with the Principal
to consider matters of Association interest. It shall oversee subsequent elections of
Faculty Representatives, the enrollment of members, and Association communication
within the building. It shall, as necessary, organize faculty committees to expedite
Association work.

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 Section 4 - Faculty Representatives shall have been members of the Kenmore
Teachers Association for at least one year prior to their election and shall maintain their
membership in good standing during their terms in office.

Article VII - Standing Committees

Section 1 - Structure - There shall be standing committees carrying the specific

functions outlined below. They shall be selected to represent different interests in the
Association and shall be appointed for two-year terms, coinciding with the term of the
Executive Board. Each committee may, with the approval of the Executive Board,
organize special subcommittees and task forces for specific activities of the
Association.

Section 2 - Meetings - Each standing committee shall meet regularly according

to a calendar developed by the Committee and submitted to the Executive Board and
may hold special meetings at the call of the chairperson.

Section 3 - Reports - Each committee shall choose a Recording Secretary who

shall keep a continuing record of activities. Chairpersons shall report items of action to
the Representative Assembly for approval and shall prepare an annual written report
summarizing objectives, action programs, gains, and unrelated goals, which the
Executive Board shall file to become part of the continuing committee record in the
Association files.

Section 4 - Titles and Duties

a. Committee for Professional Development and Instructional Services - The

President, in consultation with the Executive Board, shall appoint representatives to the
Policy Board of the Kenmore Staff Development Center, the Professional Practices
Review Board that oversees the Mentor Program, and to any other standing
professional development committee. Committee representatives shall develop
Association positions, in consultation with the Executive Board and approval of the
Representative Assembly, on matters affecting instruction and the professional
development of the membership. They shall initiate study and compile data for support
of such positions.

b. Negotiating Committee shall develop Association positions on salary and

other economic and noneconomic benefits, and compile data for support of such
positions in negotiations. It shall prepare negotiation proposals to be approved by the
Representative Assembly. Upon reaching tentative agreement with the Board of
Education the team shall prepare and submit its report and recommendation to the
members of the Association in the negotiating unit at a ratification meeting. The
procedures for ratifying a negotiation agreement by the members shall be developed by
the Executive Board prior to negotiation.

c. Political Action Committee shall have broad concern for local, state, and
national legislation affecting the interests of schools, teachers, and the Association. It
shall encourage members to exercise their civic and political rights and keep them
informed about new legislation.

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 d. Grievance Committee shall process grievances.

Section 5 - As Related to Executive Board - The Executive Board shall assist the
President to appoint members of the standing committees. The Executive Board shall
require and assist committees to define their immediate and long-range objectives.
Chairpersons should organize subcommittees wherever necessary.

Article VIII - Special Committees

Each year the President shall appoint a Budget Committee, and such other
special committees as may be necessary, and shall discharge them upon completion of
their duties. These committees shall operate according to rules approved by the
Representative Assembly. No officer of the Association shall serve on the Election
Committee.

Article IX - Elections

Section 1 - Qualifications

A candidate for office in the Kenmore Teachers Association must have been a
member for at least one year prior to their election.

Section 2 - Nominations

a. The active members of the Association in each building during the month of
March may nominate a candidate for President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-
President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and At-Large Executive Board.

b. The Committee on Elections shall report all nominations to the

Representative Assembly at the April meeting. Members of the Representative
Assembly may nominate other candidates from the floor.

c. Write-in candidates will not be permitted for local, state, or national elections.

Section 3 - Balloting

a. Uncontested elections - At the close of nominations, the Recording Secretary

will cast one ballot for the nominee(s) who are unopposed, and they shall be elected.

b. Contested elections - Elections will be held in May. Members shall vote for
officers in contested elections by secret ballot, in accordance with procedures
developed by the Committee on Elections and approved by the Representative
Assembly. The Committee on Elections shall report results to the President who shall
cause them to be published.

c. New officers shall be installed at the June meeting of the Representative

Assembly.

Section 4 - Delegates

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 a. Elections for delegates to state and national assemblies shall be conducted
by the Committee on Elections. The President shall serve as the First Delegate to all
state and national conventions of affiliates. (See Article III, Section 1)

b. The term of office for delegates to the state and national affiliates shall be:

State - 3-year term

National - 2-year term

c. In the event that the election is uncontested, the Committee on Elections will
direct the Recording Secretary to cast one ballot for the nominees who are unopposed
and they shall be elected.

Section 5 - Resignation

Resignation of an elected position shall be submitted in writing to the Executive

Board.

Article X - Dues

Any change in the local dues must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the
Representative Assembly at the June meeting. The membership shall be notified of the
proposed budget and the dues’ structure in the agenda which shall be distributed prior
to the meeting.

Article XI - Authority

Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for the Association
on all questions not covered by the Constitution and Bylaws and such standing rules as
the Representative Assembly may adopt.

Article XII - Amendment

The membership may adopt amendments to these Bylaws by a two-thirds

majority of those voting, provided that the proposed amendments have been submitted
by 10% of the membership and have been distributed to the membership two weeks
prior to the referendum.

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Adopted 3/2/99

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