CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
OF THE LOWER KUSKOKWIM NEA
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this Association is the Lower Kuskokwim NEA; known hereafter as LKNEA. LKNEA is a local public school employee Association of independent status as is typical of local affiliates within the National Education Association.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSES
Section 1. To establish and further, through united effort, the highest educational opportunity for Alaska’s children.
Section 2. To work for the welfare of all LKNEA members; to monitor the implementation of negotiated agreements, and in any grievances in keeping with the policies of LKNEA, and to advocate on behalf of bargaining unit members and the LKNEA.
Section 3. To engage in collective bargaining and related activities as the bargaining agent for the certified and classified personnel of the bargaining unit.
Section 4. To advocate the interests of members and insure due process in all matters relating to employment.
Section 5. To develop and promote the adoption of such ethical practices, personnel policies and standards of work as mark a profession.
Section 6. To interest qualified employees in the advancement/enhancement of their careers.
Section 7. To give careful consideration to professional education and educational support problems and policies and to promote the enactment of laws for the protection and progress of education in Alaska and the United States.
Section 8. To work with any group, whose educational philosophy and ideals are in general agreement with LKNEA’s educational philosophy and ideals, in promoting and strengthening education/educational support in Alaska and the United States.
Section 9. To enable members to speak with a common voice on matters pertaining to the educational support professions and to present their individual and common interests before the Board of Education and other legal authorities.
Section 10. To hold property and funds for the attainment of LKNEA’s goals and objectives.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in the LKNEA shall be open to all certified and classified personnel employed in the schools of the Lower Kuskokwim School District.
Section 2. Membership shall be continuous until the member leaves the school district, resigns from the LKNEA, gives proper notification to withdraw from LKNEA as per the signed membership agreement, or fails to pay membership dues.
Section 3. Members of the LKNEA shall also be members of NEA-Alaska and the National Education Association.
Section 4. The right to vote and hold office shall be limited to members of the LKNEA.
Section 5. The membership year and the fiscal year shall be from September 1 to August 31.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
The officers of the LKNEA shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and any member of LKNEA who is serving on the NEA-Alaska Board of Directors. No more than three (3) officers can be from one sub-unit (certified or classified) in any election cycle.
ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE BOARD AND REPRESENTATIVE STRUCTURE
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers, five (5) area directors as designated in the bylaws and standing committee chairs as designated in the bylaws. Membership on the Executive Board shall be proportional to the membership in each sub-unit (certified and classified) of the LKNEA. It shall hold the executive authority of the LKNEA.
Section 2. Whenever a majority of the Executive Board shall agree that an officer has been grossly negligent of the duties defined in the bylaws or is incapacitated, they shall declare the position vacant.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall be empowered to conduct LKNEA business, to adopt a budget, and to allocate the funds of the LKNEA consistent with its fiduciary duties.
Section 4. Each site shall elect site representatives to serve as communication liaisons between the executive board and the membership at each site. The LKNEA shall endeavor to maintain site representation proportional to the membership in each sub-unit (certified and classified) of the LKNEA.
Section 5. Ad hoc committees shall be appointed as determined by the Executive Board.ARTICLE VI - BYLAWS
Bylaws not inconsistent with this Constitution which provide for additional rules for the governance and operation of the LKNEA may be adopted by a majority vote of the LKNEA members voting upon such bylaws; provided that the proposed bylaws are published in writing thirty (30) days in advance of the date of the scheduled vote upon such bylaws. Absent thirty (30) day advance publication, bylaws may also be adopted by two-thirds majority of LKNEA members voting upon such bylaws.
ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the Executive Board or any two (2) members of the LKNEA. Such amendments may be acted upon where such amendments are provided to the membership in writing thirty (30) days in advance of the scheduled vote upon such amendments. A two-thirds majority of LKNEA members voting upon such amendments is required to amend the Constitution. Voting upon constitutional amendments shall be made by secret ballot.
ARTICLE I - MEETINGS
Section 1. LKNEA members shall meet at a time and place determined convenient by the Executive Board. LKNEA business may also be handled by other means of communication when appropriate
Section 2. The Executive Board shall meet once a month or as needed during the school year. The President or a majority of the Executive Board may call additional meetings. Meetings of the Executive Board may be conducted by telephonically.
Section 3. A general membership meeting may be called by petition of fifteen percent (15%) of the total LKNEA membership from no fewer than three (3) sites. In such an event, the President shall schedule the meeting to be held within thirty (30) days of verification of the membership status of the names on the petition. Such a meeting may be conducted telephonically.
Section 4. Site Reps shall meet at least once each year. The meetings may be conducted telephonically.
ARTICLE II - QUORUM
Section 1. A quorum of the Executive Board shall consist of a majority of the members of the Executive Board. A quorum of the general membership shall consist of 20% of the total LKNEA membership.
Section 2. It shall be necessary to have a quorum present at any regular or special meeting before any business can be conducted.
ARTICLE III - OFFICERS
Section 1. President: The President shall:
A. Preside over meetings of the Executive Board, Site Reps, and membership.
B. Appoint, with the majority approval of the Executive Board, the chairpersons and members of standing and ad hoc committees
C. Serve as an ex officio member of all standing committees
D. Shall represent the LKNEA before the public either personally or through delegates
E. Shall perform all other functions usually attributed to the office.
Section 2. Vice President: The Vice President shall:
A. Serve as Vice President of the LKNEA.
B. Work closely with one or more standing committees as suggested by the President.
C. In the event the President cannot serve out his/her term, the Vice President shall assume the office of the President to serve out the term, except as provided in Article V, Section 2, of the Constitution.
D. Be responsible for LKNEA elections.
1. In the event the Vice President is running for an office, the President shall appoint a member of the Board who is not running for office to be responsible for that election.
E. Perform the functions usually attributed to the office.
Section 3. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall:
A. Hold the funds of the LKNEA and dispense them upon authorization by the Executive Board.
B. Keep the President and the Executive Board informed of the financial condition of the LKNEA.
C. Be responsible for the membership roster and shall reconcile this roster with the payroll roster.
D. Be responsible for the financial records of the LKNEA.
E. Perform the functions usually attributed to the office.
Section 4. Secretary: The Secretary shall:
A. Keep and distribute accurate minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board, Site Reps, and General Membership.
B. Assist the President with LKNEA correspondence.
C. Be responsible for the LKNEA records and documents located in Bethel.
D. Perform other functions usually attributed to this office.
ARTICLE IV – AREA DIRECTORS,SITE REPRESENTATIVES AND STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Area Directors: Area Directors shall:
A. Serve on the Executive Board.
B. Be responsible for representing the interests of members from his/her area to the Executive Committee and for seeking information from members for the same purpose.
C. Communicate with Site Representatives from his/her area.
Section 2. Site Representatives: Site Representatives shall
A. Serve as a communication liaison between the membership at the site and the Area Director.
Section 3. Standing Committees: Standing Committees shall include
A. Membership, Rights, PACE (Political Action), Public Relations, Budget, School Board Representative, Housing Review, Bargaining, Professional Excellence, and Health Insurance. Representation on all standing committees shall be proportional according to the membership of each sub-unit (certified and classified) of the LKNEA.
B. Each standing committee chairperson shall keep a record of the committees’ activities; serve on the Executive Board; and, report to the Executive Board on the activities of the committee as necessary.
ARTICLE V – ELECTIONS
Section 1. Officers shall be nominated by the membership and elected by a plurality of the membership voting in the election.
Section 2. Area Directors shall be nominated by the membership of his/her area and elected by a plurality of the membership in his/her area voting in the election.
Section 3. The areas for Area Director are defined as follows:
A. Area 1: Newtok, Tununak, Chefornak, Toksook Bay, Nightmute, Mekoryuk, Kipnuk.
B. Area 2: Kwigillingok, Kongiganak, Tuntutuliak, Eek, Quinhagak, Goodnews Bay, Platinum.
C. Area 3: Akiuk, Akula, Nunapitchuk, Atmautluak, Napaskiak, Napakiak, Oscarville, Kwethluk.
D. Area 4: Bethel (2 Area Directors)
Section 4. Site Representatives shall be elected by a plurality of the members of his/her site voting in the election. There shall be 1 certified Site Rep and 1 classified Site Rep from each Site.
Section 5. The election for Officers and Area Directors shall be conducted in the spring of each school year preceding the year the Officers and Area Directors take office. This election shall be completed prior to the NEA-Alaska Spring Leadership Conference
Section 6. Delegate Assembly elections shall take place in the fall of each school year. This election shall be completed prior to November 15 of each year.
Section 7. Site Representative elections shall take place by the second full week of the school year.
Section 8. NEA Representative Assembly elections shall be conducted in the spring of each school year during the Officer election.
ARTICLE VI – TERMS OF OFFICE AND SUCCESSION
Section 1. The President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall serve 2 year terms, commencing on July 1.
Section 2. The President and Secretary shall be elected in odd years, and the Vice-President and the Treasurer shall be in even years.
Section 3. Whenever the office of President shall become vacant, the Vice-President will serve as President until the next regular election of the President. In the event that the Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer cannot complete his/her term of office, the Executive Board shall choose one of their number to serve the remainder of the term.
Section 4. Area Directors shall serve 2 year terms. The Area Directors from Areas 1 and 3 shall be elected in odd years, and the Area Directors from Areas 2 and 4 shall be elected in even years. In the event that an Area Director cannot complete her/his term, the Executive Board will select a member from the area represented by the vacant seat to serve the remainder of the term.
Section 5. The LKNEA shall elect delegates to Delegate Assembly pursuant to the Bylaws of NEA-Alaska. Delegates shall be elected for a 2 year term. 1/2 the delegates shall be elected each year. 1/2 the delegates selected each year shall be Classified members, and 1/2 the delegates selected each year shall be Certified members. In the event a DA Delegate cannot complete his/her term, the next candidate with the most votes from the most recent election will be selected to complete the term.
Section 6. Site Representatives serve 2 year terms. Certified Site Reps shall be elected in odd years, and Classified Site Reps shall be elected in even years. In the event a Site Representative cannot complete her/his term, the members from that site shall elect a new Site Representative at their next site meeting.
Section 7. NEA Representative Assembly delegates shall serve 1 year terms. In the event a delegate cannot complete his/her term, the next candidate with the most votes from the previous election for that seat will be selected.
ARTICLE VII - POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the management of the LKNEA in all matters except as stated otherwise in the Constitution and Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII – DUTIES, RIGHTS AND DUES FOR MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: The membership shall have the right to:
A. Make nominations.
B. Vote, by secret ballot, in all elections of the local, state, and national Associations according to the one person, one vote principle.
C. Ratify any tentative agreement reached in bargaining within their respective unit.
D. Meet and conduct business pursuant to the Constitution and Bylaws adopted by the membership.
E. Hold Office in the LKNEA.
F. Fully participate in the local, state and national Associations.
Section 2. Dues of LKNEA shall be determined annually by the Executive Board during their April board meeting.ARTICLE IX - AUTHORITY
Robert’s Rules of Order, as amended, shall be the parliamentary authority for the LKNEA on all questions not covered by the Constitution and Bylaws and such standing rules as the membership may adopt.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by the Executive Board or any two (2) members of the LKNEA. Such amendments may be acted upon where such amendments are provided to the membership in writing thirty (30) days in advance of the scheduled vote upon such amendments. A two-thirds majority of LKNEA members voting upon such amendments is required to amend the Bylaws. Voting upon bylaw amendments shall be made by secret ballot.
ARTICLE XI - RATIFICATION
The provisions of this Instrument shall supersede and annul all previous such Instruments, Constitutions, or Bylaws, and shall become effective when ratified a majority of the members who cast ballots.