Section I The name of this Association shall be the Chester Upland Education Association (CUEA).

Section II This organization is a local affiliate of the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the National Education Association (NEA).

Section I This Association shall promote high educational standards, protect and advance the interests of its members and foster professional ethics.

Section III This Association shall receive funds, expend money and hold property to attain the above stated purposes.

Section I (1) Active membership shall be open to members of the "Collective Bargaining Unit" (as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Chester Upland School District) who agree to abide by the Code of Ethics of PSEA.

(2) Active membership shall be continuous until the member leaves the Chester Upland School District, resigns following an established procedure, or is found ineligible by the PSEA, PR&R Commission.

Section II Persons charges to be in violation of professional standards shall have a hearing before a Committee of Professional Rights and Responsibilities and their findings shall be forwarded to the Executive Council for further action, if needed.

Section III The local dues of this Association shall be set by the Representative Council with the approval of the General membership and be in addition to those set by NEA and PSEA.

Section I The officers of the Association shall consist of a president, first vice president, second vice president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer and for one year, the immediate past president. Officers must be active members of The United Teaching Profession.

Section I The Executive Council shall consist of the officers who shall exercise the executive authority of the Association.

Section II The Executive Council shall execute policies budgeted for and adopted by the Representative Council and employ such persons as is needed for the efficient management of the Association.

Section I The legislative and policy-forming body of the Association shall be the Representative Council.

Section II The Representative Council shall consist of the Officers of the Association and the Building Representatives.

Section III Each building shall elect one representative for each 15 members or major fraction thereof plus one alternate.

Section IV Committee chairpersons may attend meet- ings, make reports, and enter into discussion but shall have not vote. Any active member may attend and receive permission to speak but shall have no vote.

Section V Building Representative vacancies on this council shall be filled by special elections in the building where the vacancy exists.

Section I Only active members of the Association (as defined by PSEA) shall have the right to vote.

Section II Unless otherwise provided for in the Constitution or By-Laws, a simple majority is required to carry all motions and resolutions in meetings of the Executive Council, Representative Council, General Member ship and at all Standing or Special Committees.

Section III Secret ballots are required when voting for officers, representatives, delegates and Constitutional changes--including By-Laws.

At a meeting of the General Membership, 5% of the membership shall constitute a quorum. At all other meetings a majority of its members shall constitute a quorum.

This Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the Representative Council followed by a 2/3 vote of the members at a General Membership Meeting after 2 weeks of written notice or by 2/3 vote at 2 successive General Meetings held at least 1 month apart.

Section I Officers of the Association shall be elected for two year terms with the President, First Vice President and Recording Secretary elected in the spring of the odd numbered years and the Second Vice President, Corre- sponding Secretary and Treasurer elected in the spring of the even years.

Section II Voting shall be by secret ballot and follow the one-person one-vote principle with a majority being needed for election.

Where a majority is not obtained, a run-off election shall be conducted among the top candidates equal to the number of vacancies plus one.

Section III The Representative Council shall set up procedures for nominations, publication of statements and election of officers. Provisions shall be made for open nominations and write-in votes.

Section IV New officers shall be installed at the Annual Recognition Banquet and shall assume their office at noon on the last day of the school year.

Section V During a period of negotiations, the established team shall remain intact with the newly elected president being an additional member.

Section I Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the authority for the Association on all questions not covered by the Constitution and By-Laws and such standing rules as the Representative Council may adopt. All rules shall be consistent with the laws of the state and nation and with procedures adopted by the PSEA and NEA.

Section II The President with the approval of the Representative Council may appoint a Parliamentarian. A ruling by the chair may be overturned by a 2/3 vote.

Section I Delegates to the Representative Assemblies of the NEA and PSEA shall be elected by the General Membership with the method of selection and the total number of delegates being determined by National and State guidelines and the local budgetary limits.

Section II The President, if available, shall be a delegate to all meetings for which delegate status is offered and shall be the chief delegate where more than one is required.

Any article found to be inconsistent with the PSEA constitution shall be null and void and have no bearing on the validity of the rest of this constitution.

Section I There shall be a meeting for the General Member ship in the Fall and in the Spring in connection with the general elections and at such other connection with the general elections and at such other times as is determined by the Representative Council.

Section II The Executive Council shall meet monthly to establish an agenda for the Representative Council and to execute directives mandated by that body. The President may call a special meeting of the Executive Council.

Section III The Representative Council shall meet monthly-- the first meeting shall be determined by the Executive Council and the other monthly meetings established by the Representative Council Special meetings may be called by the Executive Council.

Section I When voting for this office the ballot shall say

"President and Delegate to NEA and PSEA".

Section II The President shall preside over meetings of the General Membership, the Executive Council, the Representative Council and such other groups needing a presiding officer where a chairperson has not been provided.

Section III The President shall appoint the chairperson and members of all committees and approval of the Executive and shall be an ex-officio member.

Section IV The President shall represent the Association before the public either personally or through delegates and perform all other functions usually attributed to this office.

Section I The First Vice President shall coordinate the efforts of those committees assigned by the President and shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President. Where the office of President becomes vacant the First Vice President shall assume the duties of that office.

Section II The Second Vice President shall coordinate the efforts of those committees assigned by the President and shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President and shall assume the duties of the First Vice President if that office becomes vacant until a replacement is selected.

Section III The Recording Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Executive Council, Representative Council and General Membership and shall maintain official files of these minutes.  The Recording Secretary shall assume the duties of the Treasurer should the office become vacant until a replacement is selected.

 Section IV The Corresponding Secretary shall assist the President with all correspondence, internal and external and shall assume the duties of the Recording Secretary should that office become vacant until a replacement is selected.

Section V The Treasurer shall hold the funds of the Association and disburse them upon authorization of the Executive Council, Representative Council and the General Membership. The Treasurer shall transmit dues owed to the State and National Associations. The Treasurer shall keep accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements and shall report to each meeting of the Representative Council and shall prepare an Annual Financial Statement for publication to the members as directed by the Executive Council. The Treasurer shall maintain a roster of the members and keep the President and Executive Council informed of the financial conditions of the Association. The Treasurer shall assist the Budget Committee by providing it with any financial information requested.

Section VI The most recent Past President may preside in the absence of the President, First Vice President and Second Vice President and shall be a voting member of the Executive Council for one year.

Section VII In addition to the duties listed above, all officers shall perform those duties usually associated with such an office. Officers (except Past President) shall be elected for two year terms and may be re- elected.

Section VIII In the absence of a presiding officer at a regularly scheduled meeting, a member at that meeting may be chosen by the membership as president pro tempore.

Section I The Representative Council shall set local dues with the approval of the General Membership, shall approve the budget, shall approve all expenses over $300.00 and shall adopt procedures for implementing the Code of Ethics of the PSEA.

Section II The Representative Council shall establish procedure for the election of Officers and Building Representatives and shall sit as judges of elections.

Section III Powers not reserved for the General Membership nor delegated to the Executive Council or the Officers of the Association shall be vested in the Representative Council.

Section I The Executive Council shall be responsible for the management of the Association, approve all expenditures up to $300.00 and carry out policies established by the Representative Council and the General Membership.

Section II The Executive Council may formulate plans for consideration by the Representative Council and may develop training sessions for officers, building representatives and/or committee personnel.

Section I In September of each year elections shall be held in each building to select Building Representatives from among faculty members in good standing in this Association. The Building Representative receiving the most votes shall become the Chief Building Representative and shall preside at build ing meetings.

Section II The Building Representatives shall attend all regular meetings of the Representative Council unless they receive prior excuse from the President. When so excused, the elected alternate shall attend.

Section III If a Building Representative has two unexcused absences or shows other evidence of neglect of duty, the President shall declare the seat vacant and shall call for a new election to fill out that term.

Section IV In each building the Building Representatives may call Building Meetings of the Association Members to discuss Association business, shall appoint building committees, shall represent the building in meetings with the principal or members of the public and shall help police the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Policies consistent with the Constitution and By Laws may be adopted by a 2/3 vote of the Representative Council and are to be attached to this document. These policies may be amended by a similar vote.

Section I The Representative Council may establish by a 2/3 vote standing committees such as:

• Negotiations
• Professional Rights and Responsibilities
• Public Relations and Publications
• Political Action and Legislative
• Membership
• Elections
• Budget and Finance
• Special Service

Section II The Executive Council may establish by a majority vote special committees for a particular task for a designated length of time.

Section III All committees shall meet regularly and keep records of their meetings and report to the Representative Council.

These ByLaws may be amended by a majority vote of the Representative Council Followed by a 2/3 vote at a subsequent meeting of the General Membership or by majority vote followed by a 2/3 vote of the General Membership at 2 successive meetings held at least one month apart.

Section I A grievance procedure shall be available to members according to provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and provisions of existing public laws.

Section II Grievances may be taken to arbitration at the discretion of the Executive Council based on the merit of the case. Uniform policies shall be adopted to keep the procedures consistent and uniform for all members.

Section I The Association may reimburse members of expenses incurred in Association activities in accordance with procedures adopted by the Executive Council.

Section II Members behind in payment of obligations to the CUEA, PSEA, or NEA (i.e. strike loans) shall not be reimbursed.

Section I The Association shall make good faith efforts to encourage full participation by ethnic minority and female members and shall be in compliance with the NEA and PSEA.

Section II Association literature and publication shall be used to promote active participation of all members.

Top of Page