High School Council Constitution of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association (June, 2008)

A) Membership 1. Active Member: Refers to a teacher as defined by the New Brunswick Teachers' Association's Act of Incorporation, specifically, "a person who, while holding a license or permit to teach issued by the Minister of Education for the Province of New Brunswick, is employed by written contract, either full-time or part-time, by any school in New Brunswick under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education, and includes a principal, the President of the NBTA and the AEFNB who has paid the necessary fees to be a member of the High School Council. 2. Associate Member: Refers to all professional and para-professional personnel who are not active members of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association, specifically: a) representatives of the Department of Education; b) supply teachers registered with a school district; c) teachers in private schools, with valid teaching licenses; d) teachers on recognized leaves of absences at established educational institutions; e) anyone, upon application, deemed acceptable by the Council Executive and who has paid the applicable Council fees. 3. Honorary Member: a) Honorary membership for one year shall be conferred on all teachers retiring on pension. Such membership may be renewed from year to year at the request of the member for a fee determined by policy; b) Honorary membership may be conferred on any person deemed acceptable by the High School Executive Committee and who has made an outstanding contribution to the objectives of the Council and or high school education; c) Honorary membership shall be conferred, upon application, on student teachers in their final year of study in any teacher training program in the Province of New Brunswick. B) Membership Rights 1. All persons who are members within clause (1) of section (A) of this By-Law shall enjoy full and equal membership; 2. All persons who are members within clauses (2) and (3) of section (A) of this By-Law shall enjoy full membership rights except the right to vote and hold office or receive grants or loans. C) Elections and Terms of Office 1. Executive Committee a) The Executive Committee shall consist of 16 members; b) Any voting member of the High School Council may seek nomination to the Executive Committee; c) Members may be nominated by the Nominating Committee or by motion from the floor at the Annual General Meeting; d) Members shall be elected by majority vote. 2. Officers a) Shall be elected from the members of the Executive Committee; b) Shall be elected by a majority vote at a meeting of the Executive Committee immediately following the Annual General Meeting of the Council; 3. Nominating Committee a) The Nominating Committee is a Standing Committee of the Executive Committee of the Council; b) The Nominating Committee shall be composed of three members; c) The Nominating Committee will nominate members for election to the Executive Committee; d) The Nominating Committee shall make every effort to ensure regional and curricular representation when nominating members. 4. Voting Procedures a) All Active members of the Council may vote at an Annual Meeting; b) All members of the Executive Committee are eligible to vote for the Officers. c) All elections shall be determined by a secret ballot vote 5. Terms of Office a) Executive Committee members shall be elected for a two-year term except as defined in clause (b); b) For the first elected Executive Committee, half of the members (8) will be elected to serve a one-year term. The remaining members (8) will be elected to serve a two-year term; c) Executive Committee members may hold position on the Executive Committee for no more than three consecutive terms; d) Officers shall be elected for a one-year term; e) Officers may hold the same office for no more than two consecutive years. D) Quorums A quorum for the AGM shall consist of a minimum of 50% of the members of the Executive Committee plus sufficient Council members-at-large to exceed the number of Executive members present at the meeting by at least one. E) Resolutions and Motions a. AGM Resolutions can be brought forward to the Officers by any active member of the Council. b. AGM Resolutions must be received in writing by the Officers at least eight weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. c. Motions arising from the business of any Annual General Meeting may be presented from the floor with the consent of at least two-thirds of the members present. F) Filling of Vacancies a. Upon resignation of any Officer before completion of term, the Executive Committee shall elect a new Officer from among the members of the Executive Committee. b. Upon resignation of any Executive Committee member before completion of term, the Executive Committee shall fill the position by motion from among the active members of the Council. c. In case of death, disqualification or permanent disability of members of the Officers and/or Executive Committee, the vacancies shall be filled as described in (1) and (2) of section (F) of the By-Laws. G) Duties of Officers a. The Chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the Council, the Executive Committee, and the Officers. The Chairperson shall appoint all committees and call meetings of the Executive Committee and the Officers. The Chairperson shall perform all duties pertaining to the office and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. b. In the absence of the Chairperson of the Council, the Vice-Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson. In the case of vacancy in the office of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall become Acting Chairperson until the next Annual General Meeting. c. The Secretary shall record and distribute minutes of all general, Executive and Officer committee meetings, and shall publish a list of Council concerns and recommendations and all actions taken by the Executive and Officer Committees. d. The Treasurer shall maintain an accurate financial statement of the Council's revenues and expenditures; co-sign all cheques, sign all membership cards, be responsible for all membership files and Chair the Finance Committee. At the end of each fiscal term, the Treasurer will secure an independent audit. e. The Past-Chairperson, when possible, shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Chairperson, act as parliamentarian at meetings and serve on committees as designated by the Chairperson. f. The Communications Officer shall seek ways and opportunities to advertise the activities of the Council, and to provide channels of communication which would allow the membership to network. H) Expenses Any member travelling on business duly authorized by the Chairperson or the Officers shall be paid expenses according to the NBTA Policy. I) Meetings a. Meetings shall be held by the Council on the following basis: 1. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Council shall be held with the place, date and format of the meeting to be determined by the Executive Committee. 2. Executive Committee meetings shall be called by the Chairperson and held at least two times a year. 3. Officer Committee meetings shall be called and held when deemed necessary by the Chair. b. Reports from Executive Committee Meetings shall include: reports from the Chairperson, Treasurer, Chairpersons of Standing Committees as appropriate and any ad hoc committee. c. Conduct of Meetings shall be consistent with commonly accepted Rules of Order.