Northampton Association of School Employees

NASE Bylaws

Download revised NASE bylaws April 2024

I. NAME

NORTHAMPTON ASSOCIATION of SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

Constitution and Bylaws (Revised April 2024)

The name of this organization will be the Northampton Association of School Employees, Inc. (NASE)

II. PURPOSE
A. To maintain and improve the quality of education for all.
B. To uphold high professional standards and to advance the socio-economic well-being of educators.
C. To engage in any other related activity as is consistent with the law.

III. MEMBERSHIP

Any regularly appointed teacher or licensed staff, supervisor, administrator, secretary, educational support professional, library aide, nurse, cafeteria worker, custodian or bus driver in the public schools of the city, and any licensed teacher or administrator working in the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School (SVAHS) may become a member of the NASE by paying the three-way membership dues: NASE, MTA, and NEA.

IV. OFFICERS

The officers shall be:
President,
Vice-President,
Secretary,
Treasurer,
Communications Officer,
Professional Rights and Responsibilities Chairperson, Membership Coordinator

Chapter Coordinator

V. POWERS OF THE OFFICERS PRESIDENT

A. The President shall be elected for a two-year term and may run for successive terms without limits.

B. Shall be empowered to call meetings of the Executive Board, the Executive Committee, emergency meetings, regular meetings, special meetings, and general membership meetings. Shall be compelled to call special meetings of the Executive Board or Executive Committee

upon written request of three (3) members; and general membership meetings upon the written request of fifteen (15) members.
C. Shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board, Executive Committee, and all
other meetings including but not limited to emergency meetings, regular meetings,

special meetings, general membership meetings, and The Annual Meeting.
D. Shall appoint sub-committees when necessary.
E. Shall be empowered to determine what an emergency is.
F. After the completion of the term, the Past-President will act as an advisor to the new President, for a period of up to three months.

G. Shall represent the Association before the administration, the School Committee, Smith Vocational School Board of Trustees, the media, and all affiliated organizations.

H. Shall attend meetings of the Northampton School Committee and Smith Vocational Board of Trustees, or assign members of the Executive Board to attend those meetings.
I. Shall present a report at the Executive Committee meeting, orally if present or in writing if unable to attend, describing their actions on behalf of the Association, progress on issues affecting members, and other matters of interest to the Executive Committee.

J. Shall have oversight of all membership records maintained by the Membership Coordinator and Treasure.

VICE-PRESIDENT

A. Shall be empowered to assume all of the duties of the President during the President’s absence.
B. The Vice-President will act as assistant to the President.
C. Shall represent the Association when directed by the President, before the administration, the School Committee, Smith’s Board of Trustees, local, state, and national professional organizations.

E. Shall perform such other duties as properly pertain to the office or as directed by the Executive Board or the Executive Committee.
F. Shall be responsible for keeping membership informed of all legislative matters of concern to said members.
G. Shall perform the function of the Association Parliamentarian.

TREASURER

A. Shall be empowered to collect, hold, and disperse the funds of the Association with the approval of the Executive Committee.
B. Shall prepare periodic reports of the financial condition of the Association for Executive Committee and/or the Annual Meeting.

C. Shall work with the Membership Coordinator to maintain all membership records under the oversight of the President.
B. Shall arrange for periodic audits of the accounts of the Treasurer.

SECRETARY

A. Shall be in charge of correspondence concerning the business of the Executive Board and the Executive Committee.
B. Shall be responsible for keeping the NASE Constitution and By-Laws updated and for keeping the Executive Board and Executive Committee informed of all constitutional obligations. C. Shall be empowered to record and keep all minutes of meetings of the Executive Board and the Executive Committee and shall submit a written report of the Executive Committee meeting minutes to the respective Association bodies.

PROFESSIONAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES COMMITTEE CHAIR
A. Shall be in charge of maintaining membership of said committee according to Bylaws, especially building representation.
B. Shall keep the Executive Board privy to all information relative to contract maintenance issues necessary to keep policy up to date for the Association, and especially relative to maintaining collective bargaining posture and dealing with new issues and new strategic implementation.
C. Shall assist the other officers of the Executive Board in executing their responsibilities wherever and whenever the need shall arise, as assigned by the President.

CHAPTER COORDINATORS:

Each bargaining unit represented by the NASE shall elect, to the same term of office as the President of the Association, a Chapter Coordinator, who shall be entitled to a seat on the Executive Board.

A. The Chapter Coordinator shall have the power to call Special Meetings.
B. The Chapter Coordinator shall lead the negotiation team for their unit.
C. The Chapter Coordinator shall oversee and facilitate representation for all members of their unit.
D. Chapter Coordinator shall select the members of their negotiating team with approval of the Executive Board.

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

A. Shall maintain the NASE web presence.
B. Shall coordinate public relations and communications on social media. C. Will be appointed by the President.

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
A. Shall maintain all membership records for the association.
B. Shall work with the treasurer to maintain all membership records under the oversight of the president.
C. Shall act as liaison between Chapter Coordinators, building delegates, HR, and MTA, along with the NASE Treasurer and President.

D. Shall be responsible for adding new hires, noting separations (terminations, retirees) and current membership.

E. Will be appointed by the President.

VI. EXECUTIVE BOARD

There shall be an Executive Board of which the aforesaid officers plus the Past-President for a period of up to three months, shall be members.
The Executive Board shall meet at least once a month. This meeting should occur before the regularly scheduled Executive Committee meeting, and its business shall include construction of an agenda for said committee meeting.

VII. POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

In cases of emergencies, the Executive Board shall be empowered to transact all necessary business without the approval of the Executive Committee.

VIII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of: A. The members of the Executive Board.

B. Two (2) delegates from each school representing the teacher chapter.
C. Two (2) at-large delegates representing each other chapter.
D. Each school will also be entitled to one (1) delegate (from any chapter) for every additional fifteen (15) members beyond the first thirty (30) members in the building.
E. Fifty Percent (50%) of the Executive Committee members’ stipend shall be dependent on attendance at scheduled Executive Committee meetings.
F. The Executive Committee shall meet once a month during the school year.

IX. POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A. Shall transact all business pertaining to the Association other than those items later

enumerated in this Constitution. (See X, XIV, XV.)

X. ELECTIONS

The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee Chair and Chapter Coordinators shall be elected by ballot during the week following the Annual Meeting of the Association after members have the opportunity to review the material presented at the Annual Meeting.

Voting will be school-based, with the responsibility for managing the voting given to the building member of the Nominating Committee. Each school will designate a date and time for voting that does not interfere with the regular school schedule. All ballots will be collected and counted by the Nominating Committee. Results shall be announced via email to all members within ten (10) days of the Annual Meeting. Any member is eligible to run for office. Within one (1) week

after the Annual Meeting, the President shall appoint one (1) member in each school to supervise an election by ballot of delegates to serve on the Executive Committee, and their names shall be forwarded by said appointee to the Secretary. If the body is unable to hold a building based election it will be held virtually and run by an officer who is not up for election.

XI. TERM OF OFFICE

The term of office of the officers of the Association shall extend from July 1 following the Annual meeting to June 30 the following year. A transition period for the newly elected officers shall occur from the time of the Annual Meeting until they assume their offices.

XII. VACANCIES

All vacancies on the Executive Committee will be filled for the unexpired term by Presidential appointment.

A vacancy among the Executive Board Officers shall be filled for the unexpired term by Presidential appointment from the Executive Committee.

A vacancy in the offices of Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Professional Rights and Responsibilities Chair as well as the Chapter Coordinator positions shall be filled for the unexpired term by Presidential appointment.

A vacancy in the office of President will be filled by a vote from the floor at a general membership meeting of the NASE, to be conducted within 30 days of the positions becoming vacant.

XIII. REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

Any officer of the NASE may be removed from holding office. Removal procedure will consist of the following steps:
A. A petition requesting a special meeting for the purpose of removing an officer must be presented to the delegates at a regularly scheduled meeting. Said petition must have at least ten (10) signatures of current members.

B. Delegates will vote on said petition. If a majority favors removal, a special meeting of the Association will be set up within two (2) weeks.
C. If two-thirds (2/3) of those members present at the special meeting vote for removal, the officer is immediately relieved of all duties. Salary will be prorated for percent of term served.

XIV. MEETINGS

DEFINITIONS

  1. General Membership Meeting: meetings called by the President and/or meetings called

    by the President upon the written request of fifteen (15) members. (V. POWERS OF THE

    OFFICERS)(PRESIDENT)(A)

  2. Annual Meeting: Meeting held on the last Wednesday in April

  3. Regular Meeting: Scheduled monthly meetings of the Executive Board and Executive

Committee.
4. Special Meeting: Meetings called by the President and/or Chapter Coordinators for

non-regular meetings, including but not limited to building meetings, UNIT meetings, etc. Meetings called by the President for the Executive Board or Executive Committee upon written request of three (3) members (V. POWERS OF THE OFFICERS) (PRESIDENT)(A)

5. Emergency Meeting: Called by the President (V. POWERS OF THE OFFICERS)(PRESIDENT)(A)

A. The Annual Meeting of the Association for the election of officers and for further business and reports shall be held on the last Wednesday in April.
B. The Executive Committee shall meet once a month during the school year.
C. The Executive Board shall meet at least once a month. This meeting should occur before the regularly scheduled Executive Committee meeting, and its business shall include construction of an agenda for said committee meeting.

XV. DUES

A. Each member of the Association shall pay annual dues, the sum of which shall be determined at the Annual Meeting by a majority vote of those present. Dues will either be deducted through the payroll office or paid in full to the NASE Treasurer by December 31st of each year.
B. Special assessments may be voted by a majority of those present at any regular or special meeting of the Association. Such assessments may be used for general operating expenses or special projects.

XVI. ADOPTIONS AND AMENDMENTS
A. This Constitution may be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of any general meeting of the Association at which not less than one-half (1/2) of the members in this Association shall be present.
B. This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the Association by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present provided that the proposed amendment or amendments have been presented in written form to the members of the Association’s Executive Committee at least ten (10) days before the meeting at which the vote is to be taken. Such amendments must be read and explained to the members of the Association before a vote is taken.

XVII. QUORUM

A. Twenty-five (25) members in attendance for general membership meetings and The Annual Meeting shall constitute a quorum.
B. Five (5) members in attendance at an Executive Committee meeting shall constitute a quorum.

D. A quorum for the Executive Board and standing committees shall be a majority of the members.
E. There shall be no quorum for the Negotiating Committee.

XIX. NEGOTIATION TEAMS
A. Membership on all of the following negotiating teams is contingent upon being a member of the NASE.
B. Teams shall be made up of NASE members from the public school system who will negotiate with the Northampton School Committee and NASE members from Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School who will negotiate with the SVAHS Board of Trustees. C. Teams should be representative of all members of the Chapter.

  1. NPS Teachers: Team should include teachers from senior high, middle school, and elementary, counselors, coordinators, department heads, special education, coaches, etc.

  2. NPS Administrators: Team should include elementary, middle school, senior high, directors, etc.

  3. NPS Nurses: Team should include nurses from elementary, middle school and high school.

  4. SVAHS UNIT D: Team should include academic teachers, trade teachers, special education, counselors, etc.

  5. SVAHS Administrators: Team should include representation from both levels of administrators.

  6. NPS Unit C Members: Team should include paraeducators ’s from elementary, middle school, and senior high, and the special collections, etc.

  7. NPS Clerical: Team should include secretaries from the district administrative offices, elementary school, middle school, and high school.

  8. NPS Cafeteria Workers: Team should include cafeteria workers from the elementary schools, middle school, and high school.

  9. NPS Custodial Workers/Bus Drivers: Team should include custodial workers/bus drivers from the elementary schools, middle school, and high school.

  10. Any new chapter’s team should be made up in a similarly representative manner.

D. At least one (1) member of each Negotiating Team should have served during the previous round of negotiations.
E. Membership of each team shall be selected by the Chapter Coordinator and approved by the Executive Board.

F. The President of the NASE or the President’s designee shall be a member of all chapter teams.

G. Each team shall elect a chairperson and a secretary.
H. Teams shall report to the Executive Committee as necessary.

BUDGET

F. Finance: The Executive Board is to submit a budget to the Executive Committee for approval by the time of the first meeting of new delegates in June. The funds of the Association may be expended only in matters consistent with the objectives of the Association.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
A. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of representatives from each public school level and from the Vocational School. Requests for volunteers for this committee shall be made at the February Executive Committee meeting. No person running for office can be a member of the Nominating Committee.
B. The Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee shall be composed of:
One (1) member from Northampton High School,
One (1) from the middle school,
One (1) from the elementary schools,
One (1) member from Administrators’ Chapter and
One (1) member from the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Chapter.
This committee shall develop Association positions on all matters pertaining to rights of Association members, especially grievance procedures.

STIPENDS COMMITTEE

The Executive Board will examine the stipends and recommend if any changes should be considered. This will occur annually. The Committee will report to the Executive Committee at the March meeting.

XIX. POLICIES

A. Scholarship to High School Students (Amount to be determined by a majority vote of
the members at the Annual Meeting.)
B. Affiliated with the MTA and NEA.
C. Send delegation to the NEA Convention (Budget to be decided by the Executive Committee). D. Send delegation to the MTA Convention (Budget to be decided by the Executive Committee).