HISTORY OF Grove Classroom Teachers Association "GCTA"
The Grove Classroom Teachers Association was organized November 20, 1975 in order to bring Grove faculty into a local unit apart from the Delaware County Association. The purpose of organizing this local was to promote greater participation among teachers in formulation of educational policies and in solutions of school problems.
The constitution was adopted December 19, 19765. After a professional negotiations agreement was reached between the Board of Education and the GCTA, procedures and grievances procedures were ratified. Since that time, many additional gains have been made to facilitate the teaching environment.
The following are some of the items which have been negotiated by teachers for teachers: class size (no more than 25 recommended), preparation periods, payment for activity duties on volunteer basis (extra duty), fringe benefits (single health, dental, vision, life), fully paid retirement, $50.00 a day for ever day over 60 unused sick leave, substitute pay (equal to 1/7 of salary) for use of planning period, sick-leave bank, calendar input, and, of course, bargained salary schedules. Counselors at each site curriculum committees. reading and gifted programs were introduced, discussed, and some instigated over the bargaining table. These did not exist before GCTA.
Some of the activities traditionally sponsored by the GCTA during the year are an awarded scholarship to a Grove graduate majoring in education, teacher-of-the-year selection and recognition, and an end-of-year recognition dinner for the scholarship recipient, teacher of the year and retirees.
This organization is thirty years old. It has seen many leaders. It has been strong, however, because of professional educators who were willing to share ideas, time, expertise, and yes, a bit of money to improve the quality of education here at Grove. Teachers who stand together can change for the better education itself.
2006-07 COMMITTEES
BUILDING REPRESENTATIVES/COMMUNICATIONS:
These members are vital to the free flow of information within the association. They are responsible for notifying the association of activities, administrative communications, meeting dates, etc.
LEGISLATIVE:
Local, state, and national legislation affects our teachers and education in general. This committee lobbies for 100% participation by members in the democratic process.
PROCESS RELATIONS:
This committee will work with other educational supporters in our community to educate the public of the successes and needs of our school district. Creating partners in education fosters a stronger educational system.
SCHOLARSHIP:
This committee is charged with the selection of our scholarship recipient, a Grove Public Schools graduate, majoring in education.
TEACHERS RIGHTS:
This committee insures that all teachers are treated fairly and that policies of this school district are upheld equitably. A grievance policy can be found within this booklet.
NEGOTIATIONS:
State law mandates that teachers must negotiate salary and benefits. GCTA is recognized as the negotiating body in this district. This committee negotiates with the School Boards Committee to establish policies relating to teachers.
SOCIAL:
This committee plans any social functions of the association. The “End-of-the-Year Dinner” is one such function.
MEMBERSHIP:
This committee’s goal is to increase membership. Strength truly does lie in members.
ELECTIONS:
This committee is charged with yearly officer election, delegate assembly representative election, etc.
NOTE: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (BOARD OF DIRECTORS) CONSISTS OF BUILDING REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS, OFFICERS, AND PAST PRESIDENT.
NEGOTIATED ITEMS
(the items below are paraphrased; actual items are with the president; 2006-07 items are still being negotiated at the time of this printing)
SALARY SCHEDULE (2005-06)… SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULES FOR 2005-06 SCHEDULES
EXTRA-DUTY PAY (2005-06)… SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULES FOR 2005-06 SCHEDULE
RETIREMENT: The Grove School District will pay, as part of the Teachers’ Compensation Schedule, the full cost of each teacher’s required contribution to the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System less the amount paid by the State as a TR credit.
INSURANCES: The Grove Board of Education shall provide for Each certified personnel a single health policy, a dental policy, a vision policy, and a life insurance policy for 2005-06 as fringe benefits.
SICK LEAVE REIMBURSEMENT: Reimbursement for unused sick leave shall be made at the rate of $50.00 per day for each day above sixty (60) days accumulated, not to exceed 120 days. Request for such reimbursement must be made between June 1 and June 25 to be processed during the current fiscal year…
SICK LEAVE BANK: A member suffering from a catastrophic illness may be allowed to withdraw additional days from the bank, upon written request by the member accompanied by a doctor statement. (first year of sick leave bank membership at Grove Public Schools – 20 days; second year of sick leave bank membership – 40 days; beginning on the third year of membership in the sick leave bank, member shall be considered fully vested and number of additional days to be withdrawn from the bank shall be at the discretion of the sick leave standing committee not to exceed 180 days)… note – you must donate one day to be a member of the sick leave bank; withdrawal forms are available from president or superintendent’s office.
COMPENSATION FOR PREPARATION PERIOD: Compensation shall be provided for each certified personnel when his/her preparation period is used for a purpose other than that intended, unless previous mutual agreement between said teacher and the building administrator has been obtained. Compensation shall be at a rate of one-seventh (1/7) of the teacher base salary.
CLASS SIZE: To insure the opportunity of providing all children the highest quality educational experience, the Board recommends that the class size be limited to 25 in regular and special programs, with exceptions in bank, vocal music, and physical education. While it is not always possible to do so, every attempt will be made to limit classes to this’ number. No class should exceed 30… note – state law limits some classes to smaller numbers that these negotiated.
CALENDAR COMMITTEE: The GCTA shall form a calendar committee consisting of the following people: all building level principals, PTA president, one (1) board member, and a teacher from each school site. This committee shall submit a maximum of three (3) school calendars to the Superintendent and the Board of Education for consideration. These proposed calendars should reflect dates to insure a September 10th pay day.
SCHOOL DAY: Beginning with the move to the new high school the following class starting and transportation times will begin.
Teachers on Site Classes Start Classes End Teachers off Duty
High School 8:00 am 8:25 am 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
UE / MS 8:05 am 8:35 am 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Lower Elem. 8:00 am 8:20 am 3:10 pm 3:20 pm
note – your work day has increased by 20 minutes since 1991.
Other items such as “Reduction in Force,” “Pay date Contingency,” and other which affect your teaching environment can be found with your president. Many earlier Negotiated items such as the “gifted program,” “additional counselors,” “personal Leaves” and others have been deleted as state law has mandated.
1975 CONSTITUTION OF THE GROVE CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
This document supersedes any previous constitution completely and all provisions and amendments thereof.
ARTICLE 1 – Name
The name of this organization shall be THE GROVE CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE 2 - Affiliation
The association shall affiliate:
With the Oklahoma Education Association, and
With the National Education Association.
ARTICLE 3 - Purposes
To promote within the teaching group the highest type of professional practices; to encourage active participation of all teachers in the solution of school problems; to promote democratic participation in the formulation of educational policies; and to arouse allegiance to a genuine spirit of professional ethics.
To encourage high qualifications for entrance into the teaching profession; to promote teacher participation in school management; to aid in securing and maintaining adequate salaries, tenure, sound retirement systems, and such other improvements in conditions as will improve growth, morale, and security of teachers and will guarantee quality service both to the child and to the community enabling teachers to function properly as vital factors in educational progress.
To promote, encourage, and assist other local organizations of all teachers and to promote cooperation among such organizations and the members thereof.
To cooperate with parent-teacher associations and other civic bodies having educational objectives and to aid in interpreting to the public the problems, the functions, and the steady progress of the public schools.
To encourage teachers to exercise their rights and privileges as citizens and to accept, willingly, leadership in civic affairs.
To serve as a proving ground for classroom teachers ideas – their values, workability, and soundness.
To support and strengthen local, UniServ, state and national associations through participation and understanding of the programs and goals.
ARTICLE 4 – Membership
Any classroom teacher or associate is eligible for membership providing such person has paid his annual dues, and qualify for active membership under provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Oklahoma Education Association.
Active membership in the Unit, the State, and the National Education Association shall be required for Active membership in this Association.
The term classroom teacher shall mean any person devoting a major part of his time to classroom teaching or allied work considered as teaching in the local salary schedule, providing such person has no power of rating other teachers service.
An associate membership in the Association is available to a retired classroom teacher, they shall have all the rights and privileges of active member except those of serving on the executive committee and as chairman for committees.
Membership shall not be denied any employee of the Grove School District, who is otherwise eligible, because of age, race, sex, or religious, physical disability, or national origin.
Membership shall be continuous until the member’s employment causes membership eligibility to change, or until he leaves the employment of the school system, resigns in writing from the Association, or fails to pay membership dues.
The Executive Board may suspend from membership rights or expel any member who they find in willful violation of the constitution and by-laws after a full and fair investigation.
Any member in good standing has the right to file a complaint alleging such violations of the constitution and by-laws. Such complaints shall be in writing and submitted to the President of the Association.
Members so charged with violations of said constitution and by-laws shall be notified in writing of the time and place when the Executive Board shall hear the charges. The person shall also be notified that they shall have the right to be present with counsel of their choice during such meeting, shall have the right to cross-examine witnesses and offer other testimony judged beneficial to that persons defense.
The Executive Board hearing shall not be sooner than five (5) school days following notification to the accused that they have been charged. Such notice shall include a copy of the submitted charges.
Any decision of the Executive Board may be appealed to the Representative Assembly of this Association at its next regular meeting.
ARTICLE 5 – Meetings
The association shall meet at least one time each month during the school year. A special meeting may be called at anytime by any executive officer with approval of the executive committee.
ARTICLE 6 – Amendments
The Representative Assembly may adopt amendments to this constitution by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those voting at any regular meeting provided that proposed amendments have been introduced at the preceding regular meeting of the Representative Assembly and that copies of the proposed amendments have been immediately thereafter distributed to members of the association.
ARTICLE 7 – Dissolution
This Association may be dissolved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and entitled to vote at any membership meeting or special meeting called for that purpose, provided that notice of dissolution was made at the preceding regular meeting of the Representative Assembly.
Upon dissolution, the Executive Board, after making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the Association, shall dispose of all the assets of the Association by distribution to such organization or organizations organized and operated for purposes comparable to this Association.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1 – Rules of Order
Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the authority on parliamentary law for the general meetings, board of directions meetings, and executive meetings on all questions of procedures not specifically stated in this constitution and by-laws.
The president shall have the authority to designate a parliamentarian for any or all meetings.
ARTICLE 2 – Meetings
Monthly meetings shall be held by the Representative Assembly on the first Wednesday of each month at 3:50 p.m.
Special meeting shall be held at the call of the president, the president shall call a special meeting for a specific purpose upon the written request of five members, or by provisions stated in the Constitution.
ARTICLE 3 - DUES
The annual dues shall be $12.50 per member, payable at the first meeting in September.
ARTICLE 4 - QUORUM
A quorum for all meetings shall consist of a majority of the members present.
ARTICLE 5 - AMENDMENTS
The by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote at any regular meeting, providing notice in writing of a proposed amendment shall have been filed with the secretary and presented at the monthly meeting preceding the one at which it is to be voted on. The building representative shall be responsible for notifying the classroom teachers in his building on proposed amendments.
ARTICLE 6 - FISCAL YEAR
NEA BY-LAWS, Sec.8-7F. The Fiscal Year of this Association shall begin on the first day of September and end on the thirty-first day of August each year.
ARTICLE 7 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Nominations
All active and reserve members of this Association may nominate a candidate or declare their own candidacy for any office or position scheduled for election during the month of February of each year.
Names of the persons nominated shall be submitted to the Committee for Elections who shall report such nominations to the Representative Assembly at its March meeting.
Every Effort will be made to encourage minority participation in the governance and committee structure of the association.
Representative Assembly delegates or other association members present at the March meeting of the Representative Assembly may further nominations for any open position on the floor.
Balloting
On the first school day in April, all active and reserve members in good standing shall vote for candidates nominated.
Voting shall be by secret written ballot in accordance with procedures developed by the Representative Assembly.
Faculty representatives shall have charge of the election in their attendance center.
Officers or members-at-large may be elected by a write-in-vote.
A plurality shall be required for election.
The Committee on Elections shall report the results of the election to the President, who shall cause them to be published, within forty-eight (48) hours.
ARTICLE 8 - UNIT REPRESENTATIVES
Elections
Representatives shall be elected on a basis of one (1) per twenty-five (25) of this association's members, or major fraction thereof, in each unit.
No unit of group shall have less than one representative; the President may declare the seat unfilled and call for a faculty election to fill out the remainder of the term.
The President shall direct the Committee for Elections to organize this special election.
Article 9 – Election of Delegates to Serve in State and National Assemblies
The Representative Assembly shall annually provide for the election of the allocated delegates and alternatives to the various Delegate Assemblies.
The election as President of the Association shall be considered election as one of those allocated delegates.
All active and reserve members of this association shall be eligible for election and shall have the right to vote in the election by secret ballot for any other allocated delegate seat.
Article 10 – Terms of Office
Officers – All terms of office shall begin on May 1 and have a term of 1 year.
Article 11 – Officers and Board
The officers of the association shall consist of a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer.
The Executive Committee shall consist of the president, the vice-president, the secretary, the treasurer and the retiring president.
There shall be a representative body with full governing powers to be known as the Board of Directors which shall consist of the elected officers and at least one elected representative from the lower elementary, upper elementary, middle school, and high school units. A unit shall be permitted one representative for each twenty-five (25) members or fraction thereof. It shall also include the chairmen of standing committees, but said chairmen are to be without voting privileges.
Article 12 – Duties and Terms of Officers
All officers shall take office on the date of the last meeting of the current school year. In case of a vacancy in any office occurs, it shall be filled by the Board of Directors recommending to the Representative Assembly that the office be declared vacant. An office declared vacant by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Representative Assembly meeting in regular session shall immediately be filled for the unexpired term by election of a replacement from the membership of the Representative Assembly with the following exception in case of vacancy in the office of president, the vice-president shall succeed to the office for the unexpired term.
All officers must be either active, reserve, or life members of the Oklahoma Education Association and the National Education Association at the time of their election and during the term of their office.
The president shall preside at the meetings of the association, of the Board of Directors and of the executive committee. He/she shall, with the treasurer, sign all vouchers authorized by the Board of Directors. He/she shall appoint all committees not otherwise provided for, subject to the approval of the Board of directors, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. He shall countersign all expense accounts before presentation to the treasurer for payment. The president shall be responsible for preparing an agenda for regularly scheduled meetings.
The vice-president shall assume all duties of the president in case of absence or resignation of the president. He/she shall also serve as chairman of the program committee.
The secretary shall keep a record of all meeting of the association, of the board of directors, and of the executive committee. He/she shall also serve as the chairman for the program committee. He/she shall prepare and keep on file a list of the names and addresses of the members, of the board of directors and of the executive committee. A member of the board of directors by reason of continued absence from meetings shall forfeit his membership on the board. In cases of this kind, the secretary shall notify the president and ask that the office be declared vacant by the board. The secretary shall also take care of all correspondence pertaining to the business of the organization as directed by the president. The secretary shall at all times keep on hand a copy of the latest revision of this Constitution.
The treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all dues. He/she shall have charge of all funds of the association, shall deposit them in the bank in the name of the association, and shall disburse them as authorized by the executive committee. Together with the president, he/she shall sign all vouchers authorized by the board of directors.
The retiring president shall serve as a member of the executive committee for one year after the expiration of his/her term of office.
The unit (faculty) representative shall call attendance at center meetings of this Association’s membership to discuss Association business. He/she shall discover the wishes of the members which he represents and interpret them to the board of directors.
Article 13 – Board of Directors
Upon the board of directors shall rest the duties, responsibilities, and final authority for the conduct of the association in all matters except as stated otherwise in the constitution and by-laws; provided that they may at any time refer any matter to the entire membership for general consideration, with the board prescribing the manner of voting thereon.
The meetings of the board of directors shall meet once a month to be held at the call of the president. It shall be the duty of the board to act upon matters of business which are to be presented at the regular meetings of the association, and to fill vacancies which may arise between the regular meetings.
Article 14 – Executive committee
The executive committee shall expedite in every possible way the legislative and executive business of the board of directors. It shall consider all matters presented for the attention of the board between sessions, and shall make a report with recommendations at each meeting to the board. It shall also serve as an executive body in all matters delegated to it. It shall meet with the board of directors, or upon called by the president.
Article 15 – Representative Assembly
Members of the Representative Assembly must be regular, reserve, or life members of the Association during the term of their office.
Article 16 - Standing Committees
There shall be the following standing committees, appointed by the president an subject to the approval of the board of directors; program, social, legislative and resolutions, teacher welfare, public relations, teacher rights, and committee on elections.
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The duties of the program committee shall be to provide assistance to the president and board of directors in planning programs.
The duties of the social committee shall be to provide refreshments for the monthly meeting or any other planned social event.
The duties of the legislative and resolutions committee shall be to keep members informed in legislative matters, to make reports of desirable candidates for elections, to establish the maintain good relationships with Congressmen and state and local officials, to get all teachers to register and vote. This committee shall work with state and national associations and other groups proposing or supporting legislation concerning education. The legislative and resolutions committee shall study all proposed resolutions to both the local and state constitutions. This committee shall be responsible for putting all locally proposed resolutions to the state constitution in the proper form for submission to the state organization.
The duties of the committee on teacher welfare shall be to work with committees on such problems as salary, teacher load, sick leave, retirement, tenure, credit unions, and other needs of the members.
The duties of the committee on elections shall be to present the slate of officers for each election, prepare ballots and all other materials relating to elections.
The duties of the public relations committee shall be to plan activities to inform and keep the public alerted to the problems, program and purposes of the school system and teaching profession. This committee must work closely with the administration.
The duties of the teacher rights committee shall be to act as teacher advocate; to process grievances of teachers as spelled out by the Grievance Procedure; to insure that teachers are accorded due process; to safeguard rights of teachers provided by state and by board of education policy. The further duties of this committee shall be to investigate thoroughly any charges made against a teacher and make a recommendation for further action. Any investigation of a complaint against a teacher shall be limited to teacher commitments as listed in the Code of Ethics adopted by the National Education Association.
Article XVII – Special Committees
The President shall appoint committees as needed for expeditious handling of association business, and shall discharge them upon completion of their duties.
The President shall appoint an auditing committee of three or four people to audit books in April.
No officer of the association shall serve on either the elections committee or on the audit committee.
The negotiations committee shall be elected at large by a majority vote of the certificated personnel within the district.
A. The committee shall be composed of seven (7) members; five (5) active and two (2) alternates.
B. Members wishing to participate shall declare their intent to the president in September.
C. The president shall recommend for any undeclared positions.
D. The committee on elections shall be responsible for conducting the balloting during the first week in October in compliance with Article VII, Section 2,B,C,D,E,F, of the By-laws.
E. All ballots shall remain in the files of the secretary for the duration of any negotiated agreement, that they apply.
F. One copy of the authorization to negotiate shall be maintained on file by the secretary and one by the committee chairman.
G. The committee shall have the authority to direct and implement committees necessary for its functioning, in any area except governance of the association.