2019 AEA Representative Assembly Update

REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY UPDATE

Educators from across Arkansas elected new adopted several bylaw amendments and new business items at the 2019 AEA Representative Assembly.

The RA is the primary legislative and policymaking body of the AEA. The AEA Board of Directors and members elected as delegates to represent their local associations gather the first weekend in November each year to vote on the business of the association.

Delegates attending the RA proposed, debated, and voted on new business items for the Association. The body voted to add a list of public school districts with links to their personnel policies to the “Members Only” tab of AEAonline.org. They also voted to provide a “green option” to any member who chooses to opt out of receiving paper copies of items including the annual pocket calendar, conference handouts and schedules. The delegates also voted to require any member who travels using AEA funds or representing AEA to report a brief summary of the experience (with AEA establishing a process to share the information). The body also passed a NBI to send members quarterly progress reports on all new business items via the President’s newsletter, and posted to the members only section of the website. Delegates also passed a directive to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to review and update language to reflect the actual procedures by which dues are determined. Another NBI was referred to the Elections Committee regarding the election of ESP board positions.

Delegates also voted by secret ballot to approve three proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws. The first amendment establishes specific procedures by which a local affiliate may terminate its affiliation with the AEA to align with current language of National Education Association Bylaws that passed at the NEA RA 2019.

The second amendment clarifies the rights of AEA-Retired as they have been exercised in years past. The language changes make plain that AEA-Retired are part of the general membership with voting rights in elections for AEA-R and AEA.

The third amendment established procedures to censure a board member. It states in part: “A Board Member may be censured for a violation of the Board of Directors Code of Ethics, but such censure shall not occur without a due process hearing...” The amendment was recommended by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee in 2017.

Delegates with full voting rights also elected LaKeitha Austin (Little Rock EA) as Alternate NEA Director, as well as Emry Chesterfield (Pulaski Association of Support Staff) and Evelyn Wilson-Thomas (Strong-Huttig EA) as at-large ESP members of the AEA Board of Directors.

This year’s RA will be held November 6th and 7th, 2020 in Little Rock. To learn how you can participate in the RA as a delegate representing your local, contact your building rep, UniServ Director, or visit www.aeaonline.org.