WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE—
[MODEL] FRAME OF REFERENCE
Name of Local
1. Preamble
This committee shall be called the (NAME OF LOCAL) Women in (Educational) Leadership committee, hereafter referred to as the WIL committee (or WIEL committee). It shall work to advance the interests of women in leadership within the Alberta Teachers Association (the Association) and or / the school division on behalf of the teachers who are members of the (NAME OF LOCAL).
2. Duties and Responsibilities
The WIL committee shall exist for the following reasons:
2.1 To review Local Association structures and practices to identify opportunities to promote and enhance gender equality and women’s participation in all aspects of a member’s employment and Association life.
- To study, monitor and advise Local Council on matters affecting women in/into leadership within public education in Alberta and make recommendations for coordinating the work of the Association related to women in/into leadership.
- To review annually relevant Local Association policy and to submit recommendations to the Local Resolutions Committee, as appropriate; to recommend to Local Council on new policy, as required.
- To undertake research within budgetary limits.
- To constitute subcommittees as needed for the purpose of carrying out its mandate.
- To prepare and submit directly to the Resolutions Committee any reports on relevant resolutions referred to Council by the Annual Representative Assembly.
- To provide opportunities for networking and support for women in leadership.
- To cooperate with the Provincial Women in Leadership committee to advance the cause of and information about women in educational leadership.
3. Membership
The WIL committee shall consist of:
3.1 [Seven to eleven preferred] members of the Local elected by the Local pursuant to this Frame of Reference. They shall be the voting members of the WIL committee.
3.2 The district representative(s). They shall be non‑voting members of the WIL committee.
3.3 The president of the Local or appointee acting in an ex officio capacity.
4. Election of WIL committee
4.1 Members of the WIL committee shall be elected on the basis of a system having due regard for the principle of representation by population. For example [these models are commonly used]:
–two from each of Divisions I, II, III and IV plus three elected at large or seven elected at large or one from each school sized x, two from each school sized 2x and one from the remaining (small) schools
–one who holds the designation of administrator
–one who is a substitute teacher.
5. Executive
The executive officers of the WIL committee shall consist of the chair, vice‑chair and secretary.
6. Duties
6.1 The officers, elected from and by voting members of the WIL committee shall:
6.1.1 chair – chair WIL committee meetings, represent the WIL committee in its relationship with the general membership, attend Local Council meetings and make such reports as required by the Local constitution.
6.1.2 vice-chair – act on behalf of the chair in his/her absence.
6.1.3 secretary – keep an accurate record of all WIL committee meetings and perform such other internal communications functions as may be assigned from time to time.
6.2 The elected members of the WIL committee shall attend all WIL meetings and such other meetings as required by the Local association for purposes of reporting and communicating.
6.3 Absence from three consecutive meetings without reasonable cause or consent will result in that position being declared vacant by a motion of the WIL committee. The member shall be informed of the committee’s decision by the chair.
6.4 A chair shall act only with the consent of a majority of the committee.
7. Term of Office
All WIL committee members, officers and committees are deemed to be elected for a term of _____ year(s). If the local supports term limits –these would be inserted here
8. Emergency Replacements
Vacancies in any office or subcommittee shall be filled at the next properly called meeting of the WIL committee.
9. Meetings of the WIL committee
9.1 Meetings of the WIL committee shall be called by the chair of the WIL committee on the chair’s initiative or at the request of:
9.1.1 a majority of the WIL executive
9.1.2 a majority of voting members of the WIL committee
9.1.3 the president of the Local
10. Quorum
A majority of the voting representatives on the WIL committee shall constitute a quorum.
11. Rules of Procedure
The proceedings of all meetings shall be regulated by the official rules of procedure as published in the ATA Members’ Handbook, except that the chair shall have the full rights to debate and vote as accorded to all other members.
12. Finances
The WIL committee shall prepare and submit to the Local an annual budget.
13. Amendments to this Frame of Reference
13.1 This Frame of Reference may be amended in accordance with the following procedures:
13.1.1 amendments may be initiated by the WIL committee. Such amendments require:
13.1.1.1 that notice of motion to amend be given at a preceding WIL committee meeting,
13.1.1.2 approval by a majority of the WIL committee members,
13.1.1.3 consultation with the Local executive, and
13.1.1.4 approval by a majority of the members of the Local Council.
13.2 Amendments may be initiated by the Local Council. Such amendments require:
13.2.1 that notice of motion of intent to amend be given at a preceding meeting of Local Council
13.2.2 consultation with the WIL committee prior to a vote being taken
13.2.3 approval by a majority of the members of the Local Council
14. Provincial Association Intervention
14.1 In this section,
14.1.1 investigated officer means an officer of the WIL committee whose conduct is under investigation pursuant to subsection (2);0
14.1.2 investigator is the individual appointed by the table officers pursuant to subsection (2);
14.1.3 officer means the chair, vice-chair or secretary of a Wil committee or any other person appointed or elected to a WIL committee thereof;
14.1.4 Provincial Executive Council means the executive council as defined in section 11 of the Teaching Profession Act;
14.1.5 table officers means the Association’s officers as defined in Bylaw 35;
14.1.6 executive secretary means the chief executive officer of the Association or a person designated by the executive secretary; and
14.1.7 staff officer means a member of executive staff designated by the executive secretary.
14.2 Suspension or removal from office of officers
14.2.1 Where the table officers have or receive information which leads them to believe that an officer:
14.2.1.1 has neglected his or her duties to the extent that the proper operation of the WIL committee is being negatively affected,
14.2.1.2 is mentally incapacitated,
14.2.1.3 is engaging in corrupt practices,
14.2.1.4 is engaging in financial malpractice or
14.2.1.5 has undertaken activities inconsistent with the principles and policies of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, the table officers may initiate an investigation into the conduct of the WIL committee officer by appointing an individual to conduct an investigation and to provide a written report to the table officers within a specified time with respect to the results of the investigation.
14.3 In the course of the intervention under section 18, an investigated officer is entitled to have access to a staff officer for advice.
14.4 The table officers may, taking into account the nature of the alleged conduct and the urgency of the matter in question and any submission from the investigated officer, suspend an investigated officer from office pending the completion of the investigation and may terminate the suspension at any time if the table officers conclude that the suspension is no longer warranted.
14.5 The table officers may appoint another individual to assume the duties of the investigated officer during the period of the suspension.
14.6 The investigated officer may appeal a suspension from office under subsection 18.4 to the Provincial Executive Council by filing a notice of appeal with the executive secretary within 30 days of being notified of the suspension.
14.7 If an investigated officer appeals his or her suspension, Provincial Executive Council shall, as soon as practicable, consider representations of the table officers and the investigated officer and shall determine if the suspension should be continued pending the conclusion of the investigation or should be set aside.
14.8 During the investigation the investigated officer shall be provided with an opportunity to provide a response to the investigator with respect to the concerns about the investigated officer’s conduct.
14.9 An investigated officer may, in the course of the investigation, submit his or her resignation to the executive secretary.
14.10 Where an investigated officer resigns in accordance with subsection (9), the investigation shall be continued with the cooperation of the investigated officer and the resignation does not extinguish any liability that the investigated local officer may have with respect to acts which occurred during the period the office was held.
14.11 The investigated officer has a duty to cooperate during the investigation and the investigator may direct the investigated officer or any other member of the Alberta Teachers’ Association to
14.11.1 answer any inquiries the investigator may have relating to the investigation;
14.11.2 produce any records or other property in the investigated officer’s possession or under his or her control that are or may be related in any way to the investigation;
14.11.3 give up possession of any record for the purpose of allowing the investigator to make a copy and return the records within a reasonable time of receiving the records; and
14.11.4 attend before the investigator for the purpose of complying with 18.11.1, 14.11.2 or 14.11.3 of this subsection.
14.12 In the event that the investigated officer fails or refuses to cooperate with the investigator, the failure to do so shall be noted by the investigator in his or her report to the table officers.
14.13 Upon completion of the investigation, the investigator shall submit a written report to the table officers and a copy of the written report shall be provided to the investigated officer.
14.14 The table officers, upon consideration of the report of the investigator, may make one or more of the following orders:
14.14.1 remove the investigated officer from office;
14.14.2 restrict the investigated officer’s eligibility for office in the future;
14.14.3 if the investigated officer was suspended during the investigation, reinstate the investigated officer to office and impose any conditions or restrictions that the table officers consider appropriate in the circumstances and shall advise the investigated officer and Provincial Executive Council of their decision.
14.15 If the table officers remove the investigated officer from office, then the table officers may appoint another individual to assume the duties of the investigated officer until a new officer is elected or appointed to the position in accordance with this frame of reference.
14.16 The investigated officer may appeal the decision of the table officers under subsection 18.14 by filing a notice of appeal with the executive secretary within 30 days after being notified of the decision.
14.17 If an investigated officer appeals the decision of the table officers, Provincial Executive Council shall, as soon as practicable, consider representations of the table officers and the investigated officer and shall determine if the decision of the table officers shall be confirmed, varied or set aside.
14.18 In an appeal under subsection 18.7 or 18.17, the table officers may make submissions to Provincial Executive Council respecting the outcome of the appeal
14.19 Official Trustee
Subject to a two-thirds majority vote, Provincial Executive Council may appoint an official trustee to conduct the affairs of the WIL committee, subject to any terms and conditions the Provincial Executive Council considers necessary:
14.19.1 when the WIL committee fails to comply with the requirements of section 2;
14.19.2 when the WIL committee fails to comply with the requirements of section 13;
14.19.3 when the Provincial Executive Council considers it in the interests of the Association to do so.
14.20 The WIL committee may appeal the appointment of an official trustee to a representative assembly.
14.21 An official trustee appointed under subsection 18.19 has the powers and duties conferred by the General Bylaws on a WIL committee and conferred by this frame of reference;
14.22 On appointment of an official trustee to the WIL committee, the officers of the WIL committee cease to hold office as officers of the WIL committee.
14.23 An official trustee continues in office until the Provincial Executive Council or a representative assembly determines that the official trusteeship is no longer necessary.
[Model Frame of Reference approved by Provincial Executive Council 2019 10 ]
