VII. Committees

1. Bargaining Team

a. The Executive Board shall appoint members of the Bargaining Team, its chairperson, and such alternates as deemed necessary to represent and to bargain for the bargaining unit.

b. Vacancies created for any reason may be filled by an appointment by the Executive Board.

c. The Executive Board, by a two‑thirds (2/3) vote, may remove any member of the bargaining team.

d. Responsibility and authority for directing the bargaining process on behalf of the Association is vested in the Executive Board subject to direction established by the membership.

e. The Bargaining Team shall report its activities to the Executive Board in such form and with such frequency as the Executive Board may require.

f. The Executive Board shall provide for the dissemination of information regarding bargaining and the activities of the Bargaining Team to the general membership.

g. Agreements reached between the Bargaining Team and the School Board or its representatives shall be considered tentative and not binding upon the Association until such agreements have been ratified by the membership.

2. Grievance Committee

a. The President shall appoint, with the majority approval of the Executive Board, members of the Grievance Committee to carry out the procedures for grievance processing.

b. Vacancies created for any reason may be filled by an appointment by the President with the majority approval of the Executive Board.

c. Grievance Committee procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Providing for representation to assist all members of the bargaining unit in processing grievances;

(2) Training for handling grievances;

(3) Evaluation of the Association's grievance procedure; and

(4) Keeping the Executive Board fully informed regarding the operation of the grievance program and making recommendations to the Executive Board regarding submission of any grievance to arbitration as indicated below:

d. Whenever a grievance submitted by a unit member is to be considered for arbitration, the following shall apply:

(1) The Grievance Committee shall meet to make a recommendation to the Executive Board as to whether a grievance shall be taken to arbitration. The grievant(s) shall be given an opportunity to meet with the Grievance Committee for giving input before the Grievance Committee’s vote on its recommendation.

(2) The Executive Board shall meet to act on the Grievance Committee's recommendation as to whether a grievance shall be taken to arbitration. The grievant(s) shall be given an opportunity to meet with the Executive Board for giving input before the Executive Board's vote on whether or not a grievance shall be taken to arbitration. The decision of the Executive Board shall be final.

e. Whenever a grievance filed by the Association is to be considered for arbitration, then by order of the President or the Executive Board, the grievance may be directly submitted to the Executive Board for an arbitration decision.

f. In deciding whether a grievance shall be taken to arbitration, the Grievance Committee and/or Executive Board actions shall be guided by the following criteria:

(1) The facts of the case and contract interpretations that may dictate whether the case can be won;

(2) The impact of either a favorable or adverse arbitration decision on the entire bargaining unit;

(3) Reasonable offers of a fair settlement to the grievance presented to the Association; and

(4) The cost of the arbitration. Cost shall not be the sole criterion.

3. Political Action Committee

a. The President shall appoint, with the majority approval of the Executive Board, members of the Political Action Committee to organize and inform the membership regarding legislative issues and to pursue political ends.

b. Vacancies created for any reason may be filled by an appointment by the President with the majority approval of the Executive Board.

c. The Political Action Committee shall regularly report activities and initiate policies subject to the majority approval of the Executive Board.

d. Political policies shall require the majority approval of the Representative Council.

4. Elections Committee

a. The President shall appoint, with the majority approval of the Executive Board, members of the Election Committee to supervise the voting operations of Association general elections, special elections, the recall of Faculty Representatives, and to provide adequate controls over the form, distribution, return, counting, and disposition of ballots.

b. Vacancies created for any reason may be filled by an appointment by the President with the majority approval of the Executive Board.

c. The Election Committee shall serve as tellers (vote counters) for the Association.

d. In the case of any recall, the Election Committee shall tally and verify the recall petition(s) to determine compliance with recall requirements.

5. Organizing Committee

a. The President shall appoint, with the majority approval of the Executive Board, members of the Organizing Committee to carry out the procedures for facilitating communication and participation throughout the Association.

b. Vacancies created for any reason may be filled by an appointment by the President with the majority approval of the Executive Board.

c. During crisis situations, and with the majority approval of the Executive Board, the Organizing Committee shall plan and execute events, actions, and activities in response to the demands of the crisis.

6. Budget Committee

a. The President shall appoint, with the majority approval of the Executive Board, members of the Budget Committee to monitor budget expenditures, prepare a budget for presentation to the Representative Council, and to arrange for a yearly audit of Association accounts.

b. Vacancies created for any reason may be filled by an appointment by the President with the majority approval of the Executive Board.

c. The fiscal year shall be defined as the period of time between September 1 and the following August 31.

7. Special (Ad hoc) Committees

a. A special committee may be established by any of the following methods:

(1) The President may establish a special committee and assign members thereto, with the majority approval of the Executive Board, to carry out a single function.

(2) The Executive Board, by a majority vote, may establish a special committee and assign members thereto, with the majority approval of the Representative Council, to carry out a single function.

(3) The Representative Council, by a majority vote, may establish a special committee and assign members thereto to carry out a single function.

b. A special committee shall be authorized for a specified time not to exceed six (6) months.

c. The body that established the special committee may discontinue the committee and may add or remove members subject to the conditions under which the committee was created.

8. Collective Bargaining Agreement Committees

a. Committees authorized by the Collective Bargaining Agreement shall be established and staffed by the President with the majority approval of the Executive Board.

b. Vacancies created for any reason may be filled by an appointment by the President with the majority approval of the Executive Board.

c. Committees authorized by the Collective Bargaining Agreement shall stand for the duration of that authorization.

9. A member of a committee, either standing or special, shall serve at the discretion of the authority and/or body that created the committee and assigned members thereto.

10. Each committee shall submit periodic reports to the Executive Board and/or Representative Council as appropriate.

11. Each committee shall submit periodic and timely written information to the Vice President regarding the activities of the committee. The information shall include an agenda prior to a meeting and minutes of the meeting.