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CTABC Constitution and By-Laws:
(Editorial: In 1960, forty years ago, a small group ot Teachers and Principals, put into place a constitution and by-laws that would generate the framework within which the CTABC organization could flourish. Although the language may be somewhat dated, in essence it captures the vision of what Christian Schools were about at that time. In many ways little has changed. The current Mission, Vision and Core Values of the CTABC adopted in 2008 share a wonderful heritage with those who went before us. We thank God for the foresight of those men and women who laid the foundations of our organization.)
Article I. NAME
This society shall be called the SCS - Christian Teachers' Association of British Columbia, hereinafter referred to as the Association.
Article II. PURPOSE
The purposes of this Association are:
a. to promote and to improve Christian education in general
b. to promote and maintain high standards of professional training
Article III. VISION STATEMENT
In Scripture God calls teachers both individually and collectively to be images of Him. As such, they are to be responsible, creative and reflective practitioners. Faithfulness requires C.T.A., a community of Christian educators, to be involved in professional growth towards a deepened vision of their task in education, a formative activity.
Professional formation includes articulating goals, involving teachers in planning and implementation, assisting and encouraging members to take charge of growth, personally and collectively, and attaining and distributing necessary resources.
Basis
Believing that Christian education is implicit in the covenant established between God and His children, we hold as a continuing duty our obligation to further the cause of Christian education by dedication to, and diligence in, the pursuit of our calling as Christian teachers and administrators.
Therefore, it is proposed that, under the guiding hand of our covenant God, and subject to His will, an organization of professional-minded Christian school teachers in British Columbia shall work as a functioning instrument in this area of Kingdom labour.
The basis of the Association is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, the infallible Word of God, as explicated in Reformed creedal standards. On the basis of this we affirm the following principles for Christian education:
1. The Bible
That God by His Holy Word reveals Himself; renews man's understanding of God, of man himself, of his fellowman, and of his world; directs man in all his relationships and activities; and therefore guides His people also in the education of their children.
2. Creation
That is their education, children must come to learn that the world, and man's calling in it, can rightly be understood only in their relation to the Triune God who by His creation, restoration, and governance directs all things to the coming of His kingdom and the glorification of His Name.
3. Sin
That because of man's sin, which brought upon all mankind the curse of God, alienates him from His Creator, his neighbour, and the world, distorts his view of the true meaning and purpose of life, and misdirects human culture, man's sin also corrupts the education of children.
4. Jesus Christ
That through our Saviour, Jesus Christ, there is renewal of our educational enterprise because He is the Redeemer of, and the Light and Way for our human life in all its range and variety. Only through Him and the work of His spirit are we guided in the truth and recommitted to our original calling.
5. Schools
That the purpose of Christian schools is to educate children for a life of obedience to their calling in this world as image bearers of God; that this calling is to know God's Word and His creation, to consecrate the whole of human life to God, to love their fellow human beings, and to be stewards in their God-given cultural task.
6. Parents
That the primary responsibility for education rests upon parents to whom children are entrusted by God, and that Christian parents should accept this obligation through school associations and school boards which engage the services of Christian teachers in Christian schools.
7. Teachers
That Christian teachers, both in obedience to God and in cooperation with parents, have a unique pedagogical responsibility while educating the child in school.
8. Pupils
That Christian schools must take into account the variety of abilities, needs, and responsibilities of young persons; that the endowments and calling of young persons as God's image bearers and their defects and inadequacies as sinners require that such learning goals and such curricula will be selected as will best prepare them to live as obedient Christians; and that only with constant attention to such pedagogical concerns will education be truly Christian.
9. Community
That because God's covenant embraces not only parents and their children but also the whole Christian community to which they belong, and because Christian education contributes directly to the advancement of God's kingdom, it is the obligation not only of the parents but also of this Christian community to establish and maintain Christian schools, to pray and work for them, and to give generously in their support.
10. Education Freedom
That Christian schools, organized and administered in accordance with legitimate standards and provisions for day schools, should be fully recognized in society as free to function according to these principles.
Article III shall be unalterable.
THE BY-LAWS
Changes made to the By-laws in 2006 are noted at the end of the document. They affect Art.1 Sec. 1.
Article I. Membership
Section 1. Membership is open to a person who:
a. is employed as a teacher, superintendent, or administrator in a Christian school recognized under the Independent School Act, and
b. agrees with the Constitution.
Section 2. Voting rights pertain only to those who are members in good standing. Payment of fees shall qualify a person for membership from August 1 to July 31 of the following year.
Section 3. Associate members are those who:
a. are employed as paraprofessionals such as teachers assistants, instructional assistants, librarians, etc., in a Christian school recognized under the Independent School Act and meet condition (b) of Article I, Section 1; or
b. are no longer actively engaged in teaching in a Christian school and meet condition (b) of Article I, Section 1.
c. are Christians teaching in other schools and meet condition (b) of Article I, Section 1.
Associate members do not have voting rights and may not serve on the Executive Board.
Section 4. Honorary membership status may be granted to members who have retired from the teaching profession and have taught at least twenty-five years in a Christian school. Honorary membership may also be granted at the discretion of the Executive. An honorary member shall pay no dues, have no vote, may not serve on the Executive Board and may attend the CTABC Convention as a guest of the CTABC.
Article II. Removal of Membership
Section 1. A person shall cease to be a member of the Association
a. by delivering his/her resignation in writing to the secretary of the Association or by mailing or delivering it to the address of the Association, or
b. on his/her death, or
c. on having been a member, not in good standing, for two consecutive months, or
d. on being expelled
Section 2. By motion of the Executive any member may be removed upon approval of two thirds of the membership voting at any duly called meeting. A motion of removal of a member must be sent to all members at least four weeks prior to the meeting at which the said motion will be voted upon.
Section 3. All members are in good standing except a member who has failed to pay his/her current annual membership fee or any other subscription or debt due and owing by him/her to the Association and s/he is not in good standing so long as the debt remains unpaid.
Article III. Meeting of the Members
Section 1. The Executive shall, at least once a year, convene the membership in an Annual General Meeting to advance the purposes of the Association. This meeting will be held during the convention in October.
Section 2. The Executive shall call further meetings as it sees fit.
Section 3. a. The membership, upon presentation to the Executive of a written request signed by at least ten percent of the total membership, shall thereby compel a general meeting to be called no later than three weeks after such request is presented to the Executive. Such a request must include the reason(s) for the calling of such a meeting, and shall be delivered or sent by registered mail to the address of the Association.
b. If, within 21 days after the date of delivery of the request, the Executive does not convene a general meeting, the requisitionist, or a majority of them, may themselves convene a general meeting to be held within four months after the date of the delivery of the requisition.
c. A general meeting convened by the requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner, as nearly as possible, as general meetings are convened by the Executive.
Section 4. a. The Executive shall prepare the agenda for the general meeting and special meetings.
b. A proposed agenda shall be sent to all members at least six weeks prior to the meetings, except a meeting called under Article III, Section 3a. Members may respond to these proposals.
c. A final agenda with motions shall be prepared and sent to members at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
Section 5. The number of members present at the meeting duly called within two weeks of notification (Section 4 of this Article) shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6. The procedures at the meetings duly called shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Parliamentary Procedures, unless the By-Laws of this Association direct otherwise.
Section 7. a. Motions proposed on the agenda will require a simple majority of the quorum to be carried.
b. Every member of the Association may request an absentee ballot for motions included on the Agenda. In such a case, the official ballot must be returned in a sealed envelope signed on the outside by the member. Any such absentee ballot shall be included in the quorum.
c. Voting by proxy is not permitted.
Section 8. Only business stated on the Agenda may be voted upon. Any other business discussed shall appear on the Agenda of the next general meeting.
Section 9. The general membership may instruct the Executive to conduct a mail vote. The Executive may also, at its discretion, conduct a mail vote. Such a mail vote shall be conducted as described in the order received from the Registrar of Companies.
Article IV. Organization and the Executive
Section 1. The Director shall be hired by the Association. The Executive assumes responsibility to select a candidate to fill this position. The Director is accountable to the Executive.
Section 2. Five to nine general officers shall be elected as needed, at the general meeting held in October. The Executive positions of President, Vice-President (High School), Vice-President (Elementary), Secretary, and Treasurer will be decided upon by the board at the first meeting after the election. These officers shall assume their duties thereafter.
Section 3. Executive officers shall be elected at the general meeting for a three-year term. Any member of the Executive may be removed from office upon approval of two-thirds of the members voting at a general meeting. Motion for removal of an officer must be sent to all members four weeks prior to the meeting at which said motion is to be voted upon.
Section 4. No more than two members employed by one school association may be elected to the Executive. No member of the Executive shall receive any remuneration for services rendered. A minimum of 75% of the Board members shall be teachers currently employed by a Christian School. (Oct 2007)
Section 5. a. The duties of the President shall be:
i. to preside at all general meetings
ii. to represent the Association
iii. to call the Executive into meeting, as s/he deems necessary, with a minimum of four times per year.
b. Either one of the Vice-Presidents shall serve in the event of the President's absence or incapacity to act.
c. The Secretary shall have charge of the archives of the Association, shall prepare and preserve a record of all meetings of the Association and of the Executive, and shall prepare and distribute the agendas for all meetings in accordance with the By-Laws.
d. The Treasurer shall have charge of all monies of the Association and shall keep records of receipts and disbursements. S/he shall submit a report of the accounts and financial condition of the Association at the Annual General Meeting and shall prepare financial statements whenever requested to do so by the Executive.
e. The duties of the Director shall be:
i. to be a member ex officio of the Board and all committees
ii. to represent the Association
iii. to be the CTABC liaison with SCSBC, the Ministry of Education and other such organizations
iv. to oversee continued professional development
v. to facilitate communication between teachers and schools
vi. to be responsible for clerical and financial matters as determined by the Executive.
Section 6. a. The Executive shall meet a minimum of four times per year
b. the Executive shall transact the business of the Association in the manner it deems most advantageous and efficient.
c. the Executive shall prepare the agendas for the general meetings and distribute them in accordance with the By-Laws.
d. The Executive shall set the annual fees and the amount set shall be voted upon at the Annual General Meeting.
e. the Executive shall appoint persons to its own and to other committees. Appointment shall be for a minimum of three years. A person may be re-appointed upon completion of a term for further terms, and subject to review of the re-appointment every three years.
f. The Executive shall nominate at least two members for Executive offices when such offices become vacant. These names must appear on the agenda and be sent to the members at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the voting will occur. Nominations shall be allowed from the floor of a general meeting.
g. The Executive shall receive and place on the agenda of the next general meeting proposals and resolutions given to it by any member(s) subject to the two weeks prior notification rule (Article III, Section 4).
Article V. Finances
Money shall not be borrowed or lent without the approval of two-thirds of the members present at the meeting in which the motion is being voted upon.
Article VI. Audit
The financial affairs of the Association shall be audited annually by auditors appointed by the Executive. Auditors may not be executive officers. The auditor's report must be presented at the Annual General Meeting.
Article VII. Seal
The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Association and shall use said seal upon approval of the Executive.
Article VIII. Changes in the Constitution and By-Laws
Alteration in the Constitution and By-Laws may be made only upon approval of 75 percent of the members present at the meeting in which a special resolution is to be voted upon.
Article IX. Inspection of Records
Upon request of any member(s), the Secretary shall make available within two weeks of such request, all the records, minutes, financial statements or any other document for examination by said member(s).
Article X. Disbandment
In the event of disbandment of the Association, any funds available shall be used to pay any debts or outstanding bills. Any funds still available shall be donated to the cause of Christian education in Canada, as determined by the Executive.
Article XI. Interpretation
Where the interpretation of this Constitution shall come into question, the decision of two-thirds of the members present at a meeting shall be binding. If a two-thirds majority cannot be achieved, then the finaldecision shall rest with the Executive.
Changes to Article I, sections 3 and 4
Passed by mail-in ballot, September 15, 2006
Rationale:
- The Board feels that these changes will give greater representation of membership voice.
- These changes will allow for a greater cross-section of perspectives to the board and among our voting members.
Article I. Membership
Section 1. A member in good standing is a person who:
- is employed as a teacher, superintendent, or administrator in a Christian School recognized under the Independent School Act, and
- agrees with the Constitution
- has paid dues for the current year covering August 1 to July 31.
Section 2. Associate members are those who:
- are employed as paraprofessionals such as teachers’ assistants, instructional assistants, librarians, etc. in a Christian school recognized under the Independent School Act and meet conditions (b) and (c) of Article 1 Section 1, or
- are no longer actively engaged in teaching in a Christian school and meet conditions (b) and (c) of Article 1 Section 1.
- are Christians teaching in other schools and meet conditions (b) and (c) of Article 1, Section 1.
Section 3. Honorary membership status may be granted by the executive to members who have retired from the teaching profession and have made a significant contribution to Christian education. An honorary member may attend the CTABC convention as a guest of the CTABC and shall pay no dues.
Section 4. Voting rights pertain only to those who are members in good standing.
October 2006
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