The Constitution of the Lincoln-Way Education Association
Article I – Name
1. The name of this organization shall be the Lincoln-Way Education Association.
2. This organization shall be affiliated with and comply with the Constitution and Bylaws of
the Illinois Education Association and the National Education Association.
Article II – Membership
1. Membership shall be open to all full and part-time certified faculty members employed
by Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210, Will County, Illinois.
2. There shall be no discrimination in conditions of membership based upon race, religion,
nationality, age, or sex.
Article III – Officers
1. The officers of the Association shall be the President, a Vice President elected from each
school, Secretary, Treasurer.
2. The term of office shall be two years. By May 1 voting of the total membership shall be
conducted to elect officers. Officers may succeed themselves.
3. In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of President, a Vice President, chosen by lot,
shall automatically become President for the remainder of the unexpired term. If a
vacancy occurs in any other office, the President shall appoint a successor for the
remainder of the unexpired term, with the consent of the Representative Assembly.
4. Any officer may be removed by a 2/3 vote of those members voting at a membership
meeting when a majority of the membership is present or may resign by written notice to
the Representative Assembly.
5. The duties of the officers shall be those prescribed in the bylaws.
Article IV – Representative Assembly
1. The Representative Assembly shall consist of the Officers, the Region Council
Representative, and the Association Representatives.
2. Each school shall have Association Representatives on a ratio of one for every ten
members.
3. The term of office for an Association Representative shall be for two years with one-half
elected each year. Association Representatives may succeed themselves.
4. If a vacancy occurs, the President shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term with
the consent of the Representative Assembly.
5. The duties of the Association Representative shall be those prescribed in the bylaws.
Article V – Meeting of the Membership
1. Meetings of the membership may be called by the President, a majority of the
Association Representatives, or a petition by thirty (30) percent of the membership.
2. For purposes of conducting Association business, fifteen percent of the membership shall
constitute a quorum.
3. The ultimate authority of the Association lies with the membership. The membership,
through membership meetings, may form and dissolve such committees and exercise
such powers as are not inconsistent with this Constitution or Bylaws.
4. Upon proper motion and approval of a majority of the members present and voting, any
proposal may be submitted to a secret written ballot.
Article VI – Amendments to the Constitution
1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those members voting at
a membership meeting provided that all members of the Association were sent written
notice of the date and place of the meeting and the proposed amendment thirty (30) days
prior to the vote.
Article VII – Parliamentary Authority
1. Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all meetings of this Association.
Article VIII – Bylaws
1. Bylaws not inconsistent with this Constitution may be adopted by the membership, and
then amended as prescribed in the bylaws.
The Bylaws of the Lincoln-Way Education Association
Article I – Officers
1. President. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer, with the power and duty to
enforce the Constitution and Bylaws, carry out Association policies in the interim
between Representative Assembly meetings, sign contracts and agreements, appoint and
remove members of all committees with the consent of the Representative Assembly,
serve as ex-officio member without vote on all committees, and preside over meetings of
the Representative Assembly and the membership. Further, the President shall have the
power and duty to perform all acts generally associated with the nature of the office that
are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws.
2. Vice Presidents. A Vice President, chosen by lot, shall have all the powers and duties of
the President in the President’s absence, shall succeed to the Presidency pursuant to the
Constitution, and shall otherwise have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the
President.
3. Secretary. The secretary shall maintain the official files and shall assist the President with
the Association correspondence. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of each
meeting of the Representative Assembly and each meeting of the membership and shall
be responsible for notifying members of regular and special meetings.
4. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall maintain the records of the membership and keep accurate
records of expenses and income and shall report such records at Representative Assembly
meetings and meetings of the membership. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the
payment of bills and the updating and returning of membership rosters to the IEA/NEA.
5. IEA/NEA Regional Council Representative. The President shall appoint the Local
Association Regional Council Representative who shall attend the Regional Council
meetings, represent the Association and report Council Meeting activities to the
Officers. Representative Assembly and membership as necessary.
6. Association Representatives. The Association Representatives shall have two primary
responsibilities. First, they shall provide two-way communication between the
Association and the members through one-on-one meetings, group meeting, and
distributing materials to members personally. Second, the Association Representatives
shall recruit volunteers for Association job and activities and through them generate
support for Association positions and programs.
7. Any officers unable to perform duties of the office for any reason whatsoever for a period
of thirty (30) days shall submit a written resignation. If such resignation is not received
within 60 days, the Representative Assembly shall declare the office vacant. Except in
the case of the Presidency, the Representative Assembly shall appoint a successor. If the
Presidency is declared vacant, a Vice President, chosen by lot, shall become President
and the Representative Assembly shall appoint a new Vice President.
8. The Officer’s term of office shall begin on or before May 15. Any officer vacating an
office shall transfer all records within ten (10) days after the end of the office.
Article II – Representative Assembly
1. In addition to the powers and duties enumerated in the Constitution, the Representative
Assembly shall annually adopt a budget, determine the dues of the association, approve
all expenditures, consent to committee appointments, may adopt programs in behalf of, or
for recommendation to, the membership and shall conduct and supervise the business of
the organization.
2. The Representative Assembly shall meet once per month during the school term, and may
meet as many additional times as is necessary or reasonable to transact its business.
3. For the purpose of conducting business, a majority of the members of the Representative
Assembly must be present.
4. Meetings may be called by the President or by thirty (30) percent of the members of the
Representative Assembly.
Article III – Membership
1. Throughout the first year of the first contract after the adoption of this constitution and
bylaws, all faculty members will be considered members of the LWEA with full
membership privileges except those listed under Section 2 of this article.
2. Only those faculty members who are dues paying members of the LWEA/NEA may vote
on amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws. Life members of the NEA are
considered dues paying members of the NEA.
Article IV – Dues
1. Annual local dues shall be established by the Representative Assembly. The IEA/NEA
dues shall be transmitted to the IEA/NEA as per IEA/NEA policies.
2. The books and records of the organization shall be open to inspection by any member
upon reasonable request.
Article V – Committees
1. Committees may be established on a permanent and ad hoc basis by the Representative
Assembly.
2. The President shall appoint members to the committees and name the chairperson with
consent of the Representative Assembly.
3. There shall be at least three (3) standing committees: The Election Committee, the
Grievance Committee, and the Negotiations Committee.
Article VI – Arbitration and Grievance Appeal
1. The Representative Assembly shall decide whether or not a grievance shall be processed
on to final and binding arbitration. Recommendations should be provided to the
Representative Assembly from the Grievance Committee and/or from any directly
involved Association Representative.
2. If the Representative Assembly decides not to take a grievance on to arbitration, the
member shall be notified in writing within five school days. If the member seeks to
appeal the Representative Assembly’s decision, the appeal shall be made in writing
within five (5) school days to the President. The President shall then either call a meeting
of the Representative Assembly for the purpose of reversing its decision, or if the
Representative Assembly does not reverse its decision, call a general membership
meeting to decide whether to take the grievance on to final and binding arbitration. The
general membership meeting shall be held within ten (10) school days of receipt of the
grievant’s notice of appeal. The decision is to be based in the majority of the members
present and voting.
Article VII – Amendment of Bylaws
1. Revisions of these Bylaws shall be submitted by the Representative Assembly to the full
membership at a regular or special meeting and a majority vote of those present shall
rule, provided that all members of the Association were sent notice of the date and place
of the meeting and the proposed revision at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting.
Bylaws Revised 21 Aug 1992
LWEA Dues Resolution
The annual dues shall be $20 for the 1993-94 school year, $25 for the 1994-95 school year, and
shall be set at one-tenth of one percent of the base salary beginning with the 1995-96 school
year.
Passed 11 May 1993