Every year the OSTA Constitution committee reviews and makes recommendations to the OSTA Board for amendments and changes to the OSTA Constitution and By-Laws. Once approved by the Board, the membership must approve the changes for them to take effect. The vote for approval will take place at the OSTA Fall Conference and it is one of the items of business that the membership decides during the conference (The others being the election of officers and the honoring of those recognized with OSTA Awards).
This year the Constitution Committee has proposed and the Board is recommending the approval of a revision that makes some important changes to the way OSTA operates. Other than a number of small changes in wording, these are the major changes to the Constitutuon (Deletions are indicated by strikethrough, Additions by underline)
1) A re-written statement of purpose:
Article II – Purpose
The Oklahoma Science Teachers Association shall develop, promote, and support science education in the state of Oklahoma by providing training opportunities to teachers. Training will assist teachers to implement the science education standards set forth by the Oklahoma State Department of Education; (PASS), as well as the National Science Education Standards (NSES). To facilitate the dissemination of scientific knowledge; To encourage scientific thinking and the utilization of the practices of science through the teaching of science; To make available to teachers information concerning the selection, organization, and presentation of scientific materials; To stress the interrelationships of the sciences and to other educational experiences; To plan, organize, and administer projects for the advancement and utilization of knowledge in science education; To advocate for high quality science education at all levels and education venues within Oklahoma.
2) Statements of Prohibitions, provision for Dissolution, and authorizing the enacting of By-Laws:
ARTICLE IX. PROHIBITIONS
The Association is not organized for profit and no part of its net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any Director, Officer, member or employee of the Association except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to and for the Association in connection with one or more of its purposes. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles, the Association shall not conduct or carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations as they now exist or as they hereafter may be amended.
ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of the Association, the Board shall distribute the assets and accrued income to one or more organizations as determined by the Board. No Director, Officer, member, or employee of the Association or any private individual, shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the assets upon dissolution of the Association
ARTICLE XI. BYLAWS
The association may from time to time enact appropriate Bylaws not inconsistent with this constitution.
The major changes in the By-Laws include:
1) Redefinition of membership year and elimination of membership by OSTA district:
Article II – Membership
Section 1: Membership in the Association shall be on an annual basis with renewals based upon the date of first membership.from January 1st to December 31st
Section 2: Membership dues shall be set at the beginning of each membership fiscal year by the Board of Directors
Section 3: The right to vote, hold office, and serve on committees shall be limited to dues paying members, to include individuals who teach in Oklahoma or are employed as faculty members of an institution of higher learning, within the state of Oklahoma.
Section 4: The OSTA District in which a member resides shall be determined by the location of the Board of Education office of the district in which he or she is employed.
2) Redefinition of the Board of Directors to replace the six district directors with 4 members elected at large by the membership. This change allows all OSTA members to directly elect all 4 officers, all four at-large directors, and one division director. It also eliminates the confusing residency requirements required for proper district voting and allows for electronic voting directly from all members, not just those who attend the fall conference.
Article IV – Board of Directors
Section 1: Members of the Board of Directors should attend all regularly scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors.
Section 2: Board members missing more than two regularly scheduled meetings during the year are subject to replacement by the Board.
Section 3: A) There shall be six four district directors Directors at Large One district director shall be elected from each of the following defined districts:
District 1 – Northeastern District, shall include area east of
I-35 and north of I-40 excluding metropolitan Tulsa School District.
District 2 – Northwestern District, shall include area west of I-35
and north of I-40 excluding metropolitan Oklahoma City School District.
District 3 – Southwestern District, shall include area west of I-35
and south of I-40.
District 4 – Southeastern District, shall include area of I-35 and
south of I-40.
District 5 – Tulsa District, shall include the area of the metropolitan Tulsa Public School District.
District 6 – Oklahoma City District, shall include the area of
metropolitan Oklahoma City Public School District.
B) District Directors at Large shall serve two year terms.
C) 2 Directors of Districts 1, 3, and 5 shall be elected in odd-
numbered years. 2 Directors of District 2, 4, and 6 shall be elected in even-
Numbered years.
D) District Directors at Large shall be elected by association members employed in that district at the each Fall Convention.
E) Elections of District Directors at Large shall be by secret paper or electronic ballot and consistent with guidelines set forth by the Election Committee and these By-laws.
F) Newly elected District Directors at Large shall begin their duties on January 1.
G) In the event a vacancy occurs during the term of a District Director at Large, the President shall appoint a qualified member of the Association to the position for the remainder the term, with approval of the Board of Directors.
H) District Directors at Large shall not hold an elected officer position during their tenure as District Director.
3) The final major change is a provision to add up to 4 pre-service teachers to the OSTA Board to serve in ex-officio (non-voting) positions
Section 5: OSTA members who are in at least their junior year of college with the intention of teaching science may be appointed by the OSTA President to serve on the board for one year. The president may appoint up to two elementary and two secondary positions.
Download a complete copy of the proposed Constitution here.