NLTA Policy and Procedures Statements
The meaning of the word “policy” as used within the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association is confined to a declaration of the role, the philosophy, or the long-term goals of the NLTA, or of its stance or attitude in relation to matters whose resolution is beyond the legislative power of the Association. Policy is further limited to such declarations as are formally approved in accordance with the by-laws and in the form of “policy resolutions”. In order to serve as a framework and guide for the Provincial Executive and Staff to follow, policy should be kept up to date, should be both concise and comprehensive, and should not be confused with procedure or an habitual mode of action.
The Policy Handbook for the Association has been expanded over the years to include a combination of both policy and procedures in that some “policy statements” are technically “procedure statements” which contain specific procedures to be followed in certain areas.
The Handbook is divided into five sections: Operations; Communications; Professional Development; Benefits and Economic Services; and Employee Assistance Program. The majority of items contained within the Operations section are actual procedures. The policy on Expense Claims, for example, contains specific guidelines regarding the reimbursement of expenses. In contrast, the policy on Teacher Evaluation, which is contained within the Professional Development section, is an overall policy statement within the strict definition of “policy” as stated above. Such statements of policy are used as guidelines for Association representatives when meeting with the provincial government officials in the Department of Education and with school board officials.
Generally, policies are developed by standing committees of the Provincial Executive which consist of a Provincial Executive member as the chair, up to six teachers from the field, and a consultant from the staff of the Association. The draft policies are referred to the Provincial Executive Council and Joint Council for approval and then on to our Biennial General Meeting (BGM) where delegates will give final approval. At all stages of the development, additions/deletions may be made to the original draft. After final approval by the BGM, the policy is then added to the Policy Handbook. Policy/procedures may also result from resolutions which are sent by our local branches to the Biennial General Meeting for discussion and debate or those approved in accordance with the by-laws.
It was decided at the 1985 Convention to have all policies returned to Convention every five years (every six years since the introduction of biennial conventions) for reconfirmation. In the intervening years only changes which have occurred in policy statements since the previous Convention are presented.
At BGM all policies in the handbook are reconfirmed.
- Active Membership
- Other Membership Categories
- Opting-Out Provision
- Deduction of Fees
- Principles of Professional Practice
- Membership Registration
- Authority
- Guides to the Conduct of Executive Meetings
- Conflict of Interest Guidelines
- Annual Dues
- Special Funds – Emergency and Reserve
- Deduction of Annual Dues
- Donations, Community Sponsorships and Financial Support.
- Expense Claims
- Scheduling of Meetings/Activities
- Signing Officers for the Association
- Guidelines Re Additional Funding (Standing Committees)
- Requests for Funding in Excess of Budgeted Amount
- Toll Free Telephone Number
- Gifts
- Presidential Expenses
- Salary for Paid Executive Members During a Job Action
- Capital Equipment
- Use of NLTA Funds
- NLTA Investments
- Organization and Operation
- Financing
- Branch By-Laws
- Quorum at Meetings
- Branch Representation at NLTA Functions
- Branch Responsibilities for Communications During Negotiations
- Voting Procedures on Provincial Package
- Guidelines for Branch Visitation/Contact
- School Board-Teacher Liaison Committees
- Scrolls for Retiring School Board Management Staff
- Past Presidents’ Pins
- Authority
- Regular Meetings
- Special Meetings
- Format and Agenda
- Parliamentary Procedures
- Communication with the Membership
J. NLTA Special Interest Councils
- Purpose
- General Administration
- Representation
- Membership in Councils
- The Executive
- Affiliates
- Council Responsibility, Programming and Communications
- Reporting
- By-Law Provisions
- Grant Allocations and Provincial Conference Funds
- Funding
- Dissolution
- Past Presidents’ Pins
- Guidelines for Special Interest Council Contact/Visitation
- General
- Meetings
- Reporting
L. Biennial General Meeting (Convention)
M. Resolutions to the Biennial General Meeting
- Resolution Format
- Resolution Content
- Resolution Origin
- Submission of Resolutions
- Processing of Resolutions
- Presentation of Resolutions and By-Law Changes at the Convention
- The Resolutions Committee of Convention
- Report of Action on Resolutions
N. Professional Relations Disputes
- Disciplinary Process
- Members Convicted of Child Abuse
- Disciplinary Committee
- Maintenance of Records
- Publicizing Case Summaries
R. Relationship With Other Employee Groups
- Presentation of Provincial Awards Outside of BGM
- The Bancroft Award
- The Barnes Award
- The Allan Bishop Award
- The President’s Award
- The Special Recognition Award
- The Patricia Cowan Award for Support and Promotion of Education
- Provincial Liaison Groups
- Canadian Teachers’ Federation
U. NLTA Scholarships and Awards for Students
- The NLTA Medal to MUN Students
- NLTA Scholarships to Students
- NLTA Scholarship to MUN Faculty of Education Student
V. Election of President and Vice-President by Province-wide Vote
- Procedures for Conducting the Election
- The Electoral Committee
- Goals
- Internal Communications
- External Communications
- Publication Guidelines
- The Bulletin
- Information for Members
- Special Interest Council and Branch Publications
- Presidential Updates
- Executive Notes
- Other Educational Publications
- NLTA Website
- Gender Identity/Expression Information on Surveys and Questionnaires
- Social Media
- Regular Publications
- Seasonal Publications
- Convention Materials
- Public Relations/Communications/Design Agency
- Advertising
- News Releases
- Janeway Day in the Schools
G. Release of Membership Information
I. Audio-Video Recording of NLTA Meetings
- Service Orientation
- Formal Evaluation Guidelines
- Conflict of Interest
- Access to Personnel Evaluation Reports
- Interaction with Person Being Evaluated
- Constructive Orientation
- Defined Uses
- Evaluator Credibility
- Functional Reporting
- Follow-Up and Impact
- Practical Procedures
- Collaboration
- Fiscal Viability
- Defined Role
- Work Environment
- Documentation of Procedures
- Valid and Reliable Measurement
- Systematic Data Control
- Bias Control
- Monitoring Evaluation Systems
F. Gender Equity in Education and in the Profession
- Minority Language Educational Rights
- French as a Second Language Program
I. Equality and Access of Opportunity
- General Policy
- Specific Policy
J. Length of the Kindergarten Day
K. Collegial Model/Association Membership
- Definition of Intervention
- Considerations for Effective Interventions
O. Assessment – Criterion Referenced Testing
P. Professional Development Programs
- Centennial Fund Awards
- Professional Development Fund
- Teachers Talking to Teachers Program
- Johnson Inc. Bursaries
- Defining Accountability
- Accountability as Shared Responsibility
- Professional Accountability
- Linking Accountability with the Vision and Goals of Public Education
- Focus on Student Learning
- Accountability and Reporting
The Association accepts as its responsibility the protection, at all times, of the job security of its members. The Association will vigorously pursue avenues to provide for reassignment and/or retraining when such become necessary. [Aug/28-30/89] [1990 AGM]
- Bargaining Agent
- Bargaining Units
- Costs Associated with Bargaining
- Procedures for Development of Opening Proposals
- Negotiating Team for Provincial Negotiations
- Communication with the Membership
- General Guidelines
- Membership Voting Requirements and Procedures
- Negotiations in Local Bargaining Units
- Administrators/Program Specialists and the Bargaining Unit
- Job Actions by Teachers
- Job Actions by Other Employee Groups
C. Contracts with School Boards
D. Grievance and Arbitration Cases
E. Group Insurance F. Legal Assistance
- Basic Aim
- Procedure
- Policies
- Employment Insurance, WHSC, TPP Disability, Long Term Disability and CPP Disability Appeals
- Teacher Certification Cases
- Appeals Procedures
- General
- Right of Access
- Benefit Improvement
- Service Acquisition
- Interprovincial Transfer
- Pension Indexing
- Pension Integration
- Salaries
- Allowances
- Method of Payment
J. Summer/Night School and Supplementary Exam Compensation
- Night/Summer School Instruction
- Supplementary Examinations
- Substitute Teacher Pay
- Pensionable Service
- Paid Leaves
- Voting on Collective Agreements
- Collective Agreement Provisions
- Curricular Duties
- Hiring of Substitute Teachers
- Professional Development and Inservice Sessions
- School Board/School Web Access
- Substitute Teacher Kit
- Posting of Information from NLTA
M. Government/School Boards General Liability Insurance Policy
N. Medication/Medical Treatment/Health Support Procedures
- Instructional Day
- Teacher Workday
- Supervision
- Work Assignment
- Preparation Time
- Class Size
- Teacher Allocation
- Leave Provisions
- Bargaining Unit Duties
- School Secretarial Services
Q. Teacher Participation in Volunteer Food Programs
- Definition
- Preamble
- Policy Statements
R. School Board Consolidation S. Auxiliary Personnel in Schools
V. Transfer of Teachers W. Hiring of Teachers
Y. Cyberconduct and Cyberbullying
- Definitions
- Guiding Principles
- Education
- Roles and Responsibilities
Z. Financial Planning Sessions and Full-Day Financial Information Seminars AA. Educational Finance
- General
- Revenue Sources
- Expenditure Allocation
- Public-Private Partnerships
BB. Teacher Allocations and Declining Enrolments
DD. Corporate/School Partnerships
EE. Programs and Curricula from Corporate Sources
- Programs/Curricula Offered Within the Instructional Day
- Programs/Curricula Offered Outside the Instructional Day, Which Meet the Outcomes of the Authorized Provincial Curriculum
FF. Construction, Renovation and Physical Conditions of School Buildings
- General Guidelines
- Site Selection
- Consultation Process
- Physical Design and Layout
- Quality of Teacher Life
- Quality of Student Life
- Health and Safety
