The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council meeting held January 20 and 21, 2011, at Barnett House in Edmonton

1. Approved the 2011/12 ­proposed budget for presentation to locals.
2. Approved, for presentation to the 2011 Annual Representative Assembly (ARA), a resolution setting the annual fee payable by a full-time, active member at $1,152, effective September 1, 2011.
3. Approved, for presentation to the 2011 ARA, a resolution setting the annual fee payable by an associate member at $172.80, effective September 1, 2011.
4. Maintained the budget ­projections for continuing programs removed from the 2011/12 proposed budget.
5. Approved the names of two recipients of honorary membership in the Association, which is reserved for members or other persons who have given meritorious service to the teaching profession, to the Association or to the advancement of education.
6. Approved the name of a recipient of the Public Education Award, which recognizes individuals or groups that have given outstanding support to public education in Alberta other than through teaching.
7. Approved dates of key Association-sponsored meetings and Council meetings for the 2011/12 school year.
8. Named three members of Council to a staff selection committee for the position of associate executive secretary. The competition, which closes February 25, 2011, results from the retirement of Ernest C. Clintberg effective July 31, 2011.
9. Named three members of Council to a staff selection ­committee for the positions of executive staff officer, Teacher Welfare, and executive staff officer, Member Services or Teacher Welfare. The competitions close February 4, 2011.
10. Named three members of Council to a staff selection committee for the position of executive staff officer, Member Services, Southern Alberta Regional Office. The competition closes February 25, 2011.
11. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher guilty of two charges of unprofessional conduct for accessing pornographic sites from the teacher’s classroom computer, including at times when students were present, thereby failing to maintain the honour and dignity of the profession, and for, during instructional time, accessing e-mail accounts for inappropriate personal use, thereby failing to maintain the honour and dignity of the profession. The hearing committee imposed the penalty of a letter of severe reprimand to address both charges.
12. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher guilty of two charges of unprofessional conduct for showing a sexually explicit video to the teacher’s Grade 9 English language arts class, thereby failing to treat students with dignity and respect and failing to maintain the honour and dignity of the profession. The hearing committee imposed the penalty of a letter of severe reprimand and a fine of $3,000 to address both charges. Should the teacher fail to pay the fine within 90 days of receipt of the report, the teacher will be declared ineligible for membership in the Association.
13. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher not guilty of two charges of unprofessional conduct for engaging in a physical altercation that resulted in an injury to a student, thereby failing to treat the student with dignity and respect, and for engaging in a conversation that was not reflective of an appropriate teacher–student relationship, thereby failing to treat the students with dignity and respect.
14. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher guilty of two charges of unprofessional conduct for failing to treat a student and other students with dignity and respect through inappropriate physical and verbal interactions and for failing to treat a student with dignity and respect through inappropriate action against the student in a community setting. The hearing committee imposed the penalty of a letter of reprimand to address both charges.
15. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher guilty of two charges of unprofessional conduct for posting on Facebook sexually suggestive photos of the teacher and the teacher’s principal, featuring the Washington Monument, without the knowledge or consent of the principal, thereby harming or tending to harm the standing of the principal, and for posting on Facebook and, by that means, making available to parents and former students in the community sexually suggestive photos, featuring the Washington Monument, thereby acting in a manner that was detrimental to the best interest of the profession. The hearing committee imposed the penalty of a letter of severe reprimand and a fine of $500 to address both charges. Should the teacher fail to pay the fine within 90 days of receipt of the report, the teacher will be required to appear before the hearing committee.
16. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher guilty of one charge of unprofessional conduct for coming to school while under the influence of alcohol, thereby failing to act in a manner that maintained the honour and dignity of the profession. The hearing committee imposed the penalty of an oral reprimand.
17. Approved in principle and referred to the Resolutions Committee for processing for the 2011 ARA five resolutions regarding teacher preparation institutions.
18. Approved in principle and referred to the Resolutions Committee for processing for the 2011 ARA six resolutions regarding private online testing and tutorial services, digital technologies, the release of provincial examination results, and children and youth in care.
19. Approved an overexpenditure for the international symposium “Educational Futures: International Perspectives on Innovation from the Inside Out,” a Curriculum Seminar scheduled for March 18–19, 2011, in Edmonton.
20. Approved an overexpenditure to provide for the ­attendance of local communications officers at the Political Engagement Seminar, scheduled for March 4(eve)–5, 2011, in Edmonton.
21. Amended the Standard Local Constitution with Local Council.
22. Amended the Standard Local Constitution without ­Local Council.
23. Directed the Association to recommend to locals that they ensure a local council/­executive committee meeting has been scheduled prior to the end of the school year in case the business of the annual general meeting needs to be referred.
24. Directed the Association to bring forward the above three decisions for discussion at a ­Local Presidents’ Meeting, scheduled for February 11(eve)–12, 2011, in Edmonton.
25. Directed Council to promote the importance of attendance at annual general meetings through the ATA News and any other visible means.
26. Directed staff to write a Q & A for the ATA News entitled “Why should I go to an AGM?”
27. Disbanded with thanks the Committee on Managing Quorum at Local Annual ­General Meetings.
28. Amended administrative guidelines regarding the ­optimum strength of the ­economic consultant corps.
29. Amended administrative guidelines governing reimbursement of Summer Conference delegates.