Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council meeting held Oct. 20 to 22 at Barnett House in Edmonton
1. Approved in principle and referred to Finance Committee for costing a proposed list of programs on which the Association should focus in 2023/24.
2. Named Nancy Luyckfassel to the position of co-ordinator, professional development, with duties to commence on Dec. 1 or at a mutually agreeable time.
3. Approved the Association’s 2022/23 budget for capital expenditures.
4. Amended administrative guidelines to include governing principles related to the administration of the Defence and Advocacy Fund.
5. Amended administrative guidelines to update procedures pertaining to expenses, travel, acquiring points on behalf of third parties, and receiving honorariums and gifts.
6. Authorized the Association to make an unconditional grant of $100,000 from the Defence and Advocacy Fund to the Alberta School Councils’ Association for the 2022/23 budget year to assist the organization to continue its operations and support to parents.
7. Authorized an expenditure of up to $2,000 for the procurement of an Indigenous song for Association use.
8. Approved the implementation of phase two of the Election Readiness Plan, which includes a roundtable discussions proposal, and authorized costs of up to $40,000 for this phase.
9. Authorized up to eight members of Council to attend the Parkland Institute Annual Fall Conference, taking place from Nov. 18 to 20 in Edmonton.
10. Named three members of Council to serve on a staff selection committee for the position of associate co-ordinator, professional development, selected the proposed timeline for recruitment of the position and restricted the competition to current members of executive staff.
11. Named three members of Council to serve on a staff selection committee for two positions of executive staff officer, professional development, and selected the proposed timeline for recruitment of the two positions.
12. Authorized that candidate forums for district representative positions use a virtual meeting format for 2023, organized centrally by the returning officer.
13. Authorized that candidate forums for table officer positions use a virtual meeting format for 2023, organized centrally by the returning officer.
14. Authorized that candidate forums, virtual or in person, organized by locals for contested positions be in addition to the centrally organized, virtual forums.
15. Approved the following policy resolutions to be adopted as interim policy and recommended to the 2023 Annual Representative Assembly:
- Association representation of a member in proceedings concerning professional conduct and practice administered by the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission is determined on an individual case-by-case basis.
- The Association may represent members who are subject to regulatory processes concerning professional conduct and discipline administered by the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission, in accordance with the following provisions:
a. The member requesting representation must have held the highest level of membership at the time the events relevant to a proceeding took place and continued subsequently to maintain the highest level of membership available to them.
b. The nature and degree of representation provided reflects the seriousness of the potential outcomes, the resources required and associated costs to the Association, risk and opportunity for the establishment of precedent, and the reputation and interests of the profession.
c. The purpose of representation is to ensure that professional conduct and practice proceedings adhere to legislation and regulation, legal standards established for similar administrative proceedings, and requirements of fairness and natural justice.
- The provision of representation does not constitute an endorsement of a member’s conduct or practice.
- Representation may be provided by the Association to a member who is subject to regulatory processes concerning professional conduct and practice administered by the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission, subject to the following:
a. Representation may consist of assistance provided by executive or professional staff of the Association and/or provided by legal counsel in the direct employ of the Association or by external legal counsel under contract to the Association.
b. Representation is provided at the discretion and under the direction of associate co-ordinator, regulatory affairs, in consultation with Association staff assisting the member.
c. Where a member undertakes to retain their own independent counsel, all associated costs are the sole responsibility of the member unless and except where a prior contractual agreement has been entered into between the Association, the member and the independent counsel for the provision of independent legal representation.
d. A member may appeal a decision not to provide representation or to limit the representation provided using a process established for this purpose.
- Responsibility for upholding high standards of professional conduct and practice of teachers should be within the exclusive mandate of the Association as a professional regulatory authority (or entrusted to a professional college, independent of government, governed by teachers appointed by the Association, and elected at large, with sufficient public representation to ensure transparency and legitimacy).
- Legislation, regulations, processes, structures and institutions intended to uphold high standards of professional conduct and practice of teachers should be established only with the advice and consent of the Association.
- Any costs associated with processes, structures and institutions established by the Government of Alberta without the consent of the Association for regulating the professional conduct and practice of teachers should be paid for by the Government of Alberta, with no fees, levies or charges being imposed upon teachers for this purpose.
- When possible, members should use informal and formal processes, including those established by the Association, to address and resolve conflicts with colleagues in a constructive, restorative manner.
- Teacher members of the Teacher Professional Conduct and Practice Panel should be populated from a list consisting of active members nominated by the Association.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2023, the Association’s Code of Professional Conduct is in abeyance until the Association approves an alternative code of conduct for its members.
16. Named a field member to serve on the Campus Saint-Jean Area Field Experiences Committee.
17. Amended the Indigenous Education Committee frame of reference by changing the staff officer members from two to one; amended the Finance Committee frame of reference to update the language regarding periodical review of strike support; and amended the Benefits, Insurance and Pension Committee frame of reference to add the associate co-ordinator, collective bargaining, as a nonvoting member of the committee and include that members of the committee attend the collective bargaining conferences, when invited.❚
