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PEC Points: Council approves 100th–anniversary branding

April 25, 2017 Audrey Dutka, ATA News Staff

Highlights of the Provincial Executive Council meeting held April 6–7, 2017, at Barnett House in Edmonton

1. Set the election day for the Central North byelection as June 9, 2017.

2. Approved amendments to the Standard Constitution for Local Associations—With Local Council and approved amendments to the Standard Constitution for Local Associations—Without Local Council.

3. Approved amendments to the Standard Constitution for Convention Associations to allow for greater attendance of preservice teachers at conventions and amended the Administrative Guidelines to allow preservice teachers from out of province and teachers on international exchanges to attend teachers’ conventions.

4. Approved the insertion of a proposed maternity, parental and adoption leave clause in Association subgroup constitutions lacking similar provisions, Association local constitutions lacking similar provisions, Association standard subgroup constitutions and Association standard local constitutions.

5. Authorized an overexpenditure of $5,000 to cover release time costs associated with members’ participation in the Diversity, Equity and Human Rights Conference for Locals, taking place on Thursday, April 27 (eve.) and Friday, April 28, 2017.

6. Approved that, wherever possible, the Association use the 100thanniversary branding for internal and external communications for the next 18-month period celebrating the anniversary.

7. Authorized the attendance of up to six Council members at the Well-Being of Children and Youth Conference, scheduled for April 21, 2017, in Red Deer.

8. Awarded the Alberta Teachers’ Association Doctoral Fellowship in Education and the John Mazurek Memorial—Morgex Insurance Scholarship.

9. Consistent with section 31(2) of the Teaching Profession Act, extended to November 30, 2017, the deadline for the commencement of a hearing of the Professional Conduct Committee.

10. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher guilty of six charges of unprofessional conduct for engaging in conduct for which the teacher was convicted of six indictable offenses, namely did, for a sexual purpose, touch, directly or indirectly, with a part of the body or with an object, a part of the body of a person under the age of 16 years, contrary to section 151 of the Criminal Code of Canada; did surreptitiously observe or make visual recordings of persons in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable expectation of privacy and did thereby commit voyeurism, contrary to section 162(1) (A) of the Criminal Code of Canada; did, on two separate occasions, make, print, publish, or possess for the purpose of publishing, child pornography depicting a child, contrary to section 163.1(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada; did possess child pornography, contrary to section 163.1(4) of the Criminal Code of Canada; and did commit a sexual assault upon a child, contrary to section 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada. The hearing committee imposed a penalty of permanent ineligibility of membership in the Association and a recommendation to the minister of education for permanent cancellation of the teacher’s teaching certificate.

11. Received the report of a hearing committee, which found a teacher guilty of two charges of unprofessional conduct for holding an inappropriate Facebook conversation with a student, thus failing to treat the student with dignity and respect, contrary to article 4 of the Code of Professional Conduct, and thus failing to maintain the honour and dignity of the profession, contrary to article 18 of the Code of Professional Conduct. The hearing committee imposed a penalty of a single letter of severe reprimand to address both charges, a declaration of ineligibility for membership in the Association, and a recommendation to the minister of education that the teacher’s teaching certificate be cancelled.

12. Approved amendments to the frame of reference for Conseil scolaire Centre-Est No 3 Economic Policy Committee.

13. Amended the Administrative Guidelines related to honoraria entitlements for consultants, facilitators and instructors.

14. Approved the name of one teacher for addition to the Professional Development Facilitators name bank, which is used as a source of appointments to the Professional Development Facilitators corps as the need arises.

15. Approved the names of four teachers for addition to the approved name bank for possible appointment as an Association Instructor.

16. Approved the names of 11 teachers for reappointment and six teachers for addition to the Economic Consultants’ name bank.

17. Extended the reporting timeline of the Task Force on Services and Supports for Central Office Teachers to the June meeting of Council.

18. Named field members to serve on the Campus Saint-Jean Field Experiences Committee and represent the Association on the Alberta Spanish Language Education Consortium. ❚

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