ARTICLE I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the Florida Educational Negotiators, Inc.
ARTICLE II – Purpose of the Organization
The purposes of the organization shall be to provide a vehicle whereby its members may be able to improve their professional knowledge, skills and performance, enhance their professional status as well as provide a system for effective communication and exchange of information among the membership.
ARTICLE III – Code of Ethics
Membership in the organization shall carry a duty and a responsibility for each person to adhere to the minimum standards of professional conduct as described herein. Work cooperatively with each other by freely sharing information, knowledge, and expertise in appropriate areas of interest. Participate actively in the organization and its activities and serve faithfully when chosen for elected or appointed positions. Limit professional responsibilities as described in Article IV of these Bylaws to those activities which best serve the purposes of management. Maintain the confidentiality of such information and material which is provided by the organization or its members.
ARTICLE IV – Membership
Membership shall be limited to regular full-time employees of Florida School Districts who have been designated by their respective school district as chief negotiator and bargaining team members. In the event a district utilizes the services of other than a regular full-time employee as chief negotiator, membership shall be available to any other regular full-time employee who may be designated for such membership by the superintendent of the affected school district. Membership shall carry with it the right to participate fully in the procedures and programs of the organization as provided in these Bylaws. In his/her absence, a member may certify in writing to the president a designee who may exercise the voting proxy of the absent member.
Commercial membership shall be made available to school board chief negotiators who do not meet the requirements for membership as defined in Section 1.
Retiree membership shall be open to former active members of F.E.N. who are no longer full-time employees of Florida School Districts. Additionally, individuals in this membership category shall no longer be active members of school district bargaining teams. Retiree membership shall carry with it the right to attend all programs and meetings of the organization for a nominal registration fee or said fee(s) may be waived by majority vote of the Board of Directors. Persons holding retiree membership will not have the right to vote or hold office.
The Board of Directors shall have the authority to approve or disapprove all applications for membership. Such approval or disapproval shall be by a majority vote of those directors present.
ARTICLE V – Governing Body
The officers and the area directors shall comprise the board of directors which shall be the representative governing body of the organization. The board of directors shall have final authority on all matters as provided by these Bylaws or as authorized by the membership.
Officers shall be the president, president-elect, secretary and the immediate past-president. The term of office for officers shall be one (1) calendar year, and a member may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office. The immediate past president’s term shall begin immediately following the expiration of his/her term of office of president.
There shall be one area director from each of the geographical areas which correspond to the geographical areas which are established by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. Each term of office for area directors shall be three (3) calendar years.
FEN shall maintain a Council of Past Presidents who, at the call of the President or the FEN Board of Directors, may undertake any special project, study, or activity wherein their special knowledge and expertise can be of service to FEN. Eligibility to serve on the Council of Past Presidents shall be open to any former FEN president who is employed in a Florida public school district and is designated a current member in good standing as represented on the annual FSLRS/FEN membership form. Past presidents shall be ex officio members of the Board of Directors of the Florida Educational Negotiators Inc. and shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Board of Directors but shall not have any right to vote at such meetings.
ARTICLE VI – Election of Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall propose a slate of candidates for consideration by the membership at the annual business meeting. Nominations may also be made from the floor.
Election of the board of directors shall be conducted each year by a vote of the membership. The newly elected board of directors shall take office immediately.
ARTICLE VII – Filling of Vacancies on the Board of Directors
The president-elect shall become president and serve the remainder of the vacated term. He/she shall continue in the office of his/her normal term as president for an additional year as provided in these Bylaws.
The board of directors shall fill by appointment the office of president. Such appointment shall extend until the next annual business meeting at which time the membership shall elect a president and president-elect to take office at said annual business meeting.
All other vacancies on the board of directors shall be filled by appointment of the board of directors with the term of such appointment ending at the next annual business meeting at which time the election procedure as provided in these Bylaws shall be used to fill such vacancies.
ARTICLE VIII – Duties of Board of Directors
- presides at all official meetings
- appoints all committees
- assists in agenda development for all official meetings
- provides leadership for the organization
- serves as the official representative of the organization
- performs other duties as directed by the board of directors
- presides at meetings and performs other presidential duties in the absence of the president
- performs other duties as directed by the president
- records and distributes the minutes of board of directors meetings to the board
- prepares and distributes any other communications
- performs other duties as directed by the president
- serves in an advisory and consultative role to the president and board of directors
- performs other duties as directed by the president
- act as a communication link between the organization and the other members in his/her geographic area
- perform other duties as directed by the president
(A) Any member who is unable to attend a scheduled Board of Directors’ meeting shall notify another member to act in her/his behalf. A signed proxy form shall be used to document this authorization and shall be submitted to the Executive Director prior to the scheduled meeting. The proxy form to be used shall be approved by the Board of Directors of the Florida Educational Negotiators at a regular business meeting.
(B) Any member who is unable to attend a scheduled Board of Directors’ meeting due to personal and/or professional hardship may request permission to participate via telephone or other telecommunications device(s) as may be available. An electronic or faxed request shall be submitted to the Executive Director prior to the scheduled meeting. The form to be used shall first be approved by the Board of Directors of the Florida Educational Negotiators at a regular board meeting.
(C) The Executive Director of the Florida School Labor Relations Service serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Educational Negotiators, Inc.
- provides fiscal services to the organization
- executes contracts on behalf of the organization
- drafts all meeting agendas
- conducts surveys at the request of members
- provides salary settlement information to members
- provides other services as needed by the board of directors, chief negotiators and other members
ARTICLE IX – Funds
Dues are established by the Board of Directors of the Florida School Labor Relations Service. Member School Districts pay the Florida School Labor Relations Service in order to subscribe to the service. A portion of dues paid by each member district is transferred to the Florida Educational Negotiators account for disbursement.
The board of directors may set other necessary fees to cover expenses for organization-sponsored activities in which members participate.
The Florida School Labor Relations Service, Inc. will maintain a depository in a Tallahassee, Florida financial institution for the purpose of receiving and disbursing funds for the organization. The Florida School Labor Relations Service, Inc. will receive and disburse funds in accordance with proper accounting procedures as directed by the board of directors. Disbursement of funds which require the approval of the Florida Educational Negotiators board of directors shall be allowed only after approval of a majority of the board of directors.
ARTICLE X – Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the organization, all assets of the organization shall be turned over to a nonprofit educational organization to be designated by the final board of directors.
ARTICLE XI – Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active membership present at an annual business meeting.
ARTICLE XII – Rules of Procedure
Business meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the revised Roberts Rules of Order.
As amended May 3, 2023