There is a clear and immediate need for all public school supervisors and administrators to join together under the umbrella of a strong professional organization that, not only understands their needs, but is also capable of articulating their concerns to the various components who are stakeholders in the New York State public education system. The varied and frequently conflicting demands of special interest groups, the increasing anti-administration tone of the state executive and legislative components of government, the politics of local boards of education and their state counterparts, the increasing expectations for schools to fill the void created by the changing role of parenting, and the pressures of contemporary society have created unrealistic expectations for the public school system. In addition, the detractors of the public school system have found powerful allies among the media who have chosen to slay the messenger as opposed to heeding the message.

It is clear that unless a concerted effort is made to educate the public as to the real strengths and weaknesses of our state's public school system, the face of education throughout New York State will change drastically in the next decade. Thus, it is the mission of the Empire State Supervisors & Administrators Association (ESSAA) to champion the cause of public school education, and to provide extensive and comprehensive legal support and direct legislative representation to its membership. It is through this communication and support system that our society can establish realistic expectations for our public school system and for the dedicated professional supervisors and administrators who oversee them.

Organizational Statement

In the Fall of 1996, approximately 1900 public school supervisors and administrators, dissatisfied with the lack of direction and leadership provided by other organizations, formed a new professional association, the Empire State Supervisors and Administrator Association (ESSAA). Since that time, ESSAA has welcomed hundreds of school supervisors and administrators who were dissatisfied with their professional affiliations. This is especially true in the area of legal and negotiating services. As a result, ESSAA has grown in influence, number and geographic size. ESSAA with its 2400+ members is now affiliated with more than 146 school districts throughout New York State.

ESSAA is a professional association of experienced educational leaders. Although its leadership has an extensive background in educational / labor management, ESSAA is not affiliated with any labor union movement. In designing ESSAA, its organizers rejected the top down management model used by other school administrator organizations. Instead they selected an organizational model that encourages collaboration and shared decision-making. ESSAA is a professional organization that is committed to inclusion on all issues of concern to its members.

The governance of ESSAA is by participatory leadership. Its constitution insures that the Executive Board, that represents a cross-section of the membership, gives direction to the organization. This constitution also defines the term of office of each officer and limits the number of terms an officer may serve. This reflects a philosophical belief that among supervisors and administrators the ability to lead is broad based. A goal of ESSAA is to reach out and tap the unique skills of all its members. Experienced educators who have consistently established demanding professional goals and have worked to make achievement of them a reality have charted the course of ESSAA. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of ESSAA members are line supervisors and administrators who manage buildings and programs on a daily basis. They are educational practitioners, not casual observers. Their experiences are real, not vicarious. They understand the problems of educators because they are active and involved. 

ESSAA is a bold new professional organization of public school supervisors and administrators. It is committed to meeting the needs of its membership. It is professional, energetic, and concerned.

Constitution

ARTICLE I - Name
The organization shall be known as the EMPIRE STATE SUPERVISORS AND ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION [ESSAA].

ARTICLE II - Purpose
It shall be the purpose of ESSAA to:

1. Achieve the highest educational standards for all residents in New York State.
    
2. Promote and improve standards of professional status, employment, and benefits for all members within New York State.
    
3. Maintain and enhance the right to collective bargaining for all pedagogical personnel who are eligible for membership in ESSAA without regard to age, color, race, sex, religion, background, or national origin and assist local affiliates in negotiations and contract enforcement.
    
4. Promote legislation to strengthen and further the goals of ESSAA members.
    
5. Promote and participate with other groups and individuals in such other activities of mutual interest and concern that are consistent with the goals of ESSAA.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

A local bargaining unit or associated group of bargaining units [hereinafter referred to as a "Local"] in the State of New York having affiliated with, and been accepted by, ESSAA, shall be eligible for membership as an affiliated Local.

1. Members of ESSAA will remain in good standing if per capita taxes are not in arrears for more than four (4) months.
2. On the thirtieth day of the fourth month of such arrears, members shall be deemed to be automatically suspended.
3. The Executive Board may extend membership, on such terms, as it deems appropriate, to individuals who are employed in the field of education, although they may not be in a local bargaining unit or group of bargaining units.
4. A suspended member may be reinstated upon application for membership and payment of per capita taxes in arrears and per capita taxes for the duration of the time in suspension.

ARTICLE IV - EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board (EB) shall consist of two (2) members from each Local: One member shall be the president of the local; the other appointed by the local's president. The person who ceases to be president of an affiliated local shall be replaced on the ESSAA Executive Board by his or her successor, unless such person is an elected officer, in which case the successor president shall also be added to the Executive Board. In such a situation, the local president shall determine which two shall be the voting representatives.

ARTICLE V - ELECTION AND VOTING

A. Except as set forth in Article IX (4), elections and votes on all business brought before this organization’s Executive Board shall be acted upon by majority vote with each local having 2 votes.

B. Officers consist of a President, Executive Vice-President, Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer. Commencing in June 1998, The President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected tri-annually by the Executive Board from among its members. The Executive Vice-President, and all Vice-Presidents shall be elected bi-annually by the Executive Board from among its members. Officers once elected shall serve their full terms notwithstanding the limitations in Article IV above. For the purposes of voting, no one unit shall have more than two votes on the Executive Board. The naming of the voting delegates is the prerogative of the unit or region president.

Terms of office shall be limited to two consecutive terms in the same office of President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Terms of office shall be limited to three consecutive terms in the same office of Executive Vice-President, and all other Vice-Presidents. Nothing shall preclude an officer who has served the maximum amount of terms in the same office from running for another office. At the time of the election of officers, the consecutive term limit may be waived for a particular officer by a vote of at least two-thirds of the voters at the meeting at which the election is conducted.

ARTICLE VI - DUTIES OF OFFICE

1. The President:
   The President Shall:
   a)   Be the chief executive officer of ESSAA
   b)   Preside at all meetings
   c)   Establish committees as approved by the EB
   d)   Appoint committee chairpersons
   e)   Supervise all staff employed by ESSAA
2. The Executive Vice-President
   The Executive Vice-President shall:
   a)   Discharge such duties as may be assigned by the president or the EB.
   b)   Serve as president in the event of the president's absence or the inability of the president to perform the duties of office as determined by the EB.
3. Vice-Presidents
   The Vice-Presidents shall:
   a)   Discharge such duties as may be assigned by the president or the EB.
   b)   Serve as president in the event of the president's and the preceding Vice-President's absence or inability to perform the duties of office as determined by the EB.
4. The Secretary
   The Secretary shall:
   a)   Serve as secretary of the EB
   b)   Take minutes of duly constituted meetings of the EB.
5. The Treasurer
   The Treasurer shall:
   a)   Receive all monies due to ESSAA and deposit same in a bank or bands approved by the EB, subject to withdrawal on the joint signatures of any two (2) of the officers of ESSAA.
   b)   Make timely payments of all just debts and obligations of ESSAA.
   c)   Have the books and accounts audited regularly, as determined by he EB, by independent outside certified accountants.

ARTICLE VII - POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EB

The EB shall:

1. Maintain general supervision of all the affairs of ESSAA.
2. Authorize the employment of paid staff members.
3. In the event of a permanent vacancy of an elected office, the EB shall at its next meeting hold a special election to fill the vacancy for the unexpired part of the term.
4. Delegate specific tasks, assignments, and duties to the officers.
5. Set dues atthe annual budget meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS

1. The EB of ESSAA shall meet in regular session at least three (3) times in each school year. All members of ESSAA must be notified by mail at least two (2) weeks in advance of the agenda, date, time and place of the meeting.
2. Special meetings of the EB may be called by the president or a majority of the members of the EB who notify the president of such request in writing. Special meetings so requested must be held not more that thirty (30) days after receipt of the request.
3. For the purpose of the meetings of the EB, a quorum shall consist of a 30% of its members.

ARTICLE IX- AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

1. Amendments to this constitution may be submitted by any member of ESSAA to the secretary.
2. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the secretary in writing.
3. Requests for amendments shall be placed on the agenda of the next meeting after receipt of such request.
4.  A three-fifths vote shall be required to pass an amendment, except that a unanimous vote will be required if any local is to be granted more than 2 votes.

ARTICLE X - DISSOLUTION OF ESSAA

In the event of the dissolution of ESSAA, all assets shall be distributed on a per capita basis to its members as determined by the proportion of per capita taxes each member paid during the last twelve-month period.

By-Laws

Nomination and Election Procedures

All General Elections are to be conducted at the times and under the conditions as specified in the ESSAA Constitution (Article V.). Vacancies are to be filled by the Executive Board at the next scheduled meeting following the existence of said vacancy.

1. Those members interested in being nominated for said positions must submit their names, to the Nomination Committee Chairperson.
2. From the names received, the Nomination Committee will prepare a ballot listing all candidates, and in the case of multiple nominations for the same position, will list the recommendation of the Committee.
3. The Executive Board will hold elections for these positions. At that time, additional nominations will be accepted from the floor. If there are multiple candidates for a specific position, each candidate will have an opportunity to address the assembly for a period of time not to exceed 3 minutes.
4. Voting will be held by secret ballot and tabulated by the Secretary.
5. Newly elected officers will immediately assume their respective offices.

Regional Organizational Plan

Long Island Region (CAS)  2 Counties
     Nassau , Suffolk
Recruitment Coordinator - Anthony Laurino

Central / West Region  18 Counties
     Cayuga, Erie, Genesee, Herkimer, Livingston   
     Madison, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga
     Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Seneca
     Wayne, Wyoming, Yates
Recruitment Coordinator - Olivia Cambs

Southern / West Region  11 Counties
    Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautaugua,
    Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Schuyler, Steuben, 
    Tioga, Tompkins
Recruitment Coordinator - Raymond Palmer

Hudson Valley Region  6 Counties
     Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Sullivan Ulster,
     Southern Westchester County
Recruitment Coordinator - Donald Kuhn

Northern Westchester, Putnam, Orange County, Rockland Region
   (RASA) 4 Counties-  Putnam, Rockland, Westchester
Recruitment Coordinator  - William Evans

Capital Region  7 Counties
     Albany, Fulton. Montgomery, Rensselaer,
     Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie
Recruitment Coordinator - Jerry Spicer

North Country / Adirondack  Region 9 Counties
     Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson,
     Lewis, St. Lawrence, Warren, Washington
Recruitment Coordinator  - Elliott Koreman