A.             The District shall deduct from the wages of each employee and send to the Syracuse Teachers Association, Inc., regular membership dues and such other deductions agreed to by the parties for those employees authorizing such deductions, in writing, pursuant to the agreement reached between the Association and the District business office. The Association hereby agrees that it will not hold the District liable for any deductions from wages made pursuant to this section in the normal administration of the check off of said deductions.

B.             Membership in the Association shall be voluntary, and there shall be no discrimination, interference, restraint, or coercion by the District or any of its agents against any employee because of the employee's membership in the Association, or because of any lawful activities on behalf of the Association and the employee's fellow members, nor shall there be any discrimination, interference, restraint or coercion by the Association, or any of its agents, against any employee because of failure or refusal to join the Association.

C.             The Association shall have the right to represent employees in the Unit in any and all proceedings under the Public Employees' Fair Employment Act, under any other applicable law, rule, regulation, or statute under the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to designate its representatives and to appear on their behalf to effect such representation, unless otherwise provided by law, to direct, manage, and govern its own affairs, to determine those matters which the membership wish to negotiate and to pursue these objectives free from any interference, restraint, coercion, or discrimination by the District. The Association shall have the right to pursue any matter or issue in accordance with the Grievance and Arbitration procedure of this Agreement and, acting through its officers and membership, to be the sole judge thereof, unless it is expressly and specifically abridged, delegated or modified by this Agreement, unless otherwise provided by law.

D.             The Association shall have the right to post notices and other communications on bulletin boards maintained on the premises and facilities of the District provided, however, their content is not derogatory or controversial. The District agrees that the facilities of the school shall be available for Association meetings when such use does not interfere with any scheduled events or involve any cost to the District. It is agreed that any employee scheduled to work on the day of a meeting shall not be allowed to leave the work location to attend the meeting. Application for use of the facilities shall be made in accordance with already established procedures.

E.             For the purpose of administering, adjusting, or interpreting the terms and conditions of this Agreement, an Association field representative shall have the right to visit the employees covered under this Agreement on the job; however, the appropriate District official shall be notified and total assurance given that no inordinate interruption in the work of the employee will be involved.

F.             When it is necessary for the president of Unit 8, or a designated representative to engage in Association activities directly associated with the Association duties as representatives of the Unit, which cannot be performed other than during working hours, the Superintendent or a designated representative may give such time, without loss of pay, as is necessary to perform any such activities. Officially authorized Association delegates shall be granted time necessary with pay to attend the conferences of the Association upon timely written request to the Superintendent. The aggregate total of days involved shall not exceed twenty (20) in number. Additional days may be granted at the discretion of the Superintendent. All expenses shall be borne by the individual or the Association.

G.             The Association may use school mail service and building mail boxes (not necessarily individual mail boxes) for communications.

H.             The District shall provide the Association with the names, addresses and telephone numbers of new Unit 8 members within forty-five (45) days of the start of a new school year with monthly updates.

I.             All members of Unit 8 as defined by the Recognition Clause of this Agreement, who are not members of the Association, and new employees, shall be required, as a condition of employment, to pay the Association each month, (through payroll deduction) a service charge as payment for representation by the Association in accordance with Chapters 677 and 678 of the Laws of 1977 of the State of New York. This service charge shall be the amount equal to the dues required by the Association of its members.

J.             Effective 7/1/2003 the President of Unit 8 will be given release time, at the Associations request and expense, for the duration of this Agreement.

K.             The principal of each school shall meet regularly with the Association Building Committee to discuss school operations and questions relating to the implementation of this Agreement.   These meetings shall be held during non-instructional time and, if held during the regular school day, shall not result in loss of pay to the employees.   Any meeting of the Association Building Committee shall not take place during a teaching period of an employee of the committee except in the event of an emergency.   The Association Building Committee shall consist of two (2) Unit 1 members and one (1) member from Unit 1 or any other STA bargaining unit, selected or appointed in a manner to be determined by the Association, to represent the Association in that school.   Proposed changes in existing building policies and procedures, staffing ratios, and new policies and procedures for each school shall be appropriate subjects for discussion at such meetings.   Any changes in such policies and procedures shall be consistent with the terms of this Agreement.

L.     Behavior/Discipline Committee - No later than April 1st of each school year, the Building Committee (composed of the Building Administrator and three (3) members) shall establish a representative committee of members and building administrator(s).   Such Committee shall include no more than one (1) member of the Building Committee and shall not exceed nine (9) individuals.   The Committee will use the District Student Behavior Code to develop or amend building procedures for student behavior in that school for the following school year.   It shall also be charged with determining how the District Student Behavior Code will be implemented including the responsibilities of both members and building administrators.   The Committee shall submit both plan and implementation procedures to the teaching staff for a vote of approval prior to May 15th of the school year.