COUNCIL FOR
MARYLAND NEGOTIATION SERVICE Approved:
November 19, 1976 Revised April 24, 2018 I. AUTHORIZATION The following statements of purposes, function, and
structure should be interpreted in conjunction with the provisions of the
Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland II. PURPOSES
AND FUNCTIONS A. The MNS shall serve as an Advisory Council
reporting to the Superintendent of Schools on collective bargaining issues
primarily involving the Local Educational Agencies (LEA's) but not excluding
the involvement of other agencies. B. The Council shall provide a standard channel for contact
and communication and mutual assistance among the LEA's on all relevant
collective bargaining issues. C. The Council shall provide an open forum for the
discussion of concerns, issues, crisis, and problems which are of mutual
interest. D. The Council shall review and evaluate projects carried
out upon its recommendations. E. The Council shall provide a medium for dissemination to
LEA's of information about collective bargaining, legislative activities, as
well as information from the Public-School Superintendents Association of Maryland
(PSSAM). F. The representatives and the coordinated planning for the
Council, as well as recommendations which would be obtained, should give
support and strengthen programs and projects pursued which might otherwise
falter. III. STRUCTURE A. The Council 1. All Counties and Baltimore City of Maryland are
eligible to be regular member agencies of this Council. 2. Each LEA member shall have one vote. A
representative and an alternate will be appointed by each local Superintendents
of Schools. 3. Decisions on recommendations to the Superintendents
shall be by majority vote of those participating in the deliberations of the
Council. B. The Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the
Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, five (5) representatives
from the Council (one from each of the five (5) regions listed below) and a
liaison member appointed by the Public School Superintendents Association of
Maryland (PSSAM). Region 1 - Region 2 - Caroline, Region 4 - Anne Arundel, Region 5 - Allegany, The five (5) representatives are to be nominated by the
regions. The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer shall be
nominated by a nominating committee appointed by the Chairperson. This
committee shall report a slate of candidates for the Executive Committee by
February 15 each year. All members of the Executive Committee shall be elected
by the majority vote by the Council during the month of March, with the
exception of the Past Chairperson. The Past Chairperson position requires no appointment
and is selected based on having fulfilled their term as Chairperson from the
previous year. The five (5) regional representatives shall serve for two
(2) years. The five (5) representatives shall not automatically succeed
themselves. The Executive Committee shall act on the Council's behalf
between Council sessions to coordinate projects, communicate with members, and
arrange agendas, call meetings, make presentations regarding recommendations, deliberate
on policies, procedures, potential projects, and evaluations. Vacancies on the Executive Committee may be filled for the
unexpired terms by a majority vote of remaining members of the Executive
Committee, with the exception of the Past Chairperson member. C. Officers Chairperson - The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the
Council and of the Executive Committee at which the Chairperson is in
attendance. The Chairperson shall ensure that Council meetings are
scheduled with notification to members at least one (1) week in advance of such
meetings. The Chairperson shall have power to appoint deliberative and
reporting subcommittees of attendees at Council meetings. The term of Chairperson shall be one (1) year. The
Chairperson may not serve more than two (2) consecutive one (1) year terms. Upon completion of the term as Chairperson, this person
shall hold the office of Past Chairperson for one (1) year. Vice Chairperson - The Vice Chairperson shall serve
as Chairperson if he/she is absent for meetings. The term of the Vice Chairperson
shall be one (1) year. Secretary - The Secretary shall provide support to the Council and to
the Executive Committee. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall receive all moneys and disburse all
payments in accordance with actions of the Past Chairperson - The past chairperson shall advise
and assist the Chairperson, and shall have such other duties as the Chairperson
assigns. IV. MEETINGS A. Regular meetings shall be scheduled, published, and
convene at a location established by the Executive Committee. B. Items for consideration for the agenda should be
submitted to the Chairperson at least two (2) weeks before the meeting so that
items requiring action by the Executive Committee can be handled in a timely
manner. V. PROFESSIONAL
ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP A. MNS recognizes the
value of professional organizations in keeping up to date on the latest trends
and issues in education negotiations. As
a result, MNS shall pay for one (1) individual membership for an approved
organization per LEA each year as part of its annual budget process. The selected organization shall be vetted by
MNS members then approved by the Executive Committee. B. MNS will pay for
registration and attendance of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson to attend the
approved national conference. The
Executive Committee may, at its discretion, substitute another Executive
Committee member in the event that either the Chairperson and/or Vice
Chairperson are unable to attend the national conference. VI. AMENDMENTS These governing procedures may be amended by a two-thirds
(2/3) majority vote of the LEA membership in the Council at a regular meeting
after a thirty (30) day written notification of the recommended change to its
membership.
Revised: January 23, 2015
(PSSAM) relating to the operation of the Maryland Negotiation Service (MNS).
Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, Worcester
Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot
Region 3 - Baltimore
City, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard
Calvert, Charles, Prince Georges, St. Mary’s
Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Washington
Executive Committee.