The woman who led the investigation into alleged bogus expense claims by former ASTI general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon, retained her position by just one vote at yesterday's conference in Killarney.
Ms Patricia Wroe was narrowly re-elected to the post of honorary treasurer of the ASTI, ahead of former union president, Mr P.J. Sheehy.
This followed the election yesterday of Ms Sheila Parsons to the post of vice-president, ahead of Ms Lily Cronin.
Mr Lennon, who last year quit his post after a €200,000 settlement, has vehemently denied any wrong-doing on his part.
Speaking after the election, Ms Wroe told The Irish Times she believed her re-election was an endorsement of the work she had done. "It means that the good practices I've put in place will continue," she said.
Meanwhile, delegates strongly rejected any moves to involve teachers in assessment of their own pupils. According to president-elect, Ms Susie Hall, teachers were not afraid of assessment. However, she believed it would be impossible for them to be objective in assessing their own pupils.
Ms Wroe, also speaking on the issue, said she believed such proposals could be viewed simply as a cost-saving exercise.
The convention heard calls for the ASTI to resume its membership of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), which it left in January 2000. According to Mr Pierce Purcell, of the Tipperary branch, in order to work properly with other public service unions, in particular on the issue of changes to pension entitlements, it was essential for the ASTI return to ICTU.
"There is no way we are going to do this outside of ICTU," he told delegates. "It is far better to be inside the tent than outside." However, several others stated their belief that the ASTI should remain firmly outside of ICTU, with some claiming participation in national pay agreements had sold teachers short.
Earlier, delegates also passed a motion to reduce the number of hours which assistant principals and special duties teachers should work. If implemented, this could require the employment of extra teachers by the Department of Education in the future.
Delegates also heard details of the ASTI's report into special needs, which found that at least 10 per cent of students have special educational needs, with many experiencing long delays for assessment.