Minnetonka Teachers Association

Governance Board Meeting, June 4, 2003

 

 

In Attendance:

Mark Chalupsky, Julie Anderson-Simonson, Mary Tingblad, Joseph Ricke, Linda Morantez, Margaret Ruffino, Pam Wertjes, Mark Broten, Melanie Casiday, Debra Jensen, Katie Tuthill, Mark Brzezinski, Sandy Gosen, Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, Jan Nelson,  Mike Cutshall, Miles Mortensen. 

 

 

Guests:

Mary Benson and Anita Otten, Teachers Rights Co-Chairs; Susan Vento, Education Minnesota Field Representative.

 

 

Call to Order:

4:52 p.m., by President Chalupsky.

 

 

Welcome:

Miles Mortensen joins the Governance Board as MHS Building Representative.

 

 

Approval of Minutes:

Motion by Jensen seconded by Nelson, to approve the minutes of May 21, 2003. Motion carried.

 

 

Teachers' Rights Report:

The Teachers’ Rights Co-Chairs will be meeting on June 5, 2003, regarding the back pay issue.  They have been dealing with placement and job postings issues. The TIP document that was originally to be brought to the School Board on June 5, 2003, will not be brought before the School Board without the MTA, according to Mike Lovett.

 

 

Treasurer's Report:

MTA Budget Proposal: Motion by Anderson-Simonson, seconded by Goodspeed-Gross, to send two delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly and two delegates to the AFT Convention in July 2004. Motion carried. The NEA/AFT Assembly budget line must be adjusted to cover the expenses of 4 delegates, $1,500 each, total of 6,000. 

Motion by Anderson-Simonson, seconded by Goodspeed-Gross, to increase the NEA/AFT Assembly budget line to $1,700 per delegate, total of $6,800. Motion did not carry

Motion by Jensen, seconded by Broten, to approve the 2003-2004 MTA Budget, as amended. Motion carried

 

 

New Business:

Principal Evaluations: The MTA and Administration collaborated on last year's Principal Surveys. With 5 new principals next year, teachers would like to be able to evaluate the principals again. The MTA would be interested in collaborating on another Zoomerang survey in December. If the district is not interested in collaboration, the MTA would do the survey for our own records. President Chalupsky will meet with Craig Hintz on June 6, 2003. He will find out how principals were evaluated to receive tenure this year. He will also ask about surveys for next year.

Principal Candidates: The district has set up confidential meetings in front of interview committees, but has not released the names of these candidates. This is a violation of the state law. President Chalupsky has been in contact with Sue Vento, our Education Minnesota Field Representative and Harley Ogata, Education Minnesota lawyer.

2003-04 and 2004-05 Calendars: In an e-mail today, a teacher asked about the last days of the two upcoming years. The calendars were sent home with students and the last day for both years is listed as a full day. The last day was changed to a partial day this year rather late.

 

 

Old Business:

Negotiations Report: The Settlement Committee met today with the MTA Negotiators and Sue Vento. The next meeting will be on June 26, 2003. The committee needs more members, at least one member from each building. Members interested in joining the Settlement Committee should contact Negotiators Ricke and Cutshall. Members are encouraged to check the MTA website for updates over the summer. The MTA Governance Board and Negotiators will use home e-mail for summer communication.

Teachers Celebrations Committee Update: The committee didn't follow through with this year's final activity. The remainder of the Teachers Celebrations budget for this year is returned to the MTA Budget Reserves, as are all funds not used by the end of that year's budget. The committee for next year will be Melanie Casiday, Deb Jensen, and Katie Tuthill.

2003 NEA RA Expenses: Motion by Goodspeed-Gross, seconded by Cutshall, to allocate an additional $200 per delegate, total $600, to cover expenses incurred attending the NEA Representative Assembly in New Orleans, LA. Motion carried

MTA Scholarships: On June 3, 2003, President Chalupsky and Vice-President Anderson-Simonson presented the MTA scholarships to MHS seniors Jenny Liu and Eric Oster at the MHS Awards Night.

Summer Leadership Conference: Jan Nelson and Melanie Casiday are interested in attending the summer conference. 

 

 

President's Remarks:

President Chalupsky contacted Dennis Peterson to get the name and phone number of the district's lawyer. Harley Ogata will be contacting the lawyer regarding the district's illegal action. Dr. Peterson is interested in meeting with President Chalupsky again to continue communications. President Chalupsky is encouraging Dr. Peterson to create a committee of teachers to use as a sounding block to preview district ideas. The current Executive Cabinet has only administrators and would benefit from teacher input.

President Chalupsky met with a school district official today to discuss the "State of the District." They discussed the difficulty of finding good principal candidates, and candidates not wanting to come to the Minnetonka School District.

Summer Governance Board Meeting: Governance Board members will attend a summer meeting and training session on Thursday, August 21, 2003, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Minnetonka Community Center. Members should also be prepared to attend emergency meetings should the need arise.

 

 

School Board Report:

The June 5, 2003, School Board meeting will be 5:00-6:45 p.m., at the District Service Center. The School Board will then go to the MHS Small Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. for the Public Hearing on the Proposed Dome and Turf at MHS.

 

 

 

Motion by Casiday, seconded by Broten, to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,
Mary Tingblad, MTA Secretary
6/10/03, Approved 9/3/03