|
Governance Board Meeting, December 3, 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, Jan
Nelson, Mike Cutshall. |
| Absent: | Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, Miles Mortensen. |
| Call to Order: | 4:38 p.m., by President Chalupsky. |
| Approval of Minutes: | Motion by Ricke, seconded by
Gosen, to approve the minutes of November 5, 2003. Motion
carried. |
| Teachers' Rights Report: | The Teachers' Rights
Committee is meeting at the same time as the Governance Board today, so
the Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs are not able to attend this meeting. In
their absence, President Chalupsky reported that today the Co-Chairs met
with an elementary principal regarding Responsive Classroom issues. |
| Treasurer's Report: | Treasurer Ricke distributed the MTA Checking Account Statement,
November 1-December 2, 2003, and the MTA
Monthly Budget Report dated December 2, 2003. Copies of the 2003-2004
budget and minutes from the December 18, 2002 Governance Board meeting
were distributed in reference to the payment of stipends to the Teachers'
Rights Building Representatives. Motion by Ricke, seconded by Ruffino,
to pay the Teachers' Rights Building Representatives a yearly stipend
instead of per meeting attended. Motion tabled until later in the
meeting. Governance Board members wanted to hear from the
Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs. |
| New Business: | Elections for NEA,
AFT, and State Conventions: The Governance Board approved sending two
delegates to the NEA Convention and two delegates to the AFT convention.
Both of the conventions are in Washington, D.C., this summer. The NEA
Convention will be July 2-7, 2004, and the AFT will be July 13-17, 2004.
The President, by virtue of office, will attend one of the national
conventions. MTA members will elect the remaining three delegates.
The MTA is allowed to send seven delegates to the Education Minnesota Representative Convention in St. Paul, MN, March 19-20, 2004. President Chalupsky, by virtue of office, will attend. The MTA members will elect the remaining six delegates. The Governance Board is interested in holding elections on the same day for the state and national delegates. President Chalupsky will talk with our Field Representative about combining the AFT and NEA delegates elections. Tabled until the next Governance Board meeting. Teacher Celebration Plans: Casiday, Jensen, and Tuthill will report on this committee's plans at the next Governance Board meeting. Education Minnesota Officers Elections: President Chalupsky reported that many Local Presidents support a change in Education Minnesota leadership. Frank Wanner, Duluth, is running against Judy Schaubach for President. Mark Doepner-Hove, Mound, is running against Sandra Peterson for Vice-President. Susan Brewer who is running for Secretary-Treasurer, has contacted President Chalupsky about coming to a future Governance Board meeting. Minneapolis Teacher Files for Restraining Order: The teacher does not have legal representation from Education Minnesota. President Chalupsky will talk with the Minneapolis President to find out more. Teacher of the Year: Kris Schumacher, MHS, has been nominated for Minnesota Teacher of the Year. The Governance Board approved providing up to $100 to reimburse the nominee for the paperwork involved. Casiday knows of other teachers who have been nominated also. Building Representatives should check with MTA members and bring names of nominated teachers to the next Governance Board meeting. DEC Concerns: The
district is considering adding a new pres-school program that may be run
by Community Education. Teachers want clarification about keeping benefits
while working with the new program. |
| Old Business: |
Bylaw Change: President Chalupsky checked with Education Minnesota's legal staff regarding the proposed change. We can make the change provided that we are following the procedures in the Constitution and Bylaws. Motion by Broten, seconded by Gosen, that the Section VII, Paragraph 1, 1.6, of the MTA Bylaws, be amended to state, "Ratification of the Master Agreement requires the approval of a simple majority of the members who have voted." Motion carried. Completion of Contract: President Chalupsky and Negotiators Cutshall and Ricke will meet today for the final approval of the printed version of the 2003-2005 Master Agreement. The official signing will take place next week. Retroactive
Pay: Teachers are concerned because some have heard different versions
from DSC staff regarding our retroactive pay. President Chalupsky will
double check and ask for a clarification letter. |
| President's Remarks: |
Technology Problems: President Chalupsky visited Wayzata Schools to
find out how their technology is working. Every teacher has his/her own
McIntosh computer with very few breakdown problems, new software is
installed within one week, and grading works well.
President Chalupsky sent out an e-mail to all teachers asking if teachers share computers. He has found out that many MHS teachers have to share computers. He has asked for a breakdown of the $3 million per year Technology budget and the Technology Team assignments. he will meet with Dr. Peterson tomorrow to discuss further technology concerns. Grading Committee Issues: President Chalupsky has suggested to Claudia Risnes that the committee develop a district-wide grading scale and department-level grading guidelines. The committee will be setting up focus groups with parents before having anything official in place. Teachers are concerned about grade inflation and the effects it causes at the next grade level. The district is facing legal issues regarding students receiving high grades in an earlier grade and then getting bad grades in when they reach a new grade level. Motion by Gosen, seconded by Nelson, to table the Teachers' Rights stipend discussion until the next governance Board meeting. Motion carried. Teacher Evaluation Committee: The TIP Committee reported on the history and progress of TIP at last night's School Board meeting. Teacher Honors: Juris Terauds, MHS Drafting and Design teacher,
has been named the 2003 Minnesota Technology Education Teacher of the Year.
Carrie Enstad, MHS/MME Choir teacher, has been named Minnesota's Young
Choral Director of the Year by the American Choral Directors Association. |
| Motion by Casiday, seconded by Jensen, to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. | |
|
Respectfully submitted, | |