|
Governance Board Meeting, February 18, 2004 | |
| In Attendance: | Mark Chalupsky, Julie
Anderson-Simonson, Mary Tingblad, Joseph Ricke, Linda Morantez, Margaret Ruffino,
Pam Wertjes, Mark Broten, Melanie Casiday, Katie Tuthill, Mark Brzezinski,
Sandy
Gosen, Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, Jan
Nelson, Mike Cutshall, Miles Mortensen. |
| Absent: | Debra Jensen. |
| Guest: | Mary Benson and Anita Otten, Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs; Chuck Kehrberg, Education Minnesota Field Representative (while Susan Vento is on leave); Dave Eisenmann, MTA Webmaster. |
| Call to Order: | 4:30 p.m., by President Chalupsky. |
| Approval of Minutes: | Motion by Casiday, seconded by Tuthill, to approve the minutes of February 4, 2004. Motion carried. |
| MTA Website: | Webmaster
Dave Eisenmann reported on updating the MTA website. Lunarpages.com hosts
the MTA website at no cost to us. We can also be reimbursed each month for
including an AFT PLUS ad in our newsletter and an AFT PLUS banner ad on
our website. The MTA is considering sponsoring a photo contest, offering
prize money earned from the AFT ads. We are interested in increasing the
traffic to our website. Building Representatives should talk with
their MTA members to gather ideas about what they would like to see on the
MTA website and feedback on the photo contest. |
| Teachers' Rights Report: | The Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs will be meeting with Dennis Peterson and Mike Lovett on February 25, 2004. They will continue to discuss job-sharing and the use of surveys. If there are other issues that need to be address by the Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs, Governance Board members should e-mail Benson and Otten. |
| Treasurer's Report: | Treasurer Ricke distributed the MTA Checking Account Statement, January 15-February 9, 2004, and the MTA Monthly Budget Report dated February 17, 2004. |
| New Business: | Education Minnesota Report: The Report of the Education Minnesota Elections Committee Investigation was sent to all MTA members and has also been posted on the Education Minnesota website. The Election Guidelines were approved in June 2003, but the report stated that the guidelines will be sent out mid-February. Other Locals have reported not having access to these guidelines until after the investigation report. Joe Ricke will file a complaint about Education Minnesota leadership attending and addressing the Metro West Negotiations Council meeting without other candidates present. A complaint will also be filed about one of the candidates attending the UniServ meeting without other candidates present. There is incorrect information in the Election Committee Report, and the MTA would like to respond to the report and correct the inaccuracies. Motion by Ruffino, seconded by Wertjes, that President Chalupsky appoint a committee to investigate and respond to the Education Minnesota Elections Committee Report. Motion carried. Julie Anderson-Simonson, Melanie Casiday, and Mary Tingblad volunteered to serve on this committee. Statewide Health Insurance:
Minnetonka School District employees are self-insured, and with $3.6
million in our health insurance funds, we may be looking at no or very
little increase in our rates next year. The Statewide Health Insurance
program before legislators this year proposes making the program mandatory
for all Minnesota school districts. Some are concerned that this may
initially cost more than some programs that districts already have in
place. Because of the size of the insured group, it could help soften big
changes in rates from year to year, and it should give access to doctors
of one's own choosing. Members are encouraged to go to the Education
Minnesota website to learn more about this issue. |
| Old Business: |
Teacher Night for Co-Curricular Event: President Chalupsky has made arrangements for two Teacher Nights, February 24 and February 28. Teachers and their families can get into the games on those nights for free. It was also suggested that we may be able to have a Teacher Night for the musical show in April, and more events next year. Teachers Celebrations Committee Report: An event is being planned for all MTA members at the Marsh on April 30, 2004. |
| Open Forum: | If MTA members want to share information regarding candidates for the upcoming Education Minnesota leadership elections, they can call or send mail through the inter-school mail or US postal service, to contact the MTA delegates to the Education Minnesota Representative Convention. Do not use the school e-mail to do this. |
| President's Remarks: |
Technology: The Technology Team is moving forward. One helpdesk
position has been posted this week, and more positions will be filled later.
Skyward Gradebook: Some middle school and high school teachers are piloting the Skyward Gradebook. They are asking questions about any concerns they are encountering during this pilot period. State Convention: MTA delegates attended the UniServ delegate dinner meeting on February 19, 2004, in preparation for the EM-RC, March 19-20, 2004. Alternative Compensation: President Chalupsky and Negotiator Ricke spoke with Dennis Peterson regarding communications concerns and standards. President Chalupsky, Vice-President Anderson-Simonson, and Negotiator
Ricke have met with administrators to plan for a new alternative
compensation for Distinguished Teachers. The current proposal includes a
two-year process with a portfolio similar to (but scaled down) National
Board Certification, with compensation for three years. |
| School Board Report: | At the February 5, 2004 School Board Meeting, the school times were adopted as presented, and the School Board Meeting and Study Session dates were set. The School Board approved the amendments to the 2003-04 Budget. Minnetonka's fund balance is currently 7.2%. The Board also adopted policies on Conflict of Interest, Gifts and Donations, and Employment Background Checks. |
| Motion by Ruffino, seconded by Broten, to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:18 p.m. | |
|
Respectfully submitted, | |