Governance Board Meeting
November 3, 2004
Call to order - 4:30pm
Attending: Margaret Ruffino, Sara Macke, Sandy Gosen, Joe Ricke, Miles Mortensen, Doug Kennedy, Mike Cutshall, Anita Britton, Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, Jan Nelson.
Absent: Mary Tingblad, Melanie Cassidy.
Guests: Anita Otten, Mary Benson
Motion to approve minutes: Margaret Ruffino
2nd: Sara Macke
Approved
Treasurer’s report: Deferred until next meeting.
Teacher Rights: Mary and Anita met with Dr. Peterson to discuss:
A. Evaluation of principal surveys –
November survey will emphasize building “climate”.
March survey will emphasize principal’s performance.
Governance Board will review results of the Zoomerang surveys.
B. Curriculum and technology survey needed to measure where district stands with meeting technology needs in buildings. Date of survey not set yet.
Negotiation selection process:
A. Two applicants so far: Anita Britton and Mike Cutshall
B. Voting on negotiators was tabled until next meeting with hopes of attracting a few more applicants.
C. Discussion centered on inviting interested people to observe a negotiations meeting to better understand what a negotiator does. If this were done, there would need to be guidelines about confidentiality and the agreement with the district.
Settlement Committee:
Representation from various areas in the district should include the following: specialists (art, music, physical education and media), social workers, counselors, grade levels, nurses, early childhood, DEC, extra curriculars, and extended day kindergarten.
District Committees:
Representation is needed on the following district committees:
Insurance Committee
Recognition Committee
State Health Committee
Concern was expressed that people do not have enough time to serve on these committees.
Old Business:
A. 8 hour issue.
The 8 hours negotiated into this year’s contract for teacher use has not been settled with the district. Suggestion from Anita Otten was to use this time in each building for Blackboard training for half-days and sharing reserves. This will be discussed further at Contract Administration meetings.
B. Hours for packing up and restoring room after remodeling.
A number of schools had teacher who had to move out of their rooms. Some teachers needed more than the 4 hours allotted to restore the rooms. Turn in actual hours to principals and let the Governance Board know the results.
President’s Report: The following items were presented:
1. Alternative Compensation discussion deferred until next meeting
2. Distinguished Teacher program may be dropped due to budget constraints.
3. District budget for next year: Dr. Peterson will be visiting buildings to update teachers on the district’s budget status for next year.
4. Concern was expressed as to the future of the Distinguished Teacher and the Group Performance Grant programs.
5. Class size and the impact on student performance research is needed.
Mini School: The rate of pay for teaching independent study taught
through the mini school program has come forward. MTA will research as to how this fits into the contract.
6. Extended Day Kindergarten: Discussion centering on schedule changes this late in the school year.
7. Dr Hintz has been named Director of Evaluation. The board is interested in testing that is geared towards college entry.
8. Community Education Advisory Board wanted change to policy 901.
Open Forum:
1. Some staff, especially counselors, 504 and special education staff members have had problems accessing the new grading system.
2. Reserves are having problems accessing teacher’s web pages.
3. Before school lessons are not paid, only those taught after school are. MTA needs to look into this.
Motion to adjourn: 6:00 Mike Cutshall. 2nd Margaret Ruffino.
Minutes prepared and
submitted by Jan Nelson, MTA Vice President, 11/18/04, approved 12/1/04.