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Governance
Board Meeting, March 16, 2005 |
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In Attendance: |
Joseph Ricke, Jan Nelson, Mary Tingblad, Melanie Casiday, Linda Morantez, Margaret Ruffino, Pam Wertjes, Sara Macke, Anita Britton, Rhonda Lundgren, Sandy Gosen, Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, Doug Kennedy, Mike Cutshall, Miles Mortensen. |
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Absent: |
Jean Peebles. There is still a vacancy on the Governance Board for a representative from Clear Springs. |
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Guests: |
Daryl Seifert (Deephaven), Ryan Johnston (Deephaven). |
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Call to Order: |
4:32 p.m., by President Ricke. |
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Motion by Goodspeed-Gross, seconded by Ruffino, that we go into Executive Session. Motion carried. This “closed session” is confidential and allows for freer discussion. The minutes do not reflect what is said while in Executive Session, nor can the information be discussed outside of Executive Session. Members are not to divulge the proceedings of an Executive Session and can be punished under a disciplinary provision if they violate the secrecy. Motion by Cutshall, seconded by Ruffino, to close the Executive Session and open to regular session. Motion carried. Regular session opened at 5:25 p.m. |
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Approval of Minutes: |
Motion by Ruffino, seconded by Lundgren, to approve the
minutes of March 2, 2005. Motion carried. |
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Teachers' Rights Report: |
President Ricke gave the report in the Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs’ absence. They will be meeting with Mike Lovett regarding staffing questions and answers. By June 1, 2005, everyone will know his/her position for next year. The Teachers’ Rights Co-Chairs are also working with the district regarding tutoring. |
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Treasurer's Report: |
Treasurer Casiday distributed the MTA Monthly Budget Report, dated March 14, 2005; and the MTA Checking Account Statement, March 1-14, 2005.
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New Business: |
Visit to Crosby-Ironton: President Ricke and Vice-President Nelson went to Crosby-Ironton on March 11, 2005. They delivered the food and money donations collected from MTA members in every building. They walked the picket line and spoke to the teachers. The C-I Local is suing the district for hiring non-licensed replacements. See the March issue of the MTA newsletter for their articles on their visit to Crosby-Ironton. President Ricke will send out an e-mail to MTA members regarding an additional donation drive for the C-I Local.
2006-07 MTA Calendar Committee: Jan Nelson, Sandy Gosen, and Margaret Ruffino have volunteered to represent the MTA on the Calendar Committee.
UniServ Meeting Update: The State Health Care Proposal was discussed—the UniServ does not support it. All Locals with FairShare people must have a professional audit done.
Update on Health and Physical Education Lobby Day: Sandy Gosen and Mark Chalupsky attended the Health and Physical Education Lobby Day at the Capitol on March 10, 2005. Gosen distributed an information sheet regarding proposed bills. She reported attending a training session, contacting legislators, and attending a hearing. There is bipartisan support for the Health and Physical Education bill, however some oppose it. Edina’s Curriculum Director and a representative from the Minnesota School Board Association spoke against it.
Elections: Elections for MTA Governance Board Representatives will occur on April 7, 2005. Governance Board Building Representatives whose positions are up for election in April include: Linda Morantez, DEC; Margaret Ruffino, Deephaven; Melanie Casiday, Minnewashta; Anita Britton, Scenic Heights; Sandy Gosen, MM-East; Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, MM-West; Mike Cutshall, MHS; and Miles Mortensen, MHS. Clear Springs (+DSC) currently does not have a Building Representative, so elections will also be held for that Building Representative. The deadline to submit names for these elections is March 23, 2005.
MTA members will also vote for two delegates to join President Ricke (total of 3 MTA delegates) at the NEA-RA, July 1-6, 2005. The deadline to submit names for this election is March 23, 2005. Candidates can submit a campaign information form to the Election Committee by April 4, 2005, to be included on a special MTA Election webpage. Ballots will be delivered to each building by April 4, and the elections will take place on April 7, 2005. Pam Wertjes and Margaret Ruffino will serve on the Election Committee.
Third Quarter Grading Window: The window opens on March 22 and closes April 5, however Skyward will be down March 24-29. Third quarter ends on March 24, and Spring Break is March 25-April 3, 2005. We are requesting that the district extends the window due to the down time and Spring Break.
Tutoring Concerns: The School Board is reviewing the outdated Tutoring Policy. Mike Lovett is working on this and will bring it to Meet and Confer. Claudia Risnes is also working on the Homework Policy.
Motion by Gosen, seconded by Goodspeed-Gross, to
continue this meeting past 6:00 p.m. Motion carried.
Teacher Celebration Committee: Melanie Casiday and Sandy Gosen volunteered to serve on this committee.
Reorganization Meeting: The Reorganization Meeting will be on May 4, 2005. The Governance Board supports giving a local restaurant our business. Suggestions include Big Buck Roadhouse, Maynard’s, Hazellewood Grill, and Minnetonka Community Center. The Governance Board will make the decision at the next meeting. Principals Out of Buildings: Staff members are concerned that principals are out of the buildings too often with no set plan of action in their absence. President Ricke has spoken with Dr. Peterson regarding getting plans in place. This will also be discussed at Meet and Confer. |
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Old Business: |
Update on Child Rearing Leave: The district wants to clarify and tighten up the process regarding commitment to return on a specified date from a child rearing leave. Update on Sunshine Fund Committee: This will occur at the next
Governance Board meeting. |
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President's Report: |
Alternative Compensation Update: Money may be available for an Alternative Compensation system. The MTA is interested in keeping Steps and Lanes and adding additional compensation. President Ricke will invite Mike Lovett, Daryl Seifert, and our Education Minnesota Field Staff Representative to a future meeting to brief the Governance Board on what may be feasible. Buy-Out/Early Retirement Proposal Update: Seven members are opting for this—four on Leaves of Absence and three on Early Retirement. President Ricke will speak with Mike Lovett regarding the possibility of others interested in retiring. Interest Based Bargaining: The MTA Negotiators will attend an
Interest Based Bargaining (IBB) training session, however a date has not yet
been set. Other Minnetonka Bargaining Units have not been happy with IBB. President
Ricke and Negotiators Britton and Cutshall will meet after Spring Break to
look at how the 6-period day will affect the contract. |
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School Board Report: |
At the last School Board meeting, the district presented ways to deal with the 6-period day. They are considering Online Learning, Community Education classes (both interest-only and accredited classes), and Zero-Hour classes. The Foundation Dinner raised $170,000. 24.78 positions have been cut, but the district is predicting that this will end up being only about 10 at the end of this school year. |
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Open Forum: |
Members are asking what are the actual savings going to be from the cuts? Motion by Casiday, seconded by Kennedy, to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m. |
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Respectfully submitted, |
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