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Members
of Education |
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In Attendance: |
Joseph Ricke, Jan Nelson, Mary Tingblad, Ramona Anderson, Susan Weber, Margaret Ruffino, Pam Wertjes, Heather Stowman, Debra Drexler, Anita Britton, Rhonda Lundgren, Sandy Gosen, Doug Kennedy, Mike Matthias, Rachel Consdorf. |
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Absent: |
Jeri Goodspeed-Gross. There is a vacancy on the Governance Board for a representative from Minnewashta. |
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Guests: |
Mary Benson, Teachers’ Rights Co-Chair. |
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Call to Order: |
4:33 p.m., by President Ricke. |
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Approval of Minutes: |
Motion by Drexler, seconded by Kennedy, to approve the minutes of October 19, 2005. Motion carried. |
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Teachers’ Rights Report: |
The
Teachers’ Rights Committee did not have an October meeting due to
Parent-Teacher Conferences. Mary Benson has talked with Sue Hine about
technology. The Teachers’ Rights Co-Chairs will also talk with Dr. Peterson
regarding “slowing down” the push for so many added responsibilities. This
will also be addressed at Meet and Confer. The
Governance Board Building Representatives and Teachers’ Rights Building
Representatives should hold monthly building-level MTA meetings and monthly
meetings with their principals. |
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Treasurer’s Report: |
President Ricke will train Treasurer Anderson and will help her prepare the budget reports for the next Governance Board meeting. Secretary Tingblad distributed the updated MTA Budget which was amended at the last Governance Board meeting. |
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Open Forum: |
Governance Board members shared concerns regarding their buildings and district issues. When MTA members have questions, their Governance Board Building
Representatives should bring the questions/concerns to President Ricke. When
the President Release Time begins, President Ricke plans to spend more time
in each building. He will decide if the concerns need to be addressed through
Contract Administration, Meet and Confer, etc. Teachers’ Rights questions
should be brought to the Teachers’ Rights Building Representatives and
Co-Chairs. |
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New Business: |
MTA Computers: The MTA President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and Webmaster use computers to do their MTA duties. Currently, the President and the Secretary have MTA computers. The district has allowed the MTA Negotiators to use two district laptop computers. Secretary Tingblad is also the Newsletter Editor and the Webmaster and has
the highest need for an MTA computer. She has the old MTA computer and cannot
load on the software necessary for updating and maintaining the MTA website. Motion by Covering a Class During Prep: This will be addressed through Contract Administration. Proposed Amendment to Bylaws: Secretary Tingblad presented a
proposed amendment to the MTA Bylaws which will meet Education Minnesota’s
requirements for all Local Constitutions and Bylaws. The Governance Board
will have to vote on this amendment according to the current Bylaws. Motion by Gosen, seconded by Nelson to
present the amendment to the membership for discussion. Motion carried.
Secretary Tingblad will send out the proposed amendment to all MTA members on November 3, 2005, for building-level discussions from November 3-16, 2005. Governance Board members will vote on the proposed amendment at the next Governance Board meeting. When approved, all future amendments will go before the MTA membership. Other Changes to Consider: MTA Constitution and Bylaws Changes: Secretary Tingblad has asked for the formation of the MTA Constitution and Bylaws Committee. She will send out an e-mail to the Governance Board. Sue Weber has volunteered to join the committee. MTA Computer Use Policy: President
Ricke is requesting a policy to govern appropriate use of MTA computers. He will
ask Education Minnesota Field Staff Representative John Borgen to assist us. |
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Old Business: |
Political Organizer: President Ricke will send out an e-mail to all MTA members regarding the position of Political Organizer. Workday/Work Year Committee: President Ricke, Vice President Nelson, and Mike Lovett will meet on November 3, 2005, to plan for this committee. They will ask for more members to join this committee. MAPPS Update: Margaret Ruffino and Anita Britton attended the
all-day Q-Comp meeting in Distinguished Educator Program: Education Minnesota Field Staff Representative John Borgen will send an e-mail to the Governance Board to explain concerns regarding the Distinguished Educator Program (DEP). President Ricke will send a DEP document to the Governance Board. President Ricke and Jerry Bartow are already on the DEP committee, but the committee needs more members. President Ricke will send out an e-mail to MTA members asking for committee members. After the committee work, Mike Lovett will send out a document to announce DEP. MTA Scholarship Fundraiser: Doug Kennedy has already sent out an e-mail regarding a Talent Show to raise funds for MTA scholarships for MHS seniors. People interested in planning and/or participating in the Talent Show should contact Doug Kennedy. |
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President’s Report: |
Arbitration Update/Grievances Update: We have not heard anything from the arbitrator regarding the President Release Time. Two grievances regarding International Baccalaureate and teachers transferred out of their department will go to arbitration. Meet and Confer Topics: Governance Board members suggested the
following topics: technology, morale, report card “Talking Points” document,
“Facts Sheets” distributed at conferences, Blackboard usage, and Strategic
Plan. Motion by Tingblad, seconded by
Gosen, that the abovementioned topics should be added to the Meet and Confer
agenda. Motion carried. E-mail from a Member: A member has requested to attend a Governance
Board meeting to address concerns. The Governance Board wishes to remind
everyone that all MTA members are welcome to attend Governance Board
meetings. |
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Motion by Matthias, seconded by Drexler, to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:29 p.m. |
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Respectfully submitted, |
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