Governance Board Meeting

Minnetonka<= /st1:place> Teachers Associatio= n Members of Education Minnesota, NEA, AFT, Minnesota Loca= l #7173
Governance Board Meeting District Service Center= November 16, 2005
In Attendance= :	Joseph Ricke, Jan Nelson, Mary Tingblad, Ramona Anderson, Susan Weber, Margaret Ruffino, P= am Wertjes, Debra Drexler, Anita Britton, Rhonda Lundgren, Sandy Gosen, Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, Doug Kennedy, Mike Matthias, Rachel Consdorf.
Absent:	Heather Stowman. T= here is a vacancy on the Governance Board for a representative from Minnewashta.<= /b>
Guests:	Julie Anderson-Simons= on (Groveland), Julianne Berg (Clear Springs/Deephaven), Mark Chalupsky (MM-East/MM-West), Christine Denson (Groveland), Jill Erickson-Beresh (Minnewashta/Excelsior), Pat Williams (MHS). Susanne Alexander (St= owman), Mike Cutshall (MTA Negotiator), Mary Benson and Anita Otten (TeachersR= 17; Rights Co-Chairs), John Borgen (Education Minnesota Field Staff Representative).
Call to Order:	4:35 p.m., by Preside= nt Ricke. Sue Alexander will at= tend Governance Board meetings in place of Heather Stowman while she is on lea= ve.
Guest Speakers:	MTA members Julie Anderson-Simonson, Julianne Berg, Mark Chalupsky, Christine Denson, Jill Erickson-Beresh, and Pat Williams addressed the Governance B= oard regarding communication, seniority and transfers, and the Distinguished Education Program. After the guests left, Motion by Lundgren, seconded by Gosen, = that we go into Executive Session and that the Teachers’ Rights Co-Chair= s, Negotiator, and Education Minnesota Field Staff Representative be allowed= to stay in the Executive Session. Motion carried. This “clo= sed session” is confidential and allows for freer discussion. The minut= es 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 Goodspeed-Gross, seconded by Nelson, to= close the Executive Session and open to regular session. Motion carried.= Regular session opened at 6:16 p.m. =
Vote on Bylaw Amendment:	Motion by Gosen, seconded by Matthias, to approve the Bylaw Amendment as presented. Motion carried<= /u>. All future amendments to the MTA Constitution and Bylaws will be vote= d on by the MTA membership.
New Business:	New Business Items Tabled: Due to time constraints, the followi= ng New Business Items have been tabled: EM-RC in March, MTA Distri= ct Committee Members, EM Foundation Grants, 2005-2006 Human Ri= ghts Awards. MHS MTA Meeting: At the MHS MTA meeting, members asked to addre= ss the School Board. President Ricke invited Principal Adney and Superintend= ent Peterson to meet with MHS MTA members to talk about the stress levels teachers are experiencing this year.
Old Business:	Workday/Work Year Committee: Vice President N= elson and Mike Lovett met on November 3, 2005, to plan for this committee. Nels= on reported that they would like to add three more elementary school committ= ee members. The first meeting will be on November 22, 2005. MAPPS Update: The MAPPS application was submitted and rejected,= but it is still in line for money next year. The MAPPS Committee will work on= an improved plan to resubmit. TIP: TIP for tenured teachers is a work in progress. Concerns expressed in last year’s survey of concentrated tenured teachers wi= ll be addressed. School Board Meeting: Anyone can choose to address the School <= span class=3DGramE>Board, however they cannot speak as the MTA. Preside= nt Ricke and the MHS Building Representatives are recommending to the MHS MTA members that they wait to address the School Board at the December School Board Study Session. MTA Scholarship Fundraiser: Doug Kennedy sent out an e-mail regarding a Talent Show to raise funds for MTA scholarships for MHS senio= rs. Twelve people have expressed interest. Anyone interested in planning and/= or participating in the Talent Show should contact Doug Kennedy.
President’s Report:	Communication With Today’s Guests: President Ricke will s= end an e-mail to today’s guests to thank them for coming to the Governa= nce Board and to address their concerns.
	Motion by Nelson, seconded by Goodspeed-Gross, to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned= at 6:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Mary Tingblad, MTA Secretary 11/30/05, Approved as amended 12/7/05