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Governance Board May 21, 2003 | |
| In Attendance: | Mark Chalupsky, Julie Anderson-Simonson, Mary Tingblad, Joseph Ricke, Linda Morantez, Margaret Ruffino, Pam Wertjes, Mark Broten, Melanie Casiday, Debra Jensen, Katie Tuthill, Mark Brzezinski, Sandy Gosen, Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, Jan Nelson, Mike Cutshall. There is still a vacancy on the Governance Board for the fourth Building Representative from MHS. |
| Guests: | Mary Benson, Teachers’ Rights Co-Chair; Susan Vento, Education Minnesota Field Representative. |
| Call to Order: | 4:37 p.m., by President Chalupsky. |
| Approval of Minutes: |
Motion by Jensen, seconded by Casiday, to
approve the minutes of May 7, 2003. Motion carried.
Thank you card from Daryl Seifert to the MTA Governance Board. |
| Teachers’ Rights Report: |
Responsive Classroom Training: Teachers have
been asked to attend 40 hours of Responsive Classroom Training during the
summer, without being able to receive compensation for their time. They are
feeling pressured to attend, and are seeking MTA assistance. Teachers should
not be pressured into donating their personal time for training. Without
compensation for the teachers’ time, teachers can say no to the request. Postings: Teachers’ Rights Co-Chairs are following up on postings concerns. Half Day at End of Year: Students will go home early, and teachers will continue with the regular workday. This was approved at the Special School Board Meeting on May 15, 2003. There are concerns about how and when this information is being shared with staff and public. President Chalupsky will follow up on the administration’s communication. Group Performance Grant: Teachers are asking, “Can a long term reserve teacher receive a grant and be the lead person for a Math adoption pilot next year?” It is suggested that the teachers go back to the Group Performance Committee for their answers. |
| Treasurer’s Report: | Treasurer Ricke distributed the MTA Budget to Date Report, dated May 20, 2003. Secretary Tingblad distributed the 2003-2004 MTA Budget Proposal. The delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly shared information on expenses they will incur to attend the national convention in July. The Budget Committee will discuss adjusting the NEA/AFT Assembly budget line and bring back a recommendation to the next Governance Board meeting. Governance Board members will approve the budget at the next meeting. |
| Negotiations Report: |
The mediation session started the
process to work toward a settlement. The mediator spent four hours going
between the MTA Negotiators and the administration group. The administration
is not willing to change their proposal. Another meeting is scheduled for
August. The MTA is would like to negotiate if the district is willing to
move, rather than stall. The district does not want to touch the $6 million
fund balance. Hopkins may be settling soon with a favorable contract, and
they have been operating on a zero-fund balance. Sue Vento has also met with the MTA Negotiators. We must start planning now to reach our new goal, a proposal to bring to teachers in September. Everything we are going to do is to help us reach settlement. Some members have volunteered to serve on the Settlement Committee, but we need more. The committee needs a good cross-section of all teachers. Interested members should contact Ricke and Cutshall. The MTA must create a Settlement Plan, consisting of goals, timeline, activities, internal and external communications, With a Settlement Plan in place, we can then access the Education Minnesota Crisis Funds. The Settlement Committee will be meeting soon, and continue meeting into the summer. There may also be a joint meeting of the Settlement Committee with the Governance Board. The MTA encourages teachers to support settlement efforts by resigning from district committees. Members are reminded to use caution with e-mail communications. Official communications will come from the MTA Negotiators and President Chalupsky. The MTA may ask each member to provide 2-3 self-addressed envelopes for summer communication. |
| New Business: |
Summer Governance Board Meeting
and Training Session:
Vice-President Anderson-Simonson will be planning the summer Governance
Board meeting and training session. The Governance Board agrees to meet on
Wednesday, August 20, 2003. Governance Board members are to provide summer
contact information to Secretary Tingblad, as we may need to call emergency
summer meetings. Summer Institute: Sue Vento reminded the Governance Board about the Summer Institute Leader Conference, August 5-7, 2003. Contact President Chalupsky for more information. May 12, 2003: Teachers felt over-committed with too many duties that day—40-minute online survey, staff meetings, math meetings, etc. in addition to the usual expectations. In the past, the day was set up for teachers to use to get ready for next year, without additional district duties. |
| Old Business: | Hiring Process: MHS teachers are concerned because the district is insisting that a coach be interviewed for a science position, even though he was not selected as an interview candidate. |
| President’s Remarks: |
Expectations of Governance Board
Members: Governance
Board members are expected to be ready to start the meetings at 4:30pm, so
we can adjourn by 6:00pm. Every Governance Board member should stay for the
entire meeting. If Building Representatives have major concerns to bring up
at the meeting, please inform President Chalupsky beforehand. Once the
Governance Board takes action, it is expected that each Governance Board
member follow through and support that action. Building Representatives are
expected to communicate with their building members through monthly
meetings. Governance Board Building Representatives and Teachers’ Rights
Building Representatives are required to hold monthly meetings with their
building principals. Summer Schedule: President Chalupsky will be out of the country from June 12 through mid-July. Vice-President Anderson-Simonson will be in charge in his absence. Retirement Dinner: President Chalupsky and Vice-President Anderson-Simonson attended the reception and retirement dinner on behalf of the MTA. Jim Moon, Technology Education teacher at MHS, received the Joyce Gustafson Award. Motion by Goodspeed-Gross, seconded by Nelson, to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m. |
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Respectfully submitted, Mary Tingblad, MTA Secretary 5/30/03, Approved 6/4/03 | |