|
Governance Board Meeting, April 7, 2004 | |
| In Attendance: | Mark Chalupsky, Julie
Anderson-Simonson, Mary Tingblad, Joseph Ricke, Linda Morantez, Margaret
Ruffino,
Pam Wertjes, Mark Broten, Debra Jensen, Katie Tuthill, Mark Brzezinski,
Sandy
Gosen, Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, Jan
Nelson, Miles Mortensen. |
| Absent: |
Melanie Casiday, Mike Cutshall. |
| Guests: | Mary
Benson and Anita Otten, Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs; Susan Vento, Education Minnesota Field
Representative; Adam Jorgenson (Casiday). |
| Call to Order: | 4:34 p.m., by President
Chalupsky. |
| Approval of Minutes: | Motion by Ricke,
seconded by Brzezinski, to approve the minutes of March 17, 2004. Motion
carried. |
| Treasurer's Report: | Treasurer Ricke distributed the
MTA
Monthly Budget Report dated April 6, 2004; and the MTA Checking Account
Statement, March 1 to April 4, 2004. He also informed the Governance Board
about discussions with the IRS. The Annual Report was sent to the IRS on
January 13, 2004, but it was sent to the wrong address. It did not arrive
by the January 15, 2004 deadline, so we were assessed a penalty of $360.
Given the circumstances, Ricke reported that we will not have to pay the
penalty. |
| Teachers' Rights Report: | The Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs
met with Dennis Peterson and Craig Hintz on March 24, 2004. They discussed
parent influences and behavior, administrative support for teachers,
custodial team approach, long-term reserve contracts, sections for next
year, Special Education and Social Work, and use of the terms
"customer" and "client." |
| New Business: | MTA Scholarship--Awards Night: Two $1,000 MTA scholarships will be awarded to two seniors at the MHS Awards Night. Stipends for CEU Co-Chairs: President Chalupsky met with the Relicensure Co-Chairs and Mike Lovett to discuss the stipend and the overload of work associated with changing to a new reporting system. President Chalupsky has asked for a recommendation regarding the stipend from the Relicensure Committee. It may be possible for the district to provide an additional stipend. Education Minnesota Convention Report: Delegate Tingblad distributed a report on the activities at the convention. Delegates Chalupsky, Anderson-Simonson, Nelson, and Ricke also commented on the convention. Marc Doepner-Hove was elected as the new Vice President of Education Minnesota. The bylaw amendments affecting dues did not pass, however there will be a task force formed to address concerns regarding dues. Teachers' Rights and CEU Co-Chairs: Motion by Nelson, seconded by Gosen, that the Teachers' Rights Building Representatives and Relicensure Co-Chairs also be invited to the Governance Board Reorganization Meeting and dinner. Motion carried. Those invited to attend include the current and new Governance Board members, Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs and Building Representatives, Relicensure Co-Chairs, Membership Chair, MTA Webmaster, and Field Representative Sue Vento. Asbestos Removal:
Some teachers are concerned about the safety of the stripped floors,
mentioning the odor and bare concrete. Teachers were allowed up to four
hours to pack and unpack their rooms, but it took more time than that.
Field Representative Vento suggests going to the OSHA website to fill out
a complaint form regarding the safety concerns. If there are concerns
about loose asbestos, Vento suggests calling the EPA. Members should put
any concerns and questions in writing to their principal. |
| Old Business: |
Election Committee Update: As there was only one candidate for the Building Representative position, the following candidates have been declared elected: Pam Wertjes (Groveland, continuing), Heidi Bunde (MM-East, Brzezinski retiring), and Mary Tingblad (MM-West, continuing). No candidates stepped forward from Clear Springs and Excelsior, so as of May 5, 2004, those buildings will not have representation on the Governance Board, until someone expresses interest in the positions. Four candidates have submitted their names for the two MHS Building Representative positions. MHS will have an election for these positions on April 20, 2004. All MTA members will be voting for the MTA President/Vice President on that date. Building Representatives should e-mail their members to find out in which building traveling teachers will be voting on Election Day. The Building Representatives must e-mail this information to Anderson-Simonson by April 13, 2004, so she can update the buildings' member sign-in lists and send them out in time. After the election, the Building Representatives must bring the ballots to DSC (3:30-5:30pm) for final validation and tabulation. Blackboard
Trainer Update: The district first offered $1,500 as a
stipend for Blackboard trainers, but the Governance Board
recommended $3,000 due to the work involved. The district then changed the
stipend to $1,000. President Chalupsky negotiated an increase to $1,700
and will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the district. |
| Open Forum: |
"MTA Night at the Musical" will be on Thursday, May 6, 2004. MTA members may purchase special tickets for $5.00 (half-price) by calling the box office (401-5898) or by going to the website (www.minnetonkatheater.com). This special rate is available only until May 3, 2004. The gallery is reserved for our use 6:45-7:30pm and again immediately after the show. Excelsior: Excelsior Elementary has partnered with the Paul Wellstone School forming an Urban-Suburban School Relationship. Groveland: A new sound system was added over Spring Break. MHS: Three committees involving Students, staff and community have worked on the beautification of MHS. Art Time: There are inconsistencies in what is offered in the
elementary schools. |
| President's Remarks: |
Statewide Health Insurance Update: This has stalled in the House and it has been changed to no longer being mandatory. Alternative
Compensation: The committee working on the Distinguished Educator
program met today. They are recommending a total of 15 projects per year.
The application process will begin this spring and the project work will
begin in the fall. |
| School Board Report: |
Julie Anderson-Simonson reported on the March 18, 2004, School Board
Study Session. The International Baccalaureate Visiting Authorization Team
spent the day in the district and will write commendations and
recommendations for improvements. The district will not know until July if
MHS is accepted into the IB program. The School Board also heard a
presentation from Energy Education, Inc. |
| Motion by Gosen, seconded by Nelson, to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m. | |
|
Respectfully submitted, | |