Minnetonka Teachers Association

Governance Board Meeting, April 21, 2004

 

 

In Attendance:

Mark Broten, Mark Brzezinski, Mark Chalupsky, Mike Cutshall, Jeri Goodspeed-Gross, Debra Jensen, Linda Morantez, Miles Mortensen, Jan Nelson, Joseph Ricke, Margaret Ruffino, Katie Tuthill, Pam Wertjes, Julie Anderson-Simonson.

Absent

Melanie Casiday, Sandy Gosen, Mary Tingblad

Guests:

Anita Otten, Teachers' Rights Co-Chair; Adam Jorgenson (Casiday), Kate Vieillard, Dawn Christesen

Call to Order:

4:34 p.m., by President Chalupsky.

Approval of Minutes:

None available.

Teachers' Rights Report:

The Teachers' Rights Co-Chairs will meet with Dennis Peterson, Craig Hintz, and Mike Lovett on April 28, 2004. They plan to discuss job sharing and contracts.  If there are any other issues, Governance Board members should contact Mary Benson and Anita Otten. 

Treasurer's Report:

Treasurer Ricke distributed the MTA Monthly Budget Report dated April 20, 2004.  We have been fined $360.00 for a late filing.  We could pay it and we may get reimbursed.  Or we could be charged a fee for processing.  The Governance Board agreed to not pay the fee because Joe sent the form in on time.

New Business:

Continuing Education Co-Chairs Dawn Christesen and Kate Vieillard addressed the board.  Their hand out listed amendments to the current operational procedures.  Included were a type of job description for the chairs, the building CE reps, and recommendations for next year.  They noted that if the current stipend remains in place for 2004-05, they would not co-chair this position.  They are requesting the stipend to be raised to the status of a district department chair position.

April 21 Election: Mark Broten reported that the elections ran smoothly, as did the counting of the ballots.  He noted the high school should have had two sign-in sheets: one for the presidential election and one for the building representative election.  Groveland had an extra ballot placed near the building rep’s door the day after the election.  In a third instance, there was a traveling teacher who wanted to vote in two buildings.

President Chalupsky suggested that for next year the newly elected building representatives be invited to this meeting, prior to the reorganization meeting.

Julie Anderson-Simonson reminded members who are not returning to their positions to get their 3-ring binders in order and pass them off to the newly elected person in that position prior to the next meeting.

Staff Development: Margaret Ruffino distributed a handout with concerns as to how Staff Development days are being planned and implemented.  Discussion followed.

Leadership Conference: Contact President-elect Joseph Ricke if you are interested in attending the TALL conference June 14-16 or the Leadership Conference at St. Bens in August.

Old Business:

April 30th celebration: Fairshare and members are invited to the Teacher Celebration event at the Marsh from 3-6:00 p.m.

Play on May 6: The high school students are presenting Guys and Dolls.  May 6 has been designated as the day teachers will have a block of tickets reserved for them and their families to attend the musical.  Call the box office for your discounted tickets.

President's Report:

Technology and Georgia trip: Linda Crisman, Sue Hine, Craig Hintz, Bob Quam, and President Chalupsky attended a two-day technology conference in Atlanta, GA.  Atlanta is a county system and 1% of the county tax goes to education.  This district has a full-time tech person and para in each building.  Very impressive conference.

UniServ Report: The UniServ fired back a letter to Education Minnesota regarding their election complaints and the UniServ wants a letter sent to everyone who got the original letter from Education Minnesota.

Re-organization meeting: The date is May 5 at the Olympic Hills Golf Club in Eden Prairie. 

School Board Report:

Mark Broten reported on the April 8, 2004, School Board Meeting. The president of the Booster Club presented a $20,000 check to the Board.  Tom Condon spoke about Quizdom.  Carol Eastlund attended a national school board meeting in Orlando.  Deephaven principal Bryan McGinley was to give a power point presentation and the network went down.  Tom Berge, Craig Hintz, and Mike Lovett presented a budget recommendation of $1.2 million cuts for ’04-05. There was also discussion on class size and the turf rental policy.

 

Motion by Jensen, seconded by Brzezinski, to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:07 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Julie Anderson-Simonson, MTA Vice President
5/4/04, Approved 5/5/04