Vol. 4, March 2005

The Professional

A Publication of the Minnetonka Teachers Association

Members of Education Minnesota, NEA, AFT, Minnesota Local #7173

http://www.minnetonkateachers.org

Editor, Mary Tingblad, mary.tingblad@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

MM-West, 6421 Hazeltine Blvd., Excelsior, MN 55331

2004-2005 Minnetonka Teachers Association Governance Board

~ President Joseph Ricke ~ Vice President Jan Nelson ~

~ Secretary Mary Tingblad ~ Treasurer Melanie Casiday ~

~ DEC Linda Morantez ~ Deephaven Margaret Ruffino~ Groveland Pam Wertjes ~

~ Excelsior Sara Macke ~ Minnewashta Melanie Casiday ~

~ Clear Springs OPEN ~ Scenic Heights Anita Britton ~

~ MM-East Sandy Gosen & Rhonda Lundgren ~

~ MM-West Mary Tingblad & Jeri Goodspeed-Gross ~

~ MHS Doug Kennedy, Mike Cutshall, Miles Mortensen & Jean Peebles ~

~~ From the President ~~

MTA President, Joseph Ricke, joseph.ricke@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

CROSBY-IRONTON VISIT: My visit on Friday, March 11, 2005, to picket with the Crosby-Ironton teachers and to deliver food and money donations to their strike headquarters will always be regarded as a very special time and also as a unique learning experience.

Jan Nelson and I arrived at the strike headquarters around 10:30 a.m., and we visited with the teachers. Considering the length of the strike and the cold weather conditions, morale was very good and teachers appeared united. Jan and I had our pictures taken with the C-I union president as we handed him the MTA members’ gift of $1,210. By that time, they had collected over $70,000, which has really helped spirits. Many schools have sent money and letters of support. Local parents and area schoolteachers have been bringing in hot food on a daily bases. Teachers picket in 4-hour shifts and appear to have rallied as a cohesive group.

It is obvious that the teachers are united and resolved to wait it out until an effective compromise is reached. They have been without a contract for two and a half years and want to keep full family medical coverage for retired teachers—where the medical health for retirees is at the heart of the strike. The district wants to end the full coverage saying they cannot continue to afford the medical coverage for retirees. The teachers are asking for a phasing out concept as a compromise.

The superintendent is new and has not been willing to work on a compromise. The general consensus by the teachers is that the superintendent is trying to break the union. This is dividing the community causing a great riff between the community and teachers. It is very evident that there is mistrust between the teachers and the superintendent, and the longer this strike continues, the more difficult it is going to be for the teachers to believe the superintendent and school board.

On Monday, March 14, 2005, teacher replacements (referred to as “scabs” by the C-I teachers) started classes for the high school. This is escalating the resentment by the teachers and has actually strengthened their resolve to stay united. On Friday, Education Minnesota field staff members were busy verifying credentials for the replacement teachers. It is my impression that this strike has taken on more of a statewide perspective. Is weakening/busting the union a statewide initiative by school administration?

I have never personally been part of a strike (and I hope I never will), but I would have to say that witnessing C-I’s positive attitude both encouraged me and saddened me. On one hand, the harmony and solidarity was impressive. Yet the realization that this strike will leave lasting scars for both the teachers and the community has confirmed to me that a strike is absolutely the very last thing a union does to force an issue—the very last step. However, I also believe that a “tool/method” must be in place to force each side to look for common ground in order to reach settlement. Since no other “tool/method” appeared to be fair or unbiased, Crosby-Ironton teachers are on strike hoping that this will yield a contract that will continue to represent their years of hard work.

SHOW CROSBY-IRONTON TEACHERS THAT YOU SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REACH A FAIR SETTLEMENT! Send messages to Crosby-Ironton through e-mail: c_i1325@hotmail.com or through the U.S. mail: EMC-I Settlement Headquarters, 1061 First St. S.W., Crosby, MN 56441. Contributions are welcome; make checks payable to Education Minnesota Crosby-Ironton.

~~ From the Vice-President ~~

MTA Vice-President, Jan Nelson, jan.nelson@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

Because they care, they walk the line! It was cold and snowy on Friday, March 11, 2005, when Joe Ricke and I made the trip to the Crosby-Ironton (C-I) strike zone. Our goal was to lend support from our local MTA. We were armed with boxes of food and an envelope full of money (about $1200) that was generously donated by the wonderful staff we have in Minnetonka. We also wanted to lend our physical support to their cause by appearing in person.

The C-I Local set up their strike headquarters in a small industrial park office building. There was hot coffee brewing, food on the table and people were coming in to warm up as they took their turn on the picket line. Each teacher is expected to spend four hours daily on the line. There was a determined spirit by these teachers to see this strike through to the end. Mixed in with this determination was a fear of the personal consequences to each teacher’s family as the strike wears on. Donations have poured in from all over the country, but it is not nearly enough for all of the mortgage payments and bills that are due each month.

As I walked the picket line with the Crosby-Ironton teachers, a mini blizzard blew in. A ‘white out’ from the snow temporarily blocked vision so that we could hardly see across the street. Suddenly we heard a loud machine coming towards us, but we couldn’t see it. Then out of the white came a huge 4-wheel-drive John Deere tractor with a large hand-painted sign on its front loader that read: 87 Crosby-Ironton teachers are holding 1200 students hostage with their own greed. This farmer thinks this stinks! Hitched to the back of his tractor was a very full and very smelly manure spreader. The farmer parked the tractor directly in front of the picket line. The traffic slowed down so much to see what was happening that the police promptly showed up and ordered the farmer to move off the main road because he was creating a dangerous traffic jam. Instead of leaving, the farmer pulled his rig behind the picketing teachers on school property and sat there all afternoon. Some of the teachers good-naturedly said to the farmer, “Smell ya later!” when they left the picket line. The farmer laughed.

After a while a parent arrived carrying a sign that read, “Parents do not want their tax money used for subs!” It only took a few minutes for that parent and the farmer to engage in a shouting match. This is what the C-I teachers have had to endure, but they are out there everyday, no matter how cold the weather or how bad the attitude of those opposing the strike. Many passing cars honked with thumbs-up for the strikers.

I had a chance to talk with a number of teachers who, wholeheartedly, endorsed the strike, but also wanted to tell their own personal story. I listened intently as new and experienced teachers told me how they appreciated our support and the fact that we made the trip up there to walk the picket line with them. One teacher told me that both she and her husband taught for the district and they had 4 kids attending the C-I schools. She said that life was getting very scary with no income for the past two months!

My respect goes out to all of the brave teachers in Crosby-Ironton who are willing to sacrifice so much to bring honor and dignity to the teaching profession and the education of children. With luck the talks will resume soon and the kids will be back in school.

~~ A Note From the Negotiators ~~

MTA Negotiator, Anita Britton, anita.britton@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

The MTA Negotiators and the Negotiating Council have been meeting to review and analyze the information from the January membership survey. We are analyzing the statistical information, as well as the comments you shared with us. This information will be used to guide us in the direction you desire for our next contract. As we prepare for negotiations, it is very important that we come together as a membership and continue to support each other across all levels/departments/teams. We will work toward a contract that meets the varying needs of each level yet maintains the integrity of all. We anticipate a training session for interest-based bargaining to be scheduled soon as we continue our preparation for negotiating the 05-07contract. We thank you for your continued support.

~~ Membership Information Reminder ~~

MTA Membership Chair, Mary Kay Burmesch, marykay.burmesch@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

Please contact Mary Kay Burmesch at any time during the year whenever your information changes—name change, address change, phone number change, or contract time change. It’s important to keep your membership information updated. Thank you!

~~ Teachers’ Rights Review ~~

MTA Teachers’ Rights Co-Chair, Mary Benson, mary.benson@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

Happy March, MTA members! The following schedule relates to the cost containment timeline that was put together by the district. We are still waiting on the questions and answer sheet that the district is putting together for the MTA. Have a very relaxing and fun break.

March 15, 2005: Official posting of teacher staffing needs

· Start of round 1 for transfer process

· Represents the minimum staffing that the district will need for 2005-06

March 16, 2005: K-12 Principals meeting

· Update K-12 principals on posting and Q&A for staff affected by layoffs

March 22, 2005: School Board Meeting

· Probationary Non-Renewals & Proposed Un-Requested Leaves of Absence

March 24, 2005: School Board Study Session

· Staffing issues, if necessary

April 7, 2005: School Board Meeting

· Staffing issues, if necessary

May 5, 2005: School Board Meeting

· Action on tenure (tentative)

May 19, 2005: School Board Meeting

· Actions to place tenured teachers on URLA

News From Education Minnesota

~~ MTA Delegates at Education Minnesota Convention ~~

Representing the Minnetonka Teachers Association at the Education Minnesota Representative Convention were MTA delegates Melanie Casiday, Bob Koppes, Rhonda Lundgren, Jan Nelson, Joseph Ricke, Margaret Ruffino, and Mary Tingblad. They were among 527 delegates and 41 alternates at the St. Paul RiverCentre, March 18-19, 2005.

In an overwhelming demonstration of solidarity, the delegates took several actions to support the teachers of Education Minnesota Crosby-Ironton, who have been on strike since February 9, 2005. The delegates collected several thousand dollars for the Local and approved the use of “all appropriate fiscal and human resources” to support the teachers in achieving an equitable settlement.

Addressing the delegates, Congressman Jim Ramstad called on both political parties to put partisan bickering aside and make public education a top priority. Ramstad, a Republican, called for full funding of special education programs and restoration of federal funding cuts in other areas. He urged Congress to fix or repeal the flawed No Child Left Behind Act, reauthorize the Head Start program and defeat private school voucher proposals.

~~ Win Target Gift Card and Resort Trip ~~

Your feedback could be worth a Target Gift Card and a trip to Cragun’s Resort. Help Education Minnesota improve its online community by providing your feedback, and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a Target Gift Card and a trip to Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd, MN. Just log on to www.educationminnesota.org and fill out the short entry form, including your comments on the site. Each week through April 30, 2005, Education Minnesota will draw one name at random to receive a $25 Target Gift Card. On May 2, 2005, Education Minnesota will draw one name from all entries to receive a gift certificate good for $450 at Cragun’s Resort.

Go to www.educationminnesota.org, and if you haven’t registered a username and password yet, click on the “not registered” link in the far right column. For more information, check the home page starting Feb. 27, 2005. You can register once a week for a chance to win these prizes.

~~ Renewing Your License? ~~

Starting this year, every educator renewing a Minnesota teaching license will have an additional requirement: evidence of an understanding of key warning signs for early-onset mental illness in children and adolescents. Each school district, through its continuing education committee, is charged with determining the criteria to meet the new requirement. The legislation intentionally provides latitude so that districts can determine the criteria based on local goals and needs. Teachers should work through their local continuing education committee for guidance about what is expected and where to obtain the professional development. Follow the Board of Teaching link from the Minnesota Department of Education website, http://education.state.mn.us or check the licensure section of “In the Classroom” on www.educationminnesota.org for further information.

~~ NEA News ~~

~~ Register to Win Gourmet Basket ~~

Register to win a gourmet basket from NEA Member Benefits. NEA members can register anytime during March in the Free Giveaways area of the NEA Member Benefits Web site (www.neamb.com) for a chance to win one of four Classic Gourmet Gift Baskets. You’ll enjoy an array of smoked, salty and sweet treats – smoked salmon, marinated asparagus, bruschetta spread, sesame and sourdough biscuits, Perugina chocolate, Godiva hot cocoa, peanut brittle, chocolate almond pralines and more. The contest runs March 1-31, 2005.

~~ Register to Win Vacation Giveaway ~~

NEA members can register anytime during April in the Free Giveaways area of the NEA Member Benefits Web site, www.neamb.com, for a chance to win an “NEA Getaway” vacation package including a free car rental and luggage set.

The NEA Getaway is provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, the provider of the NEA Home Financing Program. The getaway consists of a three-day, two-night stay at a deluxe hotel/resort for two adults (with up to two children sharing the same room) at over 300 locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bahamas and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The package also features breakfast for two each morning (where available), emergency roadside assistance the week you travel, and a free one-year Access card for discount dining, movies, shopping, travel and more.

In addition, the lucky winner will receive a four-day car rental certificate compliments of Alamo (some restrictions may apply), and a luggage set. The contest runs April 1-30, 2005. No purchase is necessary to enter.

~~ Teach Students About Philanthropy ~~

The “Learning to Give” website teaches the importance of voluntary action for the common good in a democratic society. It offers lesson plans, activities and resources to educate youth about the power of philanthropy (sharing time, talent and treasure). Help empower young people to make a difference in their school, their community and their world. Visit www.learningtogive.org.