Vol. 5, September 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

 

         

2005-2006 Minnetonka Teachers Association Governance Board

~ President Joseph Ricke ~ Vice President Jan Nelson ~

~ Secretary Mary Tingblad ~ Treasurer Melanie Casiday ~

~ DEC Susan Weber ~ Deephaven Margaret Ruffino~ Groveland Pam Wertjes ~

~ Excelsior Heather Stowman ~ Minnewashta Melanie Casiday ~

~ Clear Springs Debra Drexler ~ Scenic Heights Anita Britton ~

~ MM-East Sandy Gosen & Rhonda Lundgren ~

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

~ MHS Doug Kennedy, Ramona Anderson, Rachel Consdorf & Position Open ~

         

 

 

J WELCOME! New Names and New Faces! J

               

Welcome to the new school year, and a special welcome to the new kids on the block! Practice their names—test in two weeks!

            J Melinda Anderson, John Armpriester, Lori Arnold, Meagan Beman, Amy Berge, Anna Bjorklund, Jane Blegen, Michael Borgendale, Matt Breen, Mara Carlson, Rebecca, Coleman, Suzanne Cutshall, Katherine Dorn, Lindsay Drangeid, Kate Duncan, Mark English, Sara Finn-Sommerfeld, Sani Glenn, David Gondeck-Becker, Monika Gonzalez, Joel Gotz, Anne Grade, Chelsea Green, Jennifer Grgurich, Courtney Hanneman, Julie Hines, Dana Hayek, Andrea Hoffman, Rebecca Johnson, Penny Kline, Shari Lasser, Amy Lengeling, Andreas Lundheim, Meghan Lynch, Sara Martinson, Nicole Meidl, Matthew Mosiman, Elizabeth Murphy, Gina Nelson, Jennifer Nelson, Brenna Noland, Corinne Omberg, Kelly Quinn, Beth Orlowski, Katie Radtke, Amber Rathman, Kolt Ringer, Lisa Rischmiler, Julie Scheider, Jane Stull, Mandy Thorp, Julie Viarengo, Sonia Warmuth. J

 

~~ From the President ~~

MTA President, Joseph Ricke

Greetings! We have moved to the six-period day without much pain, but with some discomfort. It is the MTA leadership’s commitment to the School Board to review periodically building climate and to communicate successes and problems. Our biggest problems are lack of appropriate rooms for lab-based programs and ineffective or non-functioning hardware and software.

Open communication. As I communicated last February, “All the research on effective organizations and positive cultures stresses the need for open, two-way conversations.” We have been asked to follow a chain of command as we dialogue on changes and impact on various curriculum areas. It does not mean we can just say whatever we want. It does mean that we must be caring, willing to listen and thoughtful as to what we are motivated to share. Positive cultures encourage people to take risks, to speak the unspeakable (tactfully), and to speak to a problem or concern even if the comment may be unpopular. As I have said before, I desire such a culture. In order to commit to MAPPS (Minnetonka Alternative Professional Pay System), we must have a very open and sharing relationship with the district leadership and the School Board. I believe that all concerned have communicated commitment to this cause. 

MAPPS.  There are three good reasons to consider implementing MAPPS. One, we will be evaluated and assisted by our peers, who will be intent on us being successful and looking for our positive attributes, not just looking for our weak points in order to make a case. Two, we will have an opportunity to have a grass-roots system in place designed by us, implemented by us, administratively assisted by us and focused on reinforcing best practices. Three, we are a school district of excellence and have 99% of our teachers performing at an acceptable or above average level of teaching. Why not try to get more money for doing what we all do well—teaching and delivering results in improved student performance?

I hope you all have a great year. Please e-mail me or call me if you have concerns about our culture or ideas for improving open communication in our district. We will continue to do our best to advocate for your work conditions, to maintain the quality in our contract and for district adherence to the contract.

 

~~ A Note From the Negotiators ~~

MTA Negotiator, Anita Britton

It has been a busy summer and September for negotiations. The legislature settled the state budget in early July. With the legislative information impacting education, we were able to continue our negotiations in earnest. We met numerous times over the summer to present, discuss, and study issues, interests, and options for the items you identified (in the survey and through feedback to your Governance Board members and the Negotiations Council) as important to you in this upcoming contract. The Interest Based Collective Bargaining process was new to us and was facilitated with the help of the Bureau of Mediation Services. 

            The seven issues we identified were: workday/work year, fringe benefits, compensation, transfers/assignments, on-line classes, alternative pay system, and MTA President release time. At this time, we have what we feel is resolution on fringe benefits, compensation, on-line classes, and MTA President release time. We are working on some language issues in some of the remaining areas as well as a few “sticking points.” We are working hard to bring these areas to resolution without compromising what you told us was important to you. As with any negotiations, we thank you for your input which has guided us and for your incredible patience as we work toward a product to meet your needs. We want a finalized contract as soon as possible, too! 

            One element for us to consider is the money allocated by the legislature for alternative compensation for teachers. You may have seen the abbreviation MAPPS being used in correspondences. This stands for Minnetonka Alternative Professional Pay System. The issue of alternative compensation has been studied in our district over the past several years. This year, the legislature allocated significant dollars (in Minnetonka, it would amount to approximately an additional $4 million over the next two years!) to be used in compensating teachers in ways beyond the traditional salary schedule (think similar to "bonus" money used in business). We were apprehensive, at first, when we first heard about alternative compensation systems. We held the same fears as all teachers. Would it fair? Who would be evaluating me? Would everyone be able to access it? Would it pit teacher against teacher? Will I be evaluated on things I have no control over? Through study and examples being used in other districts, we have found elements which address these fears and included them in MAPPS. We are looking forward to sharing completed information about the program with you! Upon an approval vote by MTA members, teachers would be able to access this system and the additional dollars.  

            We hope you are off to a great start to your year! We will continue to work diligently to bring you a satisfactory contract! 

 

~~ Verify Your Membership Information ASAP! ~~

All members must verify their membership information as soon as possible. If you haven’t done so already, please check with your Building Representative. It’s a quick and easy thing to do. It is very important that this take place as quickly as possible, so that the Election Committee can develop accurate voting lists to prepare for voting on the contract and MAPPS (no date yet, but you know it will be coming).

 

~~ New Education Minnesota Field Staff ~~

Let me introduce myself as your new Education Minnesota Field Staff. My name is John Borgen. Your former Field Staff person, Sue Vento, and I mutually requested and were allowed to transfer into each other’s assignment effective September 1, 2005. I assumed all of Sue’s former responsibilities and she took over mine. This provides Sue and me opportunities to expand and develop our professional skills in new environments and will hopefully provide our Locals new and unique insights.

            I have most recently worked with seven Education Minnesota Locals in the East Metro area, including Roseville and North St. Paul. I have also worked with members in the White Bear Lake and Mounds View Locals. Prior to that, I worked for the Minnesota Education Association out of our Rochester office serving Locals in the Austin and Albert Lea area. Before that, I was a music teacher in Wisconsin for four years. I graduated from Saint Olaf College and have a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

            My particular interests in union work fall in the broad areas of member advocacy, organizational capacity building and leadership development. I have already had the opportunity to meet with your MTA leaders, participate in some negotiations sessions, and I was able to meet new Minnetonka teachers a few weeks ago. I look forward to working with your Minnetonka Teachers Association in the months and years ahead.

            I can be reached at 952-831-7799 or at john.borgen@educationminnesota.org.

 

~~ Teachers’ Rights Review ~~

MTA Teachers’ Rights Co-Chairs, Mary Benson and Anita Otten

            Welcome back, colleagues! We hope everyone had a great and relaxing summer. This month’s article shares interesting facts relating to your rights as a teacher, taken from the Education Minnesota website, www.educationminnesota.org.

Education Minnesota Legal Department Disclaimer: Information contained on our website is published for general information and educational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice or an offer to give legal advice. We cannot accept direct requests for legal advice or offer specific legal advice over the Internet. If you have a specific member rights question, talk to your member rights representative or call your Education Minnesota Field Staff.

Your Rights As a Teacher: The Continuing Contract Law

            We often talk about the rights of teachers who have a continuing contract with a school district. The Continuing Contract Law, Minn. Stat. § 122A.40 (formerly known as Minn. Stat. § 125.12), provides the framework for acquiring this status for teachers in all Minnesota school districts except Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth.

            What is the continuing contract law? The primary source of rights and obligations of Minnesota teachers is found in the continuing contract law. The statute governs the terms of initial employment and the means by which a teacher’s contract may be terminated. The statute covers all districts in the state except Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth. These three districts are governed by a similar but distinct statute known as the Tenure Act, Minn. Stat. § 122A.41.

            What does the continuing contract law say about hiring?  The initial employment of a teacher with a district shall be by written contract signed by the teacher and by the chair and clerk of the Board. Subsequent contracts with that same district need not be in writing. Minn. Stat. § 122A.40, subd. 3.

            What are the statute’s provisions regarding probationary teachers?  The first three consecutive years in a single school district are considered the teacher’s probationary period. Minn. Stat. § 122A.40, subd. 5. Probationary teachers should be evaluated at least three times per year for each of these three years (provided they are full years). However, courts have upheld nonrenewals with as few as one evaluation. Anyone hired as a long-term substitute for an entire school year may count this year as one year of the probationary period. Someone hired in a regular teaching position for less than a full year may also count this period of time toward their probationary period.

            A probationary teacher may be nonrenewed at the end of the year for any reason “as the school board shall see fit.” If the employee requests the reasons for the nonrenewal, they must be provided. A probationary teacher may be discharged “for cause” effective immediately. Any nonrenewal must be completed by July 1st for the following school year.

 

~~ MTA Officers Attended NEA-RA ~~

            MTA President Joseph Ricke, Vice-President Jan Nelson, and Secretary Mary Tingblad spent July 1-6, 2005, in Los Angeles, CA, representing the Minnetonka Teachers Association as delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly. The NEA-RA is the largest democratic assembly in the world. Check with Joe and Jan for their take on this awesome event. You can read Mary Tingblad’s report on the editorial page.

 

~~ MTA Officers Attended Leadership Seminar ~~

            President Ricke, Vice-President Nelson, and Secretary Tingblad were joined by Treasurer Melanie Casiday at Education Minnesota’s Summer Seminar at the College of St. Benedict in early August. This yearly seminar provides excellent opportunities for networking with other Local leaders, as well as office-specific work sessions. See additional comments on the editorial page.

 

 

~~ News From Education Minnesota ~~

 

~~ Anna Quindlen at Professional Conference in October ~~

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Anna Quindlen will be the keynote speaker at the 2005 Education Minnesota Professional Conference, October 21-22, 2005, at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, MN. Quindlen, who writes a column for Newsweek, was a columnist for the New York Times until 1994, when she left the newspaper to pursue a career as a full-time novelist. In 1992, Quindlen received the Pulitzer Prize for commentary. Her latest book, “Being Perfect,” focuses on the pitfalls of perfectionism and how to avoid them.

The conference also includes mini-keynote speakers, dozens of workshops, more than 300 exhibits of educational products and services, and authors and celebrities reading at the big red reading chair. The Friday program includes a half day of in-depth seminars on education topics, including three sessions to help teachers fulfill state re-licensure requirements. 

The annual Education Minnesota Professional Conference is the state’s largest professional development event for educators. For complete details, visit the “Education Issues” section of www.educationminnesota.org.

 

~~ Enter ESI “Swipestakes” at Conference to Win Prizes ~~

Be sure to take your Education Minnesota membership card to the Professional Conference on Thursday, October 20, 2005, to enter an exciting prize drawing sponsored by Education Minnesota Economic Services Inc. (ESI). All you have to do is “swipe” your card at one of the card readers in the rotunda, next to the exhibit hall. Prizes include digital photo studios, digital cameras and more!

The “Swipestakes” is a test of a new system to help Education Minnesota and ESI track attendance trends to help improve future conferences. Your personal information will not be given to any other organization. If you are a new member and don’t have a membership card yet, you can enter the drawing via computer.

 

~~ Education Minnesota eMentoring Project ~~

Are you an experienced teacher who would like to help your colleagues in their first years in the classroom? Get involved in Education Minnesota’s eMentoring Project, an Internet-based program that provides teaching ideas and collegial support for novice teachers. The program pairs National Board Certified and other experienced teachers with novice teachers across the state. Teachers interested in being part of the eMentoring program as a novice teacher receiving support or as an eMentor can visit the eMentoring area under “Education Issues” on www.educationminnesota.org for more information or contact Louise Covert, louise.covert@educationminnesota.org or 877-283-2241.

 

~~ NEA News ~~

 

~~ A Message From President Reg Weaver ~~

Like you, I sat in disbelief as the horrors in the gulf coast unfolded before my eyes. Hundreds of thousands of children and families have fled their homes and are scattered throughout the nation. Please join me in donating to the NEA’s Hurricane Relief Fund to assist our members, our colleagues and our students devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Your donation is urgently needed. Click here now.

Your donation will help members, like the one who called the NEA Hurricane Katrina Helpline (866-247-2239) last week, who lived and worked in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Three weeks ago, she had a job and a home—today she has neither. She and her family have been evacuated from their home, living in a motel in Mississippi, not knowing even when they can return to survey the damage to their home. St. Bernard Parish won’t reopen this school year, leaving our 350 members in that parish to file for unemployment or to get new jobs. We don’t know where those folks are, or even if they are safe. Our prayers go out to all of those whose lives were impacted by the storms, and the events that have transpired in the wake of Katrina.

Biloxi, Mississippi can only reopen its schools when FEMA can provide portable buildings and Jackson, Mississippi, which still has only sporadic services, has enrolled almost 1,000 new students in the last week. Texas and Arkansas are welcoming with open arms tens of thousands of displaced children into their public schools—but face bulging class sizes, shortages of supplies and text books, and heavy strains on transportation and other resources.

Last week I announced that the NEA would raise $1 million to go directly to students, teachers and school employees harmed by Hurricane Katrina. NEA members are a generous group of people so we have set up this fundraising effort to connect you with those who desperately need our help. This money will go directly to students, teachers and school employees whose homes have been destroyed, whose school buildings have been damaged and who may be homeless and jobless for months to come. In addition to raising $1 million in aid, NEA is sending staff to the critical states to help with recovery, relief and rebuilding efforts of students, teachers, school employees and parents. We will also be partnering with corporations and businesses to get money and supplies to schools in need of rebuilding and to schools taking in displaced students. Click here to learn more about NEA’s relief efforts and what you can do to help.

Our colleagues and their families in the gulf coast need your support and assistance as never before to get through the next few months. Dig deep, give generously, and join me in re-building great public schools for those tens of thousands of children and educators to come home to. Thank you for your compassion, and keep those whose lives have been turned upside down in your hearts and prayers.

 

~~ AFT News ~~

 

~~ AFT Leader Sandra Feldman ~~

Sandra Feldman, who rose from her position as a second-grade elementary school teacher in New York City to become President of the 1.3 million-member American Federation of Teachers, died September 18, 2005, after a long battle with cancer. Feldman would have been 66 years old next month.

“Sandy’s death is a great loss for the AFT personally and professionally and for the children of our nation,” said AFT President Edward J. McElroy. “She was a leader without comparison and will be remembered for her vigorous commitment to better the lives of the teachers and school staff she represented and the children they served. Presidents, members of Congress, educators and business leaders relied on her expertise and ideas to help forge their own opinions on how to help those who needed it most.”

Feldman was a national labor leader and served as a member of the Executive Council and the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO. Throughout her life, she was a tireless advocate for children, public education and trade unionism. As president of AFT, Feldman also was in the forefront of efforts to defend the rights of other employees in the school workplace, nurses and healthcare professionals, public employees and higher education faculty and staff, all of whom AFT represents.

In 1986, Feldman became president of the AFT's largest affiliate, New York City's United Federation of Teachers (UFT), and quickly became a respected education leader on the local and national stage. During her time at the UFT and, since 1997, as president of the AFT, she met on many occasions with four presidents and countless members of Congress.

            In meetings with Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and many legislators, Feldman called for greater investment in public education and a greater emphasis on high standards and increased accountability. Feldman placed a particular priority on early childhood education, which she often expressed as "getting it right from the start."

 

~~ A Message From AFT President Edward J. McElroy ~~

Most of us cannot imagine the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of AFT members, mostly teachers and school support personnel, are among the hundreds of thousands of working families who have lost their homes and most of their belongings.

The immediate needs for rescue, safe drinking water, shelter and food are staggering. But the longer-term needs—caring for the injured, rebuilding neighborhoods and schools, helping people put their lives back together—are hard to imagine.

Those of us fortunate to be outside the hurricane's path must help—and we must help now. The AFL-CIO's Union Community Fund has established a special Hurricane Relief Fund that will target help where it's needed most by working families. We are working with the labor federations in affected states and with relief organizations to make sure there is money available to help our fellow members and other working families whose lives have been turned upside down. Please click on the following link to make your tax-deductible contribution now: http://www.aft.org/katrina.

Please give, and please give generously. We must match this human disaster with our compassion, and we must match our caring with contributions that will make a difference for traumatized working families now and during the long rebuilding process. Caring about each other is what marks us as union members and working family activists. Let’s put our values to work right now. Thank you for doing your part for working families during this national tragedy. Visit AFT’s website at http://www.aft.org for updates on assistance efforts, including volunteer opportunities.

AFT PLUS... The Benefits of Belonging

 
 

 

  So, What’s New at YOUR School?

There are “good news” things happening everyday in our schools. Send your school’s good news to mary.tingblad@minnetonka.k12.mn.us to be included in the next issue of The Professional. I’ve been told that this is one of the favorite features of the newsletter. It’s the way that we can share all the good things going on with our teachers!

 

News From Deephaven

            Wow! Do we have news from Deephaven! Teachers new to Deephaven this year include: Connie Keefe, Social Worker; Peter Gausmann, Media Specialist; Julie Berg, Physical Education teacher; Cathy Fox, Basic Skills teacher; Monica Hahn, Orchestra teacher; Lisa Rischmiller, Special Education teacher; Nicole Chaffee, 4th Grade teacher; and Andrea Hoffmann, reserve teacher for Diane Daniels.

            But that is just the beginning of the Deephaven news! Can you believe that all the Spring 2005 babies born to Deephaven mothers are boys? Congratulations to new moms Sheila Spindler, Tricia Bauer, Wendy Olson, Melissa Lego, Nicole Berwanger, and Sheri Simpson.

            Will Fall start a new trend? New mom Diane Daniels and husband welcomed baby girl Erika Marie on September 9, 2005.

            And rounding out the Deephaven news are the wedding planners! Katie Knewtson and Brooks Deibele are getting married in October. Lindsay Carey and Barry Koopmann are getting married in November. Chris Hentges and Kari Tone are planning a summer 2006 wedding.

 

  

Editorial/Commentary/Opinion Page

Editorials, commentary, opinions, and letters to the editor are not necessarily the position of the MTA. All members are invited to share their unedited views, thoughts, concerns, etc., by submitting them to: mary.tingblad@minnetonka.k12.mn.us, Mary Tingblad, MM-West, 6421 Hazeltine Blvd, Excelsior, MN  55331.

 

Busy Summer!

I was so excited to be able to represent the Minnetonka Teachers Association as a delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly in Los Angeles, CA. Joseph Ricke and Jan Nelson also attended as Minnetonka delegates. This was my third time to attend the NEA-RA, and I was still awed at the power and efficiency of the largest democratic assembly in the world.

Each morning, each state held its own caucus to prepare for the day’s events on the convention floor. As I sat in the Education Minnesota caucus meetings, I knew delegates from all over the country were also sitting in meetings just like ours. Each state had contact people in all the other states, so we could check with others for more information about particular issues. Now that I have participated in a few conventions, I’m ready to volunteer to be a state contact person at future national conventions. I can say that I love it enough to return again and again as long as the MTA members want me to represent them. Yes, I am hooked!

NEA President Reg Weaver really knows how to handle the sea of educators. With a hushed reminder, he could easily get our attention refocused if there was too much chatter. More importantly, he could fire us up using his own unique charms! It was amazing to feel the power of the collective pride we all felt, when in his keynote address, Reg called us, “keepers of the dream that represents the public in public education.” Often, whenever he was at the microphone throughout the convention, he would bring the entire delegation to a rousing standing ovation.

“With dedication, we help to shape this nation's heart. With care, we nurture its soul. And with skill, we help to form the foundation of this nation's prosperity. Through our professionalism and commitment, we touch the minds of children who will use the tools of their learning to shape what will ultimately represent the future of this great nation. It is because of you and your commitment to children, students, and public education, that we stand here today strong, united and able to say...

Team NEA -- fighting for you, your schools, and your students!”

I also must mention the Education Minnesota Leadership Seminar that I attended in August. It was a wonderful opportunity to network with other Local leaders. I was particularly pleased with the session for newsletter editors. It was reaffirming and motivating to talk with other Local newsletter editors and Education Minnesota staff about the important communication link newsletters provide to our members. I was especially pleased to find out that the MTA newsletter has been used in these summer seminars as an example of the outstanding newsletters throughout the state. It is the work of all the contributors that makes our newsletter shine! Thanks to all the article writers, the School News gatherers, and the classified ads posters!

 

Mary Tingblad, Editor