Vol. 5, December 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 Ramona Anderson ~

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

~ Excelsior Heather Stowman ~ Minnewashta Position Open ~

~ 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 & Mike Matthias ~

~~ From the President ~~

MTA President, Joseph Ricke

Greetings! Just like you, I am looking forward to the upcoming break. Hopefully, this time will welcome both rest and an opportunity to reflect on the past year. Many of us will be going to warmer places or traveling to visit friends and relatives. My family will travel to Denver to visit my mother-in-law—at least it promises to be somewhat warmer.

Reflections: As I look back to the start of this year, it began by facing the reality of “Cost Containment” and the likelihood of “layoffs.” The MTA leadership had to work with a contract that had not been drafted to protect job placement for senior staff assignments. Making matters worse was the move to the “six-period” day for the high school and middle schools. A further complication was the district’s desire to move some head coaching staff to the high school. The district’s strategy seemed to move away from working with departments on job placement. Many times, the district ignored the many years of service by senior staff to the district and their desire to work in areas of skill and preference. All of these problems resulted in frustrations and in low morale for many. Indeed, this past year has been difficult, and it was disheartening to see my peers in pain and wondering how the MTA could “allow” such things to happen. Change is difficult to bear usually, but its sting is lessened when one knows why it must happen. I believe that the next two years will provide satisfactory answers to the troublesome questions that have surrounded the joint MTA-Administration decisions of the past year.

Looking Ahead: The most significant issue confronting us for next year is the possibility of implementing an increased pay concept called the Minnetonka Alternative Professional Pay System (MAPPS). After hiring more staff to train faculty on the Charlotte Danielson-based TIP system and to evaluate faculty using the TIP system, the money left over for individual pay increases could amount to $1500 or more. This would necessitate at least three factors to occur: 1) more time in the day for training, 2) a calendar to allow for more collegial coordination and staff planning, and 3) a working environment which fosters trust and open communication. None of those three factors exists to the necessary extent in our district. In fact, the stress that many feel is alone significant enough to prevent the feasibility of implementing MAPPS for next year. It is imperative for us to improve our open dialogues with each other and with the district. The MAPPS concept will be adopted only if staff sees a benefit to this change—simply because potentially added money will never be the basis for change. At best, I am hopeful that we will take the time to slow down and focus on the essence of who we are, instead of worrying about the extent to which we must change. Right now, our pace is too fast and our Strategic Plan is too aggressive to allow us to think about more change. You will have ample opportunity to discuss MAPPS before a vote will be taken. Please pay attention to what happens in other districts that are implementing alternative pay systems.

In closing, may all of you have a joyful holiday and a well-deserved winter break. I wish you and your families the very best and that you embrace the New Year with a sense of hope and fulfillment.

~~ Teachers’ Rights Review ~~

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

(from Education Minnesota Member Rights Training Phase I)

The Local must investigate every complaint to obtain facts essential before deciding the most advantageous course to pursue. Each member’s complaint offers a new and unique challenge. Is the alleged matter real or imagined? Is the issue grievable, or does the complaint warrant another avenue of resolution? What resolution is the member seeking? Does the member’s remedy fit the needs of the Local union? To answer these questions, the Member Rights Advocate must gather and evaluate the facts. These initial activities constitute the INVESTIGATION.

There are three important skills needed by the Member Rights Advocate when conducting an investigation. The first is building a rapport with all persons interviewed. Putting the member or witness at ease can increase the likelihood of obtaining helpful information. The Member Rights Advocate must be direct without being overbearing. He/she should be sympathetic and understanding in his/her demeanor without appearing to be biased or prejudiced. The Member Rights Advocate must model confidentiality and respect for the member or witness.

The second trait is keeping an open mind. The Member Rights Advocate must stay on the bottom rungs of the ladder of inference by asking questions and avoiding any preconceived notions regarding a member’s complaint. Do not be quick to form a theory or a conclusion and then set about seeking only those facts that fit this theory. Rather, be slow to form any theories or conclusions until all facts are gathered and then make recommendations based on those facts.

The third skill is maintaining an accurate record of all investigations. The record of the investigation should be the basis upon which the Local makes its decision on what method of remedy to pursue. The Member Rights Advocate must also be conscious of any timelines required and to act within the required timelines. The Member Rights Advocate should report to the Local Governance his/her findings and a recommendation for resolving the complaint.

Investigations require insight, intelligence, persuasiveness, persistence, and objectivity. Through training and practice, the Member Rights Advocate will acquire the skills of building rapport, keeping an open mind and maintaining accurate records that will increase his/her expertise in obtaining evidence that will ultimately help to decide how an issue in dispute should be resolved.

The 5 W’s of Inquiry:

· Who? Who are the persons involved in the incident: complainant, witnesses, the administrative authority allegedly faulting the member? Who will stand behind the claim? If no individual is willing or available, does the Local wish to pursue the issue as the complainant? Does this issue affect the Local, and does the Local have a position on this issue?

· What? What is the real or imagined complaint? What is alleges to have been done or not done? What violation of the labor agreement, school district policy, or past practice occurred?

· When? When did the incident occur? Is it within the time limits of the grievance procedures?

· Where? Where did the alleged issue occur? Did the event occur at a work site? If the event occurred off-site, was it an event sponsored by the school district or related to the employment of the member?

· Why? Why did it occur? Was it a result of a misunderstanding? Has there been a change in policy, practice, or administrators? Are the employees new and aware of employer’s policy, the labor agreement, and practices of the district?

~~ Membership Information Reminder ~~

MTA Membership Chair, Jeri Goodspeed-Gross

Please contact Jeri Goodspeed-Gross 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!

News From Education Minnesota

~~ Receipts for Classroom Supplies=Tax Deduction ~~

Save those receipts for classroom supplies—they could be worth a tax deduction of up to $250 under the federal “Educator Expense Deduction.” If you work at least 900 hours per school year as a teacher, instructor, counselor or aide, you’re eligible to deduct up to $250 of qualified expenses when you figure your adjusted gross income for 2005. You can take the deduction regardless of whether you itemize deductions on Schedule A. The deduction is set to expire this year, so take advantage of it now. For more information, call the IRS at 800-829-4477 and listen to Topic 458, or visit www.irs.gov.

The federal deduction will also benefit you on your Minnesota taxes. Since the state tax return piggybacks on the federal return, no additional form is necessary, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

~~ Students Can Help Kids in War-Torn Uganda ~~

To escape the danger, some 40,000 village children flock to the cities every night, where they sleep in shelters or on sidewalks. Then, each morning, they walk miles back to their villages to go to school or work until they return to the cities at night.

To help the youngest of these children find comfort at night, students are invited to make story books for them to look at before going to sleep in the shelters. The Memory Project seeks students in writing and art classes to make children’s books for children living through the war in Uganda. One purpose of the books is to help the children find momentary peace of mind. Another purpose, given that the war disrupts their education, is to help them learn to read. The national language of Uganda is English, so the books may be written in English. The project is open to students at any level. More information is available at www.thememoryproject.org/childrensbooks.

~~ Take Advantage of your Member Benefits With ESI ~~

Education Minnesota sponsors a variety of products and services with members’ best interests in mind. Through Education Minnesota ESI, some of the programs for members include auto and home insurance, financial and retirement planning, long-term care insurance, mortgage and realty services, auto buying and leasing, credit card, travel discounts and more.

In addition to the Education Minnesota ESI programs, members also have access to several other insurance and discount programs through the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association. Check out the AFT PLUS online music discount program where all CDs are only $9.99—buy two and the third one is free—and there are no shipping charges.

For additional information call ESI at 651-292-4856 or 800-642-4624, or visit the member benefits section at www.educationminnesota.org.

~~ Leaders in Learning Awards Program ~~

The Leaders in Learning Awards program recognizes administrators, educators, community leaders and policymakers who demonstrate vision, innovation, action and transformation in education. The objective of the awards is to promote and encourage innovative learning practices by honoring individuals who have transformed an aspect of education on a large or small scale. Winners will receive a $3,000 grant and an expenses-paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., and will participate in a gala celebration and other activities. Learn more by going to: www.leadersinlearningawards.org. Application deadline is January 31, 2006.

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 Excelsior

Heather Stowman and husband Scott are excited about their new addition to the family: Owen Henry Michael Stowman was born on November 16, 2005.

News From Deephaven

October Wedding: Grade 3 teacher Katie Knewtson to Brooks Deibele.

November Wedding: Kindergarten teacher Lindsey Carey to Barry Koopman.

We are going to miss Andrea Hoffmann our 5th grade reserve for Diane Daniels. We are glad to know that she will be working at Groveland in 5th grade in February. We welcome Diane Daniels back from maternity leave in January!

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.

Snow, Snow, Just Look at the Snow!

Whenever we have a snowy day, I recall one of my favorite childhood books. I think it was just called Snow. My favorite line comes to mind whenever there’s a pretty snowfall: “Snow, snow, just look at the snow!” I remember how fun it was to read that book because it was so easy—I could read it all by myself. The sentences and the illustrations also captured the excitement I felt whenever there was new snow. Isn’t it interesting the memories that stick with us from childhood?

Looking back, it just may have been that book that started the first little spark of my interest in teaching. I remember reading that book and others to my brothers (and dolls and stuffed animals) and asking them questions. I even made up worksheets sometimes when I played “school.”

Thinking back, I remember feeling frustrated that my “students” could finish their work faster than I could produce it and correct it. I marveled at how much teachers had to do and yet they made it look so easy! Of course, it’s not as easy as it looks, but that’s part of the job of a teacher. What students see in the classroom doesn’t just magically happen! What goes on in the classroom when the students aren’t in the room has a huge effect on what happens when the students are present.

I’ve thought back to that little a-ha moment from time to time, usually whenever I’ve felt crunched for time. Many are expressing their concerns that this time-crunch frustration is becoming a bigger reality. I have this feeling more often than I remember ever having it in past years. Could it be that things are more hectic, more stressful, more put-in-your-own-adjective than ever before?

I can’t wait to see what comes out of the Workload/Workday Committee. This is a district and MTA joint-committee co-chaired by Mike Lovett and MTA Vice President Jan Nelson. The committee is studying data collected from each building and will recommend pilot strategies to begin 2nd semester. The district has budgeted $45,000 to use to implement the work of the committee. There may be some relief in sight!

In the mean time, make the most of your Winter Break. It’s the holiday season, giving us time to spend with family and friends. Relax, refresh, and re-energize! Take some time to just look at the snow! Find a favorite old book and reread it yourself, just for your own enjoyment. Or introduce it to a youngster or two! I think I’ll seek out my Snow book and do just that!

Mary Tingblad, Editor