Vol. 2, September 2002

The Professional

A Publication of the Minnetonka Teachers Association

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

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

 

~ 2002-2003 Minnetonka Teachers Association Governance Board ~

~ President Mark Chalupsky ~ Vice President Julie Anderson-Simonson ~

~ Secretary Mary Tingblad ~ Treasurer Joseph Ricke ~

~ DEC Gail O’Rourke ~ Deephaven Diane Jost ~ Groveland Pam Wertjes ~

~ Excelsior Mark Broten ~ Minnewashta Melanie Casiday ~

~ Clear Springs Debra Jensen ~ Scenic Heights Jan Sellman ~

~ MM-East Mark Brzezinski & Heidi Johnson ~

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

~ MHS Joseph Ricke, Jan Nelson, J. Beowulf Boswell, & Mike Cutshall ~

 

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 Jillian Anderson, Kelly Anderson, Sara Anderson, Brad Aubrecht, Nina Badzin, Darren Best, Jen Briesemeister, Shanin Buhr, Mary Campbell, Pat Choffrut, John Coatta, Cathy Cole, Kaye Cusick, Bryan Dammann, Sarah Ferguson, Carrie Foster, Matt Gens, John Gerads, Kristy Gotcher, Allen Hansen, Chris Haun, Chris Hentges, Rosie Hoch, Sean Holmes, Susan Jerabek Kinney, Sarah Jerutis, Sarah Jordan, Charles Keane, Kent Knutson, Laura Kopel, Anna Kurth, Joan Lerdal, Megan Majsterski, Michelle Manke, Jane Meyer, Jason Miller, Nancy Nelsen, Dave Nelson, Brian Nutter, Aaron Olivier, Beth Orlowsky, Vicky Painter, Rebecca Patenaude, Anelise Rossing, Sarah Rodenwald, Diane Rundquist, Sherry Salo, Jennifer Schachenmeyer, Reid Thorpe, Angie Weninger. J

 

Most of us end up with no more than five or six people who remember us. Teachers have thousands of people who remember them for the rest of their lives.    ~~Andrew A. Rooney

 

Required Disclaimer: Portions of this newsletter are Independent Expenditures prepared and paid for by the Minnetonka Teachers Association, 6421 Hazeltine Blvd, Excelsior, MN 55331, in support of the Minnetonka levy and Mark Thompson.  This material is not approved by Mark Thompson, nor is Mark Thompson responsible for it.

 

~~ President’s Ponderings ~~

MTA President Mark Chalupsky mark.chalupsky@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

 

Hello everyone and welcome back to another school year. I think we are off to a good start, even though we have had a few technology problems.  The technology team is working hard to get the problems corrected. 

 

The referendum is fast approaching, and the Committee for Quality Academics will need people to help with phone calling again. Please try to help if you can. I don’t think I have to tell you how important this is to all of us--jobs are on the line if the referendum does not pass. The Governance Board has authorized a donation of $3,000, which has been given to the Committee for Quality Academics on your behalf.  If you would like to donate additional dollars you can make a check out to the Committee for Quality Academics, send it to me, and I’ll pass it on to the committee.

 

It was an interesting summer for me as I traveled to Bangkok, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, New York, Warsaw, and the cities of Kherson, Nikolaev, and Odessa in the Ukraine. The condition of the schools and hospitals in the Ukraine leave something to be desired. Running water and hot water are also hard to find. Thank goodness that Pepsi and Coke are in great supply there. 

 

I also spent 3 long summer days on the district Strategic Planning Committee. You will hear more about the work of that committee soon.

 

Mary Tingblad, Anita Otten, and I spent a week in Las Vegas at the AFT Convention in July. It was 116 degrees there the day we arrived, but I was able to cool off in the hotel pool when we were not sitting in the daily convention sessions. I think Mary Tingblad actually came home with a few extra dollars in her pocket, so you might want to ask her about her gambling strategy and technique.

 

This is a negotiation year, and we will be gearing up soon. Our goal will be to have completed the process before we leave for summer break. I am confident we will be able to do that, but there are no guarantees.

 

Among other things, I have asked the district to look at adopting some type of grading guidelines for our district. As of now, we have none. I hope you all have a great year.  Please let me know if I can help you in any way!

~~ MTA Contract Administration Update ~~

julie.anderson-simonson@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

 

The September Contract Administration meeting included Joseph Ricke, Julie Anderson-Simonson, Mark Chalupsky, Sue Vento, Mike Lovett, and guest Lisa Hennen. The following agenda items were discussed:

 

~~ Teachers Rights Review ~~

mary.benson@minnetonka.k12.mn.us  anita.otten@minnetonka.mn.k12.mn.us

 

Oops... no article this month. Let’s look forward to reading October’s article offering suggestions for dealing with colleagues.       

 

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For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid pieces of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet you or excite you.

 

~~Anne Lamott

 

~~ And the Survey Says... ~~

         

To help us be more effective, the MTA Governance Board asked MTA members to participate in a survey in May 2002. The Zoomerang Survey was launched on May 20, 2002, and it closed on May 29, 2002, with a total of 219 respondents.

 

1.                    Survey completed by:         Elementary School Teacher                122          56%

Middle School Teacher                         50          23%

High School Teacher                             36          17%

Other                                                        10            5%

 

                                                 TOTAL: 218      100%

 

2.                    How many years have you taught in the Minnetonka School District?

 

    0-3 years                            47            21%

    4-6 years                            33            15%

  7-10 years                            49            22%

11-15 years                            42            19%

16-20 years                            15              7%

21-24 years                              6              3%

   25+ years                            27            12%       

 

           TOTAL: 219         100%

 

3.                    I’m proud to be a member of the MTA.

 

Strongly Agree                    45            21%

Agree                                     97            44%

Indifferent/No Opinion       61            28%

Disagree                                13              6%

Strongly Disagree                  3              1%

 

            TOTAL: 219        100%

 

4.                    I’m proud to be a member of Education Minnesota.

 

Strongly Agree                     27           12%

Agree                                  111             51%

Indifferent/No Opinion       61            28%

Disagree                                15              7%

Strongly Disagree                  4              2%

 

                                            TOTAL: 218        100%

 

5.                    I’m aware of the ways in which I can be involved in the MTA.

 

Strongly Agree                     49            23%

Agree                                 135              62%

Indifferent/No Opinion       13              6%

Disagree                                 19             9%

Strongly Disagree                  1              0%

 

                                           TOTAL: 217         100%

 

6.                    I regularly attend MTA building meetings.

 

Strongly Agree                     55            25%

Agree                                   79              36%

Indifferent/No Opinion       16              7%

Disagree                                57            26%

Strongly Disagree                12              5%

 

                                           TOTAL: 219          100%

 

 

7.                    The MTA effectively communicates with its members through the Governance Board meeting

minutes.

Strongly Agree                     60            28%

Agree                                  131             60%

Indifferent/No Opinion       16              7%

Disagree                                  9              4%

Strongly Disagree                  1              0%

 

           TOTAL: 217         100%

 

 

8.                    The MTA effectively communicates with its members through the Governance Board Building

Representatives.

Strongly Agree                     64            30%

Agree                                  108             50%

Indifferent/No Opinion       20              9%

Disagree                                19              9%

Strongly Disagree                  5              2%

 

           TOTAL: 216          100%

 

 

9.                    The MTA effectively communicates with its members through e-mail.

 

Strongly Agree                     68           32%

Agree                                   127            59%

Indifferent/No Opinion       10              5%

Disagree                                  9              4%

Strongly Disagree                  1              0%

 

                                            TOTAL: 215        100%

 

 

10.                 I read the MTA newsletter, The Professional, on a monthly basis.

 

Strongly Agree                     70            32%

Agree                                   104            47%

Indifferent/No Opinion       14              6%

Disagree                                25            11%

Strongly Disagree                6               3%

 

           TOTAL: 219         100%

 

11.                 The MTA effectively represents teachers when dealing with the Administration.

 

Strongly Agree                     42            19%

Agree                                 103              47%

Indifferent/No Opinion       46            21%

Disagree                                18              8%

Strongly Disagree                10              5%

 

                                           TOTAL: 219         100%

 

 

12.                 What is your preferred mode of MTA communication?

 

E-mails                                                174              79%

Hard copies in my school mailbox     13              6%

Meetings                                               22            10%

Website (to be unveiled Fall 2002)      2              1%

Other, Please Specify                            8              4% 

 

                                           TOTAL: 219        100%

 

 

13.                 The MTA budget is spent appropriately.

 

Strongly Agree                     21            10%

Agree                                   73              33%

Indifferent/No Opinion       86            39%

Disagree                                31            14%

Strongly Disagree                  8              5%

 

                                           TOTAL: 219         100%

 

14.                 I                                                vote in the MTA elections.

 

Always                               142              65%

Almost always                      62            29%

Sometimes                               8              4%

Almost never                          3              1%

Never                                       2              1%

 

                                           TOTAL: 217         100%

 

15.                 How would you like to become more involved in the MTA?

(22 responses)

 

16.                 Additional comments, questions, and/or suggestions you have for the MTA Governance Board:

(44 responses)

 4o:p>

            MTA members interested in reading the comments for questions 12, 15, and 16, can contact their Building Representatives. The MTA Survey results were shared with the MTA Governance Board at the June 13, 2002, meeting/workshop.

 

~~ AFT Convention Report ~~

Mary Tingblad, Minnetonka Delegate to the AFT Convention

 

Minnetonka Delegates Mark Chalupsky, Anita Otten, and Mary Tingblad attended the AFT Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, July 14-18, 2002.

 

          “Welcome to the AFT Convention! Register according to your state and local number.” I knew to go to the Minnesota booth, but I had no idea what my local number was! I soon found out, and I found out how important that number is in the AFT. Everyone referred to his or her local numbers, and with a sense of pride. I now know that I should proudly refer to the Minnetonka Teachers Association as Minnesota Local #7173.

 

          After registration, I picked up a lot of information, a few freebies, and even found a couple of good buys while touring the Exhibit Halls on Sunday afternoon. President Chalupsky, by special invitation, attended the Pride of the Union reception Sunday afternoon. On behalf of the MTA, President Chalupsky accepted the Pride of the Union Award, honoring the MTA for our outstanding membership participation. The MTA (aka: Minnesota Local #7173) joined over 500 Locals across the nation receiving this award. AFT is honoring the MTA with this award because we have at least 90% of our teachers as MTA members.

 

          Minnesota was one of the few states providing a special breakfast meeting on Monday before the Opening General Session. What a united feeling to join together with 200 delegates from Minnesota at this national convention! Minnesota was well represented in the sea of 3,700!

 

The convention opened with special greetings from Dean Heller, Nevada’s Secretary of State and Danny Thompson, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of Nevada State AFL-CIO. In her State of the Union address, AFT President, Sandra Feldman, urged Congress to provide funding for a special “Kindergarten-Plus” initiative during the summers before and after the traditional kindergarten year. This extended year of kindergarten could help close the achievement gap for students who enter kindergarten already behind their peers.

 

Tuesday began with Constitutional Amendments, and continued with Convention Committee Reports. Each committee reported one by one on the resolutions most important to them, delegates debated the issues, and then voted.  The committees represented   Civil and Human Rights,  Educational Issues, Funding of Education & Other Public Services, Healthcare Issues, Higher Education Issues, Internal Relations, Membership Education and Leadership Development, Organizing & Collective Bargaining, Political Action, Privatization of Public Services, Programs for Children in Crisis, Retirement Issues, School & Workplace Safety & Violence, and Women’s Rights. The reports, debating, and voting continued on through Thursday.

 

Tuesday was the highlight of the convention for me. Two separate occasions on that day moved me so, that I still get chills remembering them. I attended the Human Rights Award Luncheon honoring Szeto Wah, founder of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers Union and Chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance for the Democratic Movement in China (Mr. Szeto also addressed the entire convention on Thursday). Wahida Furmuli, special guest speaker at the luncheon, shared her personal story of her struggles to get an education in her homeland of Afghanistan, as well as while in exile in Pakistan. While in exile, she became so committed to helping young Afghan girls, that she became the Program Supervisor of the International Rescue Committee’s Female Education Program in Peshawar, Pakistan and in Afghanistan.

 

The second chill of Tuesday afternoon left no one with a dry eye in the convention hall, as the events of September 11th and the days following were commemorated with a powerful video and an emotional standing ovation for two heroic paraprofessionals. Fifteen New York Schools were evacuate, nine “faced immediate and life-threatening danger,” so school staff quickly moved 8,000 students to safety, and “not one child was hurt or lost.” The video paid tribute to the 45 AFT members killed on September 11th, and the extraordinary response of so many assisting in the days, weeks and months ahead. Margaret Espinoza and Julia Martinez were specifically recognized for their heroic dedication to their two wheelchair-bound high school students—when the wheelchairs could go no farther, they carried the students on their backs!

 

Wednesday’s session included greetings from NEA President, Bob Chase, urging both national unions to keep working toward unity and their common goals. Three states—Florida, Minnesota, and Montana—and a number of locals have merged their respective unions, “stronger united than ever apart.”  Elections for the AFT President, Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Vice President, and 39 Vice Presidents were held on Wednesday and election results were announced on Thursday. Thursday concluded with more reports, debating, and voting.

 

          I was proud to be a delegate representing Minnesota Local #7173, the Minnetonka Teachers Association. What a wonderful experience! Although I would prefer to visit Las Vegas during a cooler season, I say sign me up-- I’m ready to go again! The next AFT Convention will be in Washington, DC in July 2004. The next NEA Representative Assembly will be in New Orleans, LA in July 2003.

 

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AFT Posters Explore Freedom

 

          What does it mean to be free? Why is education important? How does school help you become a better person? Five beautiful posters celebrate freedom, democracy, and education, through the words and pictures of our students. The posters, created by the AFT, feature photographs of students and include students’ responses to five questions. The entire set is available to AFT members for only a $3 postage-and-handling charge. Preview and order the posters at www.aft.org/posters.

 

AFT-Africa AIDS Campaign

 

          The AIDS/HIV battleground is larger in Africa than in any other place in the world, and yet the culture of silence surrounding AIDS has made the efforts to stem the epidemic difficult. In South Africa, 420,000 children have lost one or both parents to AIDS, and an average of 1,000 teachers a year die from this disease. In Zimbabwe, more than 30% of the country’s teachers carry the AIDS virus. AIDS destroys individuals and families, and threatens to destroy schools and whole communities.

 

A special AFT-African AIDS Campaign pin is available for a $10 contribution. Funds from the sale of these pins will go directly to our African partner unions to prepare materials and other resources for AIDS education and prevention. Information about ordering pins, as well as materials and other resources to promote this campaign, can be found at www.aft.org/africa_aids.

 

~~ News from Education Minnesota ~~

 

Top 10 Reasons to Attend the Professional Conference

 

          Do you need a reason to attend the Education Minnesota Professional Conference, October 17-18, 2002? Here are 10:

 

10. An opportunity to rendezvous with colleagues and catch up on the latest education trend!

 

 9. A chance to earn continuing education credits!

 

 8. A giant red reading chair and a 22-foot Earth Balloon!

 

 7. Drawings for prizes from Education Minnesota ESI!

 

 6. Friday in-depth seminars on special education, mentoring and more!

 

 5. Loads of practical ideas to take back to your classroom and use now!

 

 4. Thursday mini-keynote presentations by education consultant Mary Montle Bacon on equity issues; author Rosalind Wiseman, on girls and bullying; and former Minnesota Vikings player Joe Senser, on the role of fathers!

 

3. More than 300 exhibits of educational products and services on Thursday!

 

2. Award-winning Twin Cities television journalist Don Shelby, will address the conference on Friday!

 

1. Singer/songwriter Peter Yarrow will address the conference on Thursday!

 

The conference will again be held at RiverCentre in St. Paul. For complete details, visit www.educationminnesota.org/index.cfm?page_id=312.

 

Register Online to Win a $100 Target Gift Card

 

          NEA members can register during the month of September in the “Members-Only” area of the NEA Members Benefits Website for a chance to win one of three $100 Target gift cards. Go to www.neamb.com by September 30, 2002. No purchase necessary to enter.

 

IRS Says Teachers Should Save Receipts

For New Tax Reduction

 

          As the new school year begins, the Internal Revenue Service advises teachers and other educators to save their receipts for purchases of books and classroom supplies. These out-of-pocket expenses may lower their taxes, thanks to a law change enacted earlier this year. The new deduction is available to eligible educators in both public and private elementary and secondary schools. Eligible educators must work at least 900 hours during a school year as a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide.

 

          Eligible taxpayers may subtract up to $250 of qualified expenses when figuring their adjusted gross income (AGI). They will not need to itemize deductions to get this benefit. Prior to the change in the law, educators could take such expenses only as miscellaneous itemized deductions, which must be reduced by 2% of AGI.

         

          The IRS suggests that educators keep records of qualifying expenses in a folder or envelope with a label such as “Educator Expenses Deduction,” noting the date, amount and purpose of each purchase. This will help prevent a missed deduction at tax time. Details on this and other tax law changes are can be found in IRS Publication 3001, “Highlights of the Job Creation and Work Assistance Act of 2002,” available on the IRS website at www.irs.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

 

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 Professional. Let’s really fire up the “What’s New at Your School?” pages this year!

 

 

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., to be published on this page by submitting them to:

Mary Tingblad, MM-West, 6421 Hazeltine Blvd, Excelsior, MN  55331

mary.tingblad@minnetonka.k12.mn.us

 

Support Pro-School Candidates

         

          Did you know that the State of Minnesota gives a 100% rebate for many political campaign contributions? Yes, it’s true. The State of Minnesota will send you a check for up to $50 per person ($100 per couple) per year. It’s not a trick, and there is no gimmick. Why does the state rebate contributions? They do it to encourage average people to express their views and to get involved in the political process.

          How does this work? Select a candidate that you want to support, and ask if he/she participates in the state political campaign rebate plan. Most candidates for state office do participate. Upon receiving the contribution, the candidate will send a receipt to you, and often will enclose the rebate form, too. Complete this short form, attach the receipt to it, and mail it to the address on the form. In approximately 4-6 weeks, you’ll receive a check from the state for the amount of your contribution (up to the $50/person, $100/couple limit). This rebate is in no way connected to your tax forms, and will not complicate your tax returns in any way.

          Not every candidate is eligible for this rebate, and this program is only available to candidates for state office (for example: governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state senator, state representative. Candidates who are NOT eligible for this rebate include president, US senator, US Congress, mayor, school board, city council member, county board commissioner. Although any U.S. citizen may donate to political candidates, this rebate is only available to Minnesota residents.

          In tough economic times like these, it’s important that we support good pro-education candidates. Our own Mark Thompson is one such state representative! This MMW 8th grade Government teacher lives what he teaches! Thompson has served in the Minnesota House since the 2000 election. He does participate in the state rebate program. If you would like to contact him to discuss issues, ask questions, or find out more about this program, his home e-mail address is thom3749@aol.com.