Lexington Education Association
Executive Board Meeting
September 19, 2006

Call to Order at 4:00 p.m.

Members Present: V. LaMura, M. Saldarini, L. David, B. Beckett, J. Cohen, A. Roos, P. Sachar, T. Nichols, B. Preston, J. Fiornetini

A. Members Concerns

LHS:

• Monitoring class sizes closely
• 125 student load (average over two semesters)
• Anyone over should let Vito know-grievance will be filed in second semester if the average is exceeded
• No language in contract on number of IEP’s a teacher has in one class
• General morale a concern
• High School Building Rep. needed at LHS

Middle Schools:

• SPED schedules were ready at Diamond for first day of school but Sped teachers had to come in over the summer and work on them.
• Supplies a concern-hours spent in June getting orders together and submitted only to come back in September with very little ordered or received; ask PRR Reps if this problem persists system wide.
• asked the board to encourage teachers to keep track or what they spend on supplies.
• noted that people who moved classrooms 5 years ago, finally received their compensation.
• remind the board that each new teacher “donates” one sick day to the sick band at the beginning of employment.

Elementary:
• Principal at Hastings signing people up for “voluntary” committees and scheduling mandatory meetings for 7:45 a.m.
• LEA has spoken to the principal-discussions regarding this issue will continue
• Several classes at 26 - teachers don’t want to do 1/2 hour conferences. Principal sent memo out directing teachers to have a “professional length “ conference.
• Bridge: classes are at 28, 27, 27 - (redistricting should resolve this).. IA’s (2 hrs. a day) will be hired if still over max by October 1, as per contract.

B. Discussion Items

• LEA Calendar: Dates for E-Board Meetings, Rep. council Meetings, and Strawberry Festival were approved.
  Teacher Thursdays (18) - 2 teacher Thursdays before report cards are due except for first report card due to guest speaker already scheduled for Principal Thursday.
  In the future, requested that Back to School Night at Diamond and Clarke not be scheduled on the same day as Professional Development afternoon
• LEA Organizational Goals-Board members read them over. No deletions or additions were made.
• Membership Update-21 fewer members: 649 (2005-2006)
  currently 628. These numbers do not reflect Unit C.  4 agency fee members, 2 “special” members.
• Financiall Report and Audit: The Union is in good shape. Dues will be deducted starting in October
• Grievance Report: Level I grievance at Clarke settled.
• Negation Report: Team will be created to negotiate. Unit A can have up to 12 on the negotiating team. What will process look like? Will Unit A, C be negotiated together or separately? Major focus will be on IA’s - just cause - establish legal standard for dismissal and some kind of evaluation instrument. Jill Coleman mentioned that the recent LABB negations will be helpful with Unit C negations
• President’s Report
  a. LEA Secretary Vacancy: will put word out to all members by Wednesday (9/20).
  b. ELL issues: “Program in flux” New director, Robin Dowling Grant - not used to working in public school with unions. Presently there are 3 licensed ELL teachers and 3 IA’s in system.
• Jill Coleman, MTA Consultant
  • handout-letter to editor
  • governor’s race will be important to Teacher’s Union
  • whoever wins Democratic primary will be endorsed by MTA
  • try to engage members in process (10 minute meetings)
  • Stand for Children is putting together a voter guide
  • Jill is looking for 2 voluntary coordinators to help in getting issues out to union members
  • Will “interest-based bargaining” be used this negotiating year? If so, training will be needed.

        Respectfully Submitted,

 Phyllis Sachar