MAY BOARD MEETING NOTES

Welcome new Board members Mary Brownell(Hazelwood), Francine Hill (Francis Howell) and Frank Rogan (MNEA Retired)

Vistitors :Charline Shepard MPSO

Discussion Items:

Gov. District meeting feedback: 

Matt Agee stated that at the Gov. District 11 meeting there was discussion about the placement of the elections from the floor and not being done in the Governance meeting.  President Smith explained that Board policy states that all Board nominations, Heritage House nominations, Review Board nominations and Budget Committee nominations must be taken from the floor.  Therefore, President Smith had no choice but to follow the policy at the Spring RA.  The Board can change the policy, and we will be discussing the issue further at our Board Retreat in August.

There was another question from Gov. District 11 regarding sending more than 3 new people to Summer Academy.  It was explained that all locals can send up to 3 people.  After May 20th if there are still openings districts may then sign up to send more than attendees.

Governance District 5 had a question about how many members they needed to add a second Board seat.  President Smith had already answered the question but a Gov. district needs to have 2251 members to have 2 Board members.

Summer Academy Board Responsibilities:

Due to the change in Summer Academy it is optional for Board members to attend.  Each Governance District needs to send a basket for the PAC auction.  If possible please bring them to the Pre RA on June 6.  Summer Academy will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbia, MO on July 13-15. 

SALT Trainings are scheduled for June 3 in St. Charles, June 19-20 in Springfield and July 9 in Kansas City.

NEA RA Details:

Be sure to read Karen Sholes' blog.  www.nearainfo.blogspot.com

The pre RA will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbia MO on June 6.

NEA Fund:

RA delegates need to bring contributions to the Pre-RA meeting on June 6.  More information will be coming about GO Pages.

Back to School Events:

As locals begin to plan back to school events, please let President Smith know of the dates so that they can be put into a master calendar.  Any locals wanting Member Benefits to attend can contact Jacquie Shipma.

Information Items:

Membership Reports:  We have 392 new members on early enrollment as of May 13.  We also have 43 members who are rejoining which brings our total up to 435 new members.  There will be losses though as districts make deletions at the end of the year.

Board Roster:

Board members please check the Board Roster that is in the Board packet.  Any corrections need to be sent to Brent Fullington.

2015-16 Board Orientation and Retreat:

The Board Retreat will be held July 31-Aug. 2 at the Drury Inn and Suites in Kansas City MO. New Board members need to be in Kansas City by noon on July 31.  The retreat should end around noon on Sunday Aug. 2.

Resolutions and ByLaws:

The updated 2015 Resolutions will be uploaded to the Members Only section of the website. The Bylaws will be in the Timeline for Action.  A question was asked if the ByLaws could also be added to the Members Only section.  President Smith will try to make that happen.

Board Terms:

Board Terms begin on Aug. 1.

State Board Report:

We are continuing to monitor what is happening in the Normandy Collaborative School District. President Smith wrote an OpEd piece about the situation in Normandy.

Reports:

Legislative: Otto thanked his team for all their hard work during this legislative session.

Legislation that passed:

Budget

Transfer Bill: This bill allows for the expansion of Charter Schools. We will be urging the Governor to veto this bill.

Right To Work

There was a bill with language about Community College Boards that passed.

There was a bill with some changes to the MOST Savings program that passed.

Presidents:

Besides what is in the Board Packet President Smith attended the St. Joseph NEA year end celebration.  He was also asked by NEA to attend a symposium celebrating male teachers of color.

NEA Directors:

ESEA reauthorization will be active again in June.  Be watching for calls to action.

Executive Director:

MNEA will be making the switch to Microsoft 365, getting new bandwidth in all of the regional offices and moving to Centurylink telephones.  NEA 360 will be moving to new platforms for membership and all sorts of other things.  This switch will take place by May 2016.  Karen Struemph and Karen Sholes will be heading a committee of about 10 people to get ready for this change.  

Collective Bargaining Update:

Hazelwood picketed and packed a school board meeting with members.  They were able to get a step on the salary schedule and are still working through details.  Their members showed what working together can achieve.

Ritenour teachers rejected the first salary proposal brought to them.  They went back to the bargaining table and were able to get more money in the proposal.  They will be voting again next week.

Joplin NEA won exclusive bargaining representation.

Columbia teachers have continued to show up at school board meetings and are gaining respect from the community even after the districts lawyer said he would not negotiate anymore this year.

Managers:

Steve McLuckie asked locals to sponsor student members.  More information will be sent out about this on the list serv.

All reports can be found in the Board packet.

Consent Agenda:

The consent agenda was approved

Business Items:

Committee Chairs and Liaisons for 2015-16: approved

2015-16 MNEA Committee Charges: approved

2014-15 MNEA Committee Reports: approved

Budget Committee Election:

Matt Agee and Cheryl Riley were elected by acclamation to the 2015-16 Budget Committee.

Action on proposed amendments to the NEA Standing Rules, Constitution and ByLaws for the 2015 Representative Assembly

Constitutional Amendments (2/3 Vote)

1.     Delegate allocation for merged states NEA Board: oppose MNEA Board: oppose

2.     Frequency of RA                                      NEA Board: oppose    MNEA Board: oppose

3.     Classroom teacher and ESP on committees  NEA Board: support   MNEA Board: support

Bylaw Amendments (Majority Vote)

A.   Safe harbor for EC members NEA Board: support       MNEA Board: support

B.   Ballot Measure/Leg. Crisis Fund              NEA Board: support       MNEA Board: support

1.      Great Public Schools Fund                     NEA Board:  oppose       MNEA Board: oppose

2.     Delegate allocation for merged states     NEA Board: oppose        MNEA Board: oppose

3.     Grouping of NBI’s                                    NEA Board: oppose        MNEA Board: oppose

Standing Rule Amendments (Majority Vote)

1.     Requests for information in speaking order         NEA Board:oppose     MNEA Board: oppose

2.     Suspend the rules for referral of multiple items   NEA Board: oppose    MNEA Board:oppose

3.     Motion to suspend the rules                                 NEA Board: support   MNEA Board: support

4.     Grouping of NBI’s                                                NEA Board: oppose    MNEA Board: oppose

5.     Contact information for NBI makers                     NEA Board: oppose    MNEA Board:oppose

6.     Limiting NBI’s to 100 words                                 NEA Board: oppose     MNEA Board:oppose

7.     Printing of NBI cost breakdowns                         NEA Board: oppose     MNEA Board:oppose

MARCH 27 BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOTES

Congratulations to:

·      The MNEA legal team for victories in the Shank and Elsesser cases.

·      Joplin NEA on their HH policy victory.

·      The Metro Community College on their Exclusive Rep election victory.

·      The St Joseph NEA on returning the food service employees to the district.

·      Francis Howell Secretaries and Nurses on their Exclusive Rep elections.

·      Columbia Parent-Educators on their Exclusive Rep election.

·      Warrenton Custodians and Maintenance on their Exclusive Rep election.

·       Rishanda Richardson for compiling the Salary Benchmarks and Rankings booklet.

Executive Director’s Report:

·      Presented the collective bargaining update (see handout).

·      Discussed implications to hiring newly retired teachers as substitutes and the potential impact on insurance for the districts (Affordable Care Act). 

·      Informed the Board on the role of BAFC Consulting in several St Louis area school districts.

Financial Report: Overall expenditures and revenue are either on or near budgeted levels.

Kansas City building update-Melon and Associates signed a 3-year lease starting May 1. This brings a total of 3 tenants in the downstairs area.

St Louis office is looking to repair the parking lot.

New railing was added to the Headquarters office.

Discussion Items

·      Locals must have 50% of dues paid by March 31 to be seated at the RA

·      NEA RA will be in Orlando July1 through July 7. Delegates are asked to raise a minimum of $360 for PAC. Details for delegates will be available on the MNEA RA blog.

·      Spring RA: check dates for the Pre RA in your local area.

·      The Springfield Pre- RA has been cancelled.

·      The Spring RA is at the Lodge of the Four Seasons, NOT Tan- Tar- A.

·      The HOPE Fund will have shirts to sell.

·      MNEA Retired will have a reception on Friday night of the Spring RA, all are welcome.

·      President Smith will also have a reception on Friday night (after MNEA-R’s reception and Pre-RA) and a dance Saturday night.

·      Early enrollment programs are starting. Our goal is to enroll 400 new members.

·      Remember, early enrollees cannot be elected to the Spring RA as delegates, serve as voting members on your boards or building rep councils until after they have full governance rights (September 1).

  

Information items

·      Membership numbers have stabilized.

·      SALT dates are on the Web- site. The first training will be April 11 in St Louis

·      Summer Leadership is planned for July.  Each local is invited to send 3 members  up to 100 participants. Information is available and enrollment is now open on- line.

·      MNEA Committee volunteer forms are due on May 15.

·      Future Leaders’ Academy applications are due April 1.

Business Items The MNEA Board:

·      Elected Lauren Schumacher and Caryn Deckard to the UniServ Grant Approval Committee.

·      Took a unanimous position of opposition to the proposed NEA Constitutional Amendment 1.

·      Horace Mann Award Winners are:

Journalism-Print: Jessica Bock and Elissa Croach, from the St Louis Post Dispatch

Journalism-Radio: KWMU Public Radio, Time Eby and Susan Hager

Journalism-Television: Jack Galmiche, Nine Network of Public Media

Legislation: Genise Monitcello House District 92

Organizational Achievement-Civic: United Steel Workers Union #169, Ste. Genevieve, MO

Individual Contribution to Education: Doug Pitt, Springfield, MO

Education Support Professional: Sonja Marie Burks, SEEA

Teacher: Chris Holmes, Hazelwood NEA

FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING INFORMATION

Legal: Jacquie Shipma (handout on the CSD Insurance Trust given at meeting)

A judge has ruled that the Normandy School district is still unaccredited. 

Due to a court ruling in October 2014 the CSD (Cooperating School Districts) Insurance Trust amended their plan so that same-sex spouses could be added to insurance plans.  Questions were raised in the Ritenour School District when a retiree tried to add a same-sex spouse.  It was determined that they could and notification was sent out to Ritenour retirees. 

Jacquie needs to know information from other districts in the CSD Insurance Trust. Please gather the following information and send to Jacquie Shipma.

1.    If the district is one covered by the CSD Insurance Trust, did active employees get notification of the same sex spouse coverage?

2.    If the district is one covered by the CSD Insurance Trust, did retirees get notification of the same sex spouse coverage?

3.    If the district is one covered by the CSD Insurance Trust, and notification was received, did anyone try to enroll a same sex spouse but had that coverage denied based on the date the marriage took place?

4.    If the district is not one covered by the CSD Insurance Trust, has the district notified employees, both active and retired, of the ability to cover same sex spouses under the district’s insurance?   

Certification of Average Instructor’s Salary:  Motion was made and passed to certify the average instructor’s salary for 2015-16 year at $48,908.  This is a reduction from the previous year and will have budget implications for us as we move forward.

Dues for Students and Retired:  Motion was made and passed to set Student MNEA dues at $2.00; MNEA-R annual at $40.00; MNEA-R Life and Pre-Retired at $200.00.  These dues are not changed from last year.

Horace Mann Teacher of the Year: A vote was taken by the Board and Chris Holmes from Hazelwood was selected as the 2015 Horace Mann Teacher of the Year.  He is also the Missouri State Teacher of the Year.

East Central College Affiliation:  Motion made and passed to affiliate East Central College.

2015 Audit:  Brent Fullington and Dale Siebeneck presented the 2015 Audit Report.

Motion made by Brent Fullington on behalf of the Budget Committee to accept the 990 Report.  Motion passed.

2015-2016 Budget: Brent Fullington presented the proposed 2015-2016 RA Budget to forward to the RA. 

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

School Finance Meeting, March 30, 2015 from 5:00 - 7:00.  Join Kurt Swanson to better understand school finance and salary schedules.

Capital Action Day:  April 1, 2015  Each Capitol Action Day will start with a briefing at 10:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 4 (unless otherwise noted) to provide you with the most up-to-date information.

Pre-RA Date April 7, 2015  A light supper will be served at 5:30 p.m. followed by the meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Summer Academy for “First Timers” will be July 13-15 2015 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbia, MO.  If you are planning to attend Summer Academy as a Board member, please let Karen Sholes know as soon as possible.

SALT Trainings: SALT trainings will be one day trainings held at Regional Offices.  Board members need to attend the SALT Trainings for their area.

April 11, 2015 (Saturday) St. Louis;

June 3, 2015 (Wednesday) St. Charles;

June 20, 2015 (Saturday) Springfield;

July 9, 2015 (Thursday) Kansas City

MEETING DATES

West Central will meet on the following dates:  February 9, March 30, and April 7 for Pre-RA.  The February 9 and March 30 meetings will begin at 5:15 p.m. with a light supper beginning at 4:45 p.m. On April 7, the Pre-RA meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a light supper beginning at 5:30.

Don't forget that GD  4 will head to Jefferson City for Capital Action Day on April 1.

CAPITOL ACTION DAY DATE CHANGE

Governance District 4 will attend Capitol Action Day on April 1st along with Governance District 6. The legislators decided to take Spring Break on our previously scheduled date.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT...

Fall RA will be held Saturday, November 15 in Springfield at the University Plaza.  If you would like to attend the awards luncheon, reservations must be made by November 7.  Each year MNEA likes to leave our host city a little better off than it was when we arrived.  One way for us to do this is through a food drive.  Thus, canned goods or monetary donations will be accepted by Cross Lines.  The HOPE Fund will again have a gift card tree as a fund raiser.  As always, PAC will have a silent auction.

DON'T FORGET Governance District 4 will need to elect one member to the PAC Council for a three year term.  Nominations will NOT be accepted from the floor.  Declarations of Candidacy must turned into DeeAnn Aull no later than 11:00 a.m. on November 15.  I have a copies of the candidacy forms.  Please contact me as soon as possible and I will get one to you.  There is also a candidacy form included in the RA packet on page 31.

Please suggest, remind, and ask members to man phone banks this week and next; as well as, sign up to volunteer at a poll to pass out literature opposing Amendment 3.  Members can sign up through www.protectourlocalschools.com.