BTA Meeting Minutes » December 7, 2011
A copy of the BTA Meeting Minutes for December 2011 in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking on December Minutes. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the file.
Approved Minutes for BTA Meeting held December 7, 2011.
Meeting called to order at 3:45 pm by Carleen Maselli.
Attendance:
Suzanne Huddleston, Carleen Maselli, JJ Jones, Kim Stiewig, Nan Prolo, Suzanne James-Peters, Lisa Delorefice, Hale Burckin, Teresa Badger, Sue Mehl, Barbara Jones, Gayle Costanza, Susan McDonald, Deborah Casey
Guest Speaker: Sophie B. Pasibe is a representative from Pilipino Americans of Benicia. She founded the organization in 1982. They give scholarships only to Pilipino Americans who graduate from Benicia High School . Last year awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a BHS student. The group also gives out gifts to the families of need in Benicia during Thanksgiving. Last year they gave 15 gift certificates of $50 each for groceries. She is interested in teaching the Pilipino language to students at BHS for free on a Friday afternoon. She mentioned that there is a travel study program for students from Benicia to go to the Philippines for a two- week program during the summer. Students need to be 15 years old.
A. Approval of November 2011 Minutes
A motion was made to approve the November 2, 2011 meeting. The minutes were approved by JJ Jones and seconded by Teresa Badger. The motion passed.
We will ask for future meetings to please read the minutes before coming to Representative Council so we can correct/approve the minutes quickly.
B. PAC/School Board Campaign - Suzanne James-Peters
- Summary of Election: Andre Stewart and Gary Wing were elected to the school board. We should be working on the next school board election now according to CTA.
- Request $200 stipend for PAC chair work. This would be one time only. Rationale: Chair did almost all of the election work on her own and spent hours filing paperwork for finances. Future stipends during elections can be revisited. A motion was by Barbara Jones and seconded by Susan McDonald to give a $200 internet stipend to Suzanne James-Peters for the work she did for the PAC for the school board election. The motion passed.
D. Membership Report - Kathy McNair - Agency Fee Payer report
No report given.
E. Treasurer's Report - Kim Stiewig
| BC - Checking | $51,690.79 |
| CD/Savings | $18,847.65 |
F. Grievance Report - Carleen Maselli
1. Robert Semple-evening performances: evening performances were made voluntary after initial grievance, day time performances are still mandatory. A letter written by some RS teachers was written expressing their disagreement with the grievance. Please refer to it in your packets.
2. Robert Semple - Requirement to stay 15 minutes after the duty day: this is at level 2. Article 3 Section A states that teachers must be at school "no less than 15 minutes before the instructional day," but does not specify that a teacher must stay 15 minutes after school to fulfill the 7 1/4 hour requirement. BTA maintains the teacher has the right to choose to fulfill that time by coming in earlier than 15 minutes before the instructional day, but agrees it is the professional duty to stay when appropriate (i.e. to do duty after school, staff meetings, parent meetings, etc.). Admin believes since the contract is silent on when the 7 1/4 hours occurs that they have the right to determine that time based on the needs of the site. Our CTA Staff person believes BTA is correct on this.
3. Sick Leave has been changed from days to hours on our pay stubs. Our contract states we have sick days, not hours. Deborah Casey is going to follow up on this.
4. Technology Issues - All emails (teachers and students still blocked/websites
for instruction. Overrides for students force a teacher to use their own
login information which compromises security.
Teachers submit Helpdesk problems. Some teachers get a snippy response
from Kat Beebee. If you get one these snippy emails, be sure to forward
the response to Carleen. Carleen is aware of this problem.
G. Old Business:
1. Need an elections committee: at least 1 member each level.
a) Nan Prolo has agreed to be the Elections Committee Chair.
Middle School representative: Susan McDonald
Elementary representative: still need someone
b) Continuing Implementation
of electronic voting needs to follow the proper process. Approval of a $200
stipend for this large amount of "one-time" work position for this year only
is requested. We can revisit stipends for this position each year based
on need.
c) Still need middle school and elementary committee members.
2. Enrollment fairs for CA Casualty and the Standard (equivalent of American Fidelity).
3. Follow through on Region I conference: one thing from conference we would like to implement. Birthday cards were suggested. Member list does not have birthdays. Susan McDonald suggested we celebrate a “fun holiday or two” and honor all teachers on this day.
4. Still don't have proper emails for 21 members.
5. By-Laws Committee - Kim Stiewig, Deborah Campbell, Carleen Maselli
a) Please read/submit suggestions for any changes to me.
b) By-laws must be approved by CTA and Representative Council. CTA provides a template we need to keep as close to as possible to make sure they get approved by CTA.
I. New Business
1. We have an interim Emeritus Regional Uniserv Provider (CTA Staff). His name is Sam DeHaven. Anyone who needs help from CTA should contact me (Carleen) first and I will make the connection for you.
2. Forum and Feedback-Please hold a site forum and feedback within 1 week of today's rep council and email the notes to me at maselli.btapresident@gmail.com. Form is in your packet for the feedback.
a. Please see the attached informational sheet that should be discussed with members regarding the institution of Common Planning Time.
Topic: Conferencing, staff development, hours.
b.Topic: staff development,
hours.
J. Site Reports:
Break into 2 groups: elementary and secondary. Please write concerns on paper and choose one spokesperson to report. Place the word ACTION next to any item that requires BTA action. Some items may just need discussion amongst each other to find a resolution. If your group was able to do this, please state what resolution or solution was discussed. If you are unsure if an item is an appropriate item for which BTA may take action, please place a question mark next to it.
Elementary:
- Staff meetings are used for grading benchmarks. There is an inequity in how long it takes to grade the different grade benchmarks.
- Some elementary school teachers are interested in having PowerSchool available for grading.
- Conferences are a concern.
- Teachers do not know who the visiting district personnel are because ID badges are not worn.
- Elementary children are hurt and sent back to class. Some students have had broken fingers and arms and sent back to class. Parents in these situations have not been contacted.
Secondary:
- There have been classroom visits from administration and district office personnel. The teachers are uneasy about this process and so are the students.
- BMS has the first and third Friday of each month set aside for teachers where no meetings are scheduled. The time is can be used for CPT.
- There is a new dean at BHS.
- Occupy situation at BHS for the holiday Christmas tree issue.
- There is a lack of time for department meetings.
- Tech issue is a big problem at this level.
Packets:
1. Forum and Feedback Questions: Use this as a sheet to put responses after meeting with teachers. Do not make copies and pass around to teachers.
2. Roberts Rules of Order
3. Robert Semple side letter re: evening performances
4. Approved Minutes for October 2011 meeting
5. Draft Minutes for November 2011 Meeting
Adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Suzanne Huddleston,
BTA Recording Secretary
A copy of the BTA Meeting Minutes for December 2011 in PDF format can be downloaded by clicking on December 2011 Minutes. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the file.