EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING, December 13, 2004

President D. Pendino called the meeting to order at 4:03 pm.
D. Pendino made motion to approve the November Executive Council minutes. - Approved.


Officer’s Reports:
President’s Report: D. Pendino gave the following report:

1. New Office – We settled at the end of November and our first Executive Council meeting in
the new office at 306 Parsons Avenue will be in February.

2. Expenditures were discussed. D. Pendino made a motion to allocate $12,000 for
additional capital improvements for the property. Second by C. SantaMaria. – Approved.

3. Letters to Special Ed teachers concerning bridge certification should be distributed. Since some of the material is very new questions will be addressed at next month’s EC meeting.

4. Laptops/Technology: District will cover insurance of laptops and any deductible if they are stolen/damaged if you take them off school property. Also, if you took the laptop option – you will get paid if you attend a workshop. Unequal requirements on using Powerschool and Powergrade in the district exist and are being investigated.

5. If you received a PSERS letter you will not lose your benefit – it was an error on PSERS part.

6. Substitutes – D. Pendino requested sub data from HR office – still waiting to receive this data.

7. A Special General Membership meeting will take place Wednesday 1/5 at 4:15 at LMHS. Our contract proposal will be presented at this meeting. Members are encouraged to attend.

8. Information on the LMEA website concerning negotiations will not be confidential however it will be password protected.

VP Support: V. Fedeli gave the following report:

1. NEA-RA Ballot: Members will be receiving this ballot over the upcoming break. There will be a list of recommended candidates in your mailboxes soon. Please complete these ballots and please DO NOT thrown them away!

2. Code of Membership Responsibility: Members will receive a copy of this code in their mailboxes. It is important that our membership remain united towards a common goal. If you encounter a problem with a co-worker contact Victor at 610-645-1870 or 610-331-8015.

1st Vice President: C. SantaMaria gave the following report on the recent PSEA House of Delegates.

1. If you choose the “bridge” application, for “highly qualified” status the application must be done by 7/1/05. Also, the Act 48 deadline for attaining 180 hours is 6/30/05. Check the PDE website – and make print-out when you reach 180 hours and keep for your records.

2. Delegates turned down a proposal for term extension for PSEA State Officers.

3. Collection taken at the House of Delegates for Somerset EA – they’ve been working without a contract for 5 years. C. SantaMaria made a motion that the LMEA donate $100 to Somerset EA– Second by P. Dawson. – Passed. Question about bridge certificate – The “bridge” is an alternative to the Praxis test to become “highly qualified.” What can be done for those who have not met the Act 48 requirement? – Take courses. Subs must also meet this requirement.

VP Professional: A. Flicker reported on other critical issues at the House of Delegates. One topic was religion in public schools, which was a judicial history of what you can/cannot do in the classroom pertaining to religion. Courts generally favor student-generated religious activities but not teacher or administration-directed religious activities.

Secretary Support: NR

Secretary Professional: NR – But question asked of purpose of attendance – frequent absence or negligence by the rep will risk dismissal from the position.

Treasurer: Motion made to accept the November Treasurer’s report. – Motion passed – Approved.

Committee Reports:
Constitution: NR
Elections: NR
IPD: NR
CNC: NR but D. Pendino added that the contract proposal is completed and it will be presented at the Special General Membership Meeting on 1/5.
FAC: NR
Health & Safety: A. Flicker reported that they have a meeting on 12/16. If any concerns first make a request at the building level then, if unsatisfactorily resolved contact Health & Safety.
Legislation: NR
PACE: C. SantaMaria gave an update on the PACE collections so far. It is too late now to submit a pledge for payroll deduction. Contributions now can be made by check payable to “S-PAC” or “F-PAC”. Currently LMEA members have contributed over $3,000 so far this school year. Return forms and checks to C. SantaMaria at Harriton.
PR&R: P. Dawson gave a brief report – Middle School workload grievance going to arbitration. Transportation/Operations very concerned about the potential move of Transportation and Operations.
Public Relations: NR
Social: NR
Special Services: NR
Sunshine: NR
Membership: D. Grumbine made requests to certain members to contact him. Building reps should check accuracy of membership lists. Congratulations to Dave for applying/getting a $500 Fair Share grant.
CARE: NR
Minority Affairs: Next meeting will be 1/19 in LMEA office. Annual conference in King of Prussia from 3/11-13/05.
Read Across America: A. Pass reported that members will be asked to donate a book for this March 2005 event. TBA on where/when to donate.
Settlement Task Force: NR – they had their first meeting on 11/23.

Building Reports:
Belmont Hills: NR
Cynwyd: NR
Gladwyne: Concern about heat in rooms not working properly. H&S will investigate. No heat in gymnasium. Also, concern that conferences are scheduled over Hanukkah.
Merion: New wing is too cold (55 degrees.)
Penn Valley: Concerns about inadequate heating. Will be investigated by H&S. Also, Elementary Schools have not received new ID badges – will be investigated.
Penn Wynne: NR
Bala Cynwyd: Concern about catering of meetings during the day – catering work is falling on individual school who is hosting the meeting – person at HS doing this job is getting more pay than those at the other schools – have Elementary member contact V. Fedeli. Concern about member not getting paid proper rate – will be investigated
Welsh Valley: NR
Harriton: NR
Lower Merion: NR
B&G: Concern about Operations moving to Philadelphia – why weren’t the members asked? – Morale is suffering – members would like to be more involved in the decision making and would like to be more informed on issues like this – wage tax, time issues, personal safety, work productivity and quality of services will be affected in emergencies, personal car insurance will increase - will be thoroughly investigated but some of these issues are superceded by the community – the school board acts for the community and if the community does not want the buses in their neighborhood then actions will likely be taken to see this through.
Transportation LM: Same concerns about Operations relocation including the higher cost of this move.
Transportation Harriton: NR
Administration: NR
New Business: Any LMEA position on Arnold Field issue? – C. SantaMaria stated as member of CAC that we were taking no position on this issue.

C. SantaMaria made a motion to adjourn – sec. by A. Flicker. The meeting was adjourned at 5:39 PM.