EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING, April 11, 2005President D. Pendino called the meeting to order at 4:05PM and welcomed all to the new LMEA office. Officer's Reports: 1 Tentative agreement will be presented Tuesday April 19 at 4:15 in the LMHS Auditorium. Ratification is scheduled for Monday April 25 from 2:30 - 6:15 PM in the LMHS Auditorium. 2 Florida Education Association sent a thank you letter for our support during their hurricanes last fall. 3 LMEA Elections - Buildings should run rep elections before the next Exec. Council meeting. Current reps should post current vacancies. LMEA election materials will be available at the May Exec. Council meeting. LMEA election procedures were explained. 4 Gettysburg workshop information was distributed. Those interested should return forms to D. Pendino by April 30. Choices close quickly. 5 Attendance at General Membership meeting - Supervisors have been told to allow staff to leave for the meeting then return to work. 6 Audit committee report - audit was completed and records are in order. 7 LMSD and LMEA will be working to develop job descriptions. 8 Proposed 2005-06 Budget was reviewed - dues haven't been raised in 15 years - as operating expenses increased the surplus has decreased. D. Pendino explained the rationale for a slight increase in the LMEA dues. LMEA dues structure was shown and discussed. Will PSEA or NEA raise their dues? Usually they do. What is the contingency fund used for? Technology upgrades, office furniture, etc. Our operating expenses have increased over the last few years. How did we arrive at the $19 increase? - the most anyone would be affected would be $1 per paycheck. A dues increase could be phased in. Surplus always went into the contingency fund. As surpluses decreased the contingency fund decreased. C. SantaMaria made motion to raise LMEA dues by $19/year - sec by J. Cappelli. 9 LMEA Banquet - C. SantaMaria made a motion to change Policy and Practice #1 to read "Past retired personnel who were members when they retired will pay 75% and current building representatives and committee chairpersons will pay 50% at the June banquet."- sec. A. Flicker. Motion passed. 25-year banquet has been eliminated. 10 Nominations for LMEA annual awards should be considered - see an officer if you want to nominate someone or if you need more information. VP Support: V. Fedeli and D. Mandarino attended an ESP Division meeting on April 5. Pat Tozer from Pennsbury was elected PACE Chairperson for the Division. Also, identity theft was the topic at the meeting. Some suggestions for preventing this include not carrying your social security card in your wallet; make copies of both sides of your credit cards, drivers license, insurance cards, etc and keep these copies somewhere secure at home; check your credit report every year. In Sept. 2005 the check will be free to consumers in PA. Contact Equifax 800-685-1111, Experian 888-397-3742, or Trans Union 800-916-8800. Also Victor reminds that he is still not working due to his accident - please contact him via his cell phone number 610-331-8015 if you need to speak with him. 1 st Vice President: C. SantaMaria reminded about the AIG give-away at the House of Delegates. Concern about AIG's status - rating is still high. VP Professional: NR Secretary Support: L. McDevitt reported they need names of retirees - Banquet is June 2 at Drexelbrook. Secretary Professional: M. Stettner gave a report on the recent NEA ESP conference - informative diversity workshop was presented. Workshop reminded of different levels of diversity - personal and occupational. Workshop may be offered at future workshops in our area. Treasurer: Motion made to accept the March Treasurer's report. - Motion passed - Approved. Committee Reports: Constitution: NR Elections: NR IPD: NR CNC: NR FAC: NR Health & Safety: A. Flicker reported they had a meeting last week - heating is an issue - H&S minutes should be posted - they were emailed to principals. Also, making an initiative to have all staff knowledgeable in CPR and in the use of the AEDs. Concern about the accessibility and functionality of the AEDs. J. Alvoord and M. Rios reminded that the training is worthwhile and more staff should be familiar and certified in their use. ICC should mention issue of possible inservice training in the future. Legislation: G. Rosazza asked if anyone has info on 30 and out legislation - only rumors. PACE: C. SantaMaria gave an update on contributions. Talking points on the merits of PACE are available from C. SantaMaria - email him for this information. PR&R: P. Dawson briefly summarized current grievances. Contact him with any evaluation issues. Public Relations: NR Social: NR Special Services: NR Sunshine: NR Membership: D. Grumbine asked reps to verify lists for accuracy and let him know of errors. CARE: NR Minority Affairs: NR Settlement Task Force: NR Building Reports: Belmont Hills: NR Cynwyd: NR Gladwyne: NR Merion: Question regarding proposed retirement package in TA - let HR know by April 15 to take advantage of any retirement deal. More info on this and other issues will be presented at 4/19 meeting. Parking issue at Merion - police ticketed illegally parked cars - will be mentioned with superintendant - district is under no obligation to provide parking. Concern that residents were vocal to limit parking - only so much impervious surface allowed according to township code. Also township rules regulate parking. Possible variance granted. 72 employees and 48 parking spots. Penn Valley: Concern from member about overload of paperwork and IEPs taking away from instruction time - we have filed grievances in the past - IEPs are part of the duties of Special Ed. Bring issue to ICC and SEAC. Staff being asked to plan the day and have it approved by administration. Will be investigated. Penn Wynne: NR Bala Cynwyd: Concern - subs spending lots of time during classes looking for their next assignment. Could those assignments be posted later in the day? Principals should be preventing this - will be addressed. Sub evaluations should reflect any lack of work by the subs. Welsh Valley: Thanks to the Cynwyd staff for recently making breakfast for WVMS staff. Administration has been supportive also. Harriton : NR Lower Merion: NR B&G: NR Transportation LM: NR Transportation Harriton: NR Administration: NR D. Pendino reminded all to come to the meeting on 4/19 C. SantaMaria made motion to adjourn - sec. by G. Rosazza The meeting was adjourned at 5:27 PM. |