LMEA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

April 14 , 2008

NOTE: These minutes are also available online at www.lmeaonline.org.

President C. SantaMaria called the meeting to order at 4:00 PM.

P. Dawson made motion to accept the March minutes – second by G. Rosazza - Passed.

Officer’s Reports:

President’s Report: C. SantaMaria gave the following report:

• The new superintendent, Dr. Chris McGinley, was announced recently. He will begin July 1. Dr. Savedoff will leave on June 30 th. The LMEA is looking forward to working with him.
• An updated seniority list is out. Reps should replace older lists with the new one.
• Proposed LMEA 2008-09 budget was discussed – total expenditures = $218,934.33. Our goal is to match income to expenses. Student enrollment is peaking – administration is cutting back on additional staff so our membership is also peaking therefore our dues totals will not increase very much if at all over the next few years. Some expenses from the contingency fund will include repairs to the steps in front of the LMEA office. We are looking for someone to do the repairs. Estimates are coming in around $2100. Also we will share the expenses with the District in the Peer Mediation program to train members. This will include the workshop pay, food, and a site. Peer Mediation training will be in June after the school year is finished. D. Mandarino made motion to accept the 2008-09 LMEA budget – second by P. Dawson – motion passed unanimously.
• Invitation to become a peer moderator – the training will be June 17-19, 6hr each day. Professional Mediator Debra Gaber will be the head trainer. Myra Rios is an LMEA member who has received training will help manage the program. Peer mediation will be the first step in solving disagreements between members in an effort to handle these situations within our Association instead of bringing them directly to administration. Peer mediation will not involve sexual harassments. If you are interested in being trained contact C. SantaMaria. You must be available from Tuesday June 17 through Thursday June 19. We are interested in having building reps trained but will seek other members.
• Policies and practices updates – Policy and Practice #15 was reviewed and passed as follows: “All new members of the LMEA shall be required to pay their dues by payroll deduction unless they pay in lump sum. Current members will not be allowed to switch from payroll deduction unless such member sends to the treasurer by September 30 th a check for the total dues for the year, in which case any dues already deducted will be refunded.” Policy and practice #18 was reviewed and passed as follows: “All LMEA members, who do not complete a contract year, except in the case of death of the member, shall be responsible for the full payment of LMEA dues for that complete year. Payment of PSEA and NEA dues shall be in compliance with the policies of the PSEA and NEA.” Policy and practice #21 was reviewed and passed as follows: “The LMEA will participate in the Staff Development Committee only if an LMEA co-chair is appointed.”
• Minority Rep Election will be held along with the LMEA elections on May 20. Lock boxes must be taken to the buildings prior to the election. Positions up for election are the officers, some CNC and PR&R positions, Finance cmte positions, and now the Minority Rep At Large position. Only minorities can vote for that position. A letter was sent to members for each to declare themselves a minority – 40 have been returned so far. A ballot will be printed and the minority member voter will look at a list of those who registered as a minority and they will cross off their name when they vote. If someone hasn’t declared there will be an application to declare themselves at the voting site no questions asked. If you are interested in running for the Minority Rep At Large position send your name to Elaine DeStefano at Merion.
• Each building/unit must hold their own building rep elections before the May 20 LMEA elections but after the May Executive Council meeting on May 12.
• Future transfers – LMHS to HHS – the new Harriton HS is scheduled to open in September 2009. Some current LMHS faculty will move to Harriton. Support staff already have language regarding transfers. Professional staff will conduct this through “Meet and Discuss”- we could possibly grieve if we don’t like the result. Meet and discuss will begin in September. We have some language from the earlier elementary school movement to Belmont Hills several years ago. Goal is to come up with a plan by December 2008 so the schedule will be known by students and staff. CNC will send a team with Administration to come up with the fairest plan possible. It may be a phasing in process. Send any ideas to Russ Loue at LMHS.
• Connelly Transportation Site – trailer has arrived – waiting for pilings to be installed – must be 6 ft high. Bathrooms have running cold water and flush toilets are in. They hopefully will me the deadline by the end of April.
• Overnight Trips with Middle and High Schools – C. SantaMaria recommends not taking overnight trips with students without an Administrator. A. Pass noted that a letter should be sent to members expressing this position. C. SantaMaria will get more advice from PSEA. Should the responsibility really be on the employee? – Will discuss with administration and perhaps will be brought up at negotiations. Discussion ensued on this topic.
• Applecore items were discussed. The Applecore is distributed monthly to all members.

VP Support: V. Fedeli gave the following report:

• ESP House of Delegates will be held in Scranton April 25-27. We have 5 delegates attending. Two positions are up for re-election for the ESP Region: Vice President and Officer at Large.
• Job Descriptions for FHR – if you are a Food Service worker paid by the hour and you are interested in reviewing your job description draft please contact Vic at fedeliv@lmsd.org or call his cell number 610-331-8015. When a list of volunteers is compiled a meeting will be scheduled at the LMEA office. Your input is needed for this to work. Thank you in advance for your support. Vic will continue to keep the membership informed as other job descriptions are released. Three job descriptions were approved in March by the CNC – A372 Clerical Aides, Job Coach, and Staff Nurse.

1 st Vice President: NR

VP Professional: NR

Secretary Support: NR

Secretary Professional: NR

Treasurer: D. Mandarino made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s report for March. Approved.

Committee Reports:

Constitution: NR

Elections: C. SantaMaria reminded a brief Special General Membership Meeting will be held immediately after today’s Executive Council meeting to fill our allotment of professional delegates to the PSEA Houses of Delegates this spring.

IPD: NR

CNC: NR – but they will be handling transfers at the high schools.

FAC: NR – but they are looking into 403Bs.

Health & Safety: A. Flicker reminded to use work reqs – high school had a gas leak – air conditioning finally for parts of WVMS.

Legislation: G. Rosazza reported a COLA bill is being discussed in the state legislature. If passed it would be the first COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) for retirees in 6 years. Visit http://capwiz.com/psea/home for information on current issues .

Minority Affairs: M. Mixon noted the Minority Leadership Conference was March 14-16 in Pittsburgh.

PACE: A. Pass reported Cynwyd is ahead in contributions and LMHS is second. So far members have contributed over $18,000 this year which is almost double from last year.

PR&R: P. Dawson reminded to bring an administrator for overnight trips. Some previously scheduled arbitrations have been cancelled.

Public Relations: NR

Social: A. Flicker reminded to let L. McDevitt or A. Avellino know of anyone retiring this year. The banquet is Thursday May 29 at Eviva.

Special Services: NR

Sunshine: D. Williams reported they have been busy – getting compliments on gifts.

Membership: NR

CARE: M. Rios reported their group recently discussed “Courageous Conversations about Race.”

Act 1: NR but this committee will be renamed the Act 1/Statewide Healthcare committee.

NEA Read Across America: NR

Education Foundation: D. Simon reminded that May 7 th is the 1 st deadline for grant applications. Grant requested must be at least $1000. Visit www.educationfoundationoflm.org for more info. Also, June 14, 2009 will be the 1 st annual 5K run to benefit the Foundation. They are seeking a team from each school to take part in the run – also looking for a contact person from each school to help with this.

Building Reports:

Belmont Hills: Concern about members not getting the same benefit when adopting as when giving birth. When giving birth it is considered a ‘disability’. Member is encouraged to write up their concern and submit it to CNC.

Cynwyd: NR

Gladwyne: NR

Merion: Concern that a major local OBGYN practice will not be in IBC network after June 30 – this is possible but IBC is still in negotiations with the practice – often settlements are made close to the deadlines but will be monitored.

Penn Valley : NR

Penn Wynne: NR

Bala Cynwyd: NR

Welsh Valley : If 2 spouses work for the district could they get the money saved by the district in premiums returned?

Lower Merion : NR

Harriton: NR

Building and Grounds: NR

At-Large Reps: NR

Administration: NR

Matson Ford Transportation: NR

Connolly Transportation: No hot water in the new bathrooms – progress going slow.

D. Mandarino made motion to adjourn. Second by G. Rosazza. The meeting was adjourned at 5:44.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Stettner, Secretary Professional

Arlene Flicker, 1 st Vice President