October
Metro West Governing Board Meeting
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Virtual Metro West Uniserv Meeting – Zoom
Those of Attendance:
Melissa Benjamin, Vice President
Rose Korst, SLP, Secretary
Megan Lhotka, Treasurer
Dave Clark, Richfield
Cory Knudtson, Wayzata
Chris Watkins, St Louis Park
Chris Commers, ECCS
Shelli Sutherland, ECCS
Monica Byron, Richfield
Marc Doepner, Westonka
Ann Hersman, Minnetonka
Mark Broten, Minnetonka
Jane Smith, Orono
Paula Klinger, Hopkins
Anne Naumann, Wayzata
Adam Janiak, EdMN Field Staff
Beth Anderson, EdMN Field Staff
Melissa Benjamin called the meeting to order at 5:07pm.
1. Motion to accept the agenda. Moved: Cory Knudson
Seconded: Chris Watkins MOTION PASSED.
2. Motion to accept last month's minutes. Moved: Ann Hersman
Seconded: Mark Broten MOTION PASSED
3. Treasurer's Report: Megan
Balance: 10,617.39 (checking)
39,626.77 (savings)
Total Balance: 50,244.16
Vouchers are in the shared folder.
There is a copy of the Treasurer's Report in your email.
Motion to accept Ann Hersman
Chris Commers
MOTION PASSED
4. Communications: Website is updated
5. Marc D-H: Negotiations Putting 2 links into discussions
Link 1 Healthcare 2020-2021
Look along the bottom for a tab Copay Template and an HSAHRA Template Simply put in your totals and you will be able to see what other districts are paying.
Marc explained how to read the charts and fill them in.
Link 2 Sick / Personal / PTO
How many days do you get? What happens to unused days? Do you have a sick bank? Some ideas moving forward in negotiations.
Cycle Training will be pushed off until January or February. People are feeling like they are at the end of the rope already and weren't willing to give a Saturday. People are frazzled. Best to wait. They need some time.
Go to LearnUpon if you need some of the training.
Question from Dave Clark:
With the availability of LearnUpon, will it end the need for our Cycle program?
Answer from Adam Janiak:
No, people will need both. People in both camps—online and gathering together.
6.Dave Clark: Government Relations Go Vote November 3
7. Kay Carlson: Virtual IO Professional Development. LearnUpon will be fully ready for licensure renewal by the end of 2020. Two areas being added now are racial justice and self care. Currently LearnUpon is serving between 2-500 users a week.
Anna – public meetings with legislature after the election.
Unity program – big event Nov. 2 Some locals are buying gift cards and the teacher need only show their LearnUpon certificate to be entered into a drawing for the gift card.
There will be virtual lobby days in the spring
Bargaining Conference is January 30, 2021.
What's happening with teacher evaluations this year?
No PLC/Curriculum
Q Comp: Some based on just Observations or Reflections
Congratulations Monica on the nice article you wrote for the Retirement Magazine.
8. Monica Byron: Board Meeting
There will be a meeting of the Board by our November meeting. If you have anything you want her to address, please contact her and let her know.
9. Adam Janiak: EdMN Increase in Covid cases. Specific School info is essentially used to make determinations in each district. MOU for bargaining piece – belt and suspenders thing. Any questions, talk to field staff.
Get out the Vote is in full swing right now.
Law Conference: November 17,18,19 Virtual . Wednesday is the big day. Snow days are still in the mix. Let's have continuity within the district. If your entire district is distance learning, just continue on with it.
Organizational Goals set by Governing Board on October 3. Monica will be available for questions around this.
10, Questions:
Clarifying—Does west metro pay for law conference? It pays for 5 people.
Chris Commers: Thanks for all the information Adam. ECCS has agreed to have weather days. If the district is in danger of running out of days, then they will do the district learning.
11. What is everyone doing for local engagement activity?
Dave Clark: Richfield created a google form. The group with the largest return will get a coffee bar. One of the questions they asked is : What issue are you voting on?
Chris Commers: Members organized a car parade for next Tuesday. Door hanging on Saturday. Knock every door in neighborhoods they are going to cover.
Unity Campaigns: Any more activities happening in locals?
12. Open Forum:
Chris Watkins: We are in the middle of changing our plan. From distance to hybrid. From ½ day hybrid to full day hybrid now.
Teachers are getting new kids Nov 15. Other districts, are there any plans that are changing from the original? It is causing frustration among the staff members.
Ann H: Elementary levels can go into hybrid at quarter time. But only if there is room. No room they need to go to a school where there is room.
Jane Smith: Orono is holding on to the plans they have in place for dear life. They don't want to bend from it. No matter what feedback the district gets, they are not bending. There is fear that parents will take their kids to other schools.
Dave Clark: Everyday the teachers were teaching in class and online. Disaster. They will be going to 4 days in a few weeks.
Mark Broten: The department chairs are meeting with administration to find some things they can take off their plate to drop some of the things off teachers shoulders.
Marc Doepner-Hove: They are all in K-4, Other grades are in various hybrid situations. Teachers are getting some time to work on their curriculum. What is going to be left behind? What needs to be brought back at a later time? Pacing is a HUGH issue.
13. Adam Janiak: There is an officer scheduled to come to our next meeting? We don't know who it is yet.
A) Interesting to get their take after the elections.
B) What is the direction of the Unity Campaign?
No action items.
Motion to Adjourn: Moved: Marc Doepner-Hove
Seconded: Shelli Sutherland
MOTION PASSED
The meeting adjourned at 6:04pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Rose Korst
Secretary