September
Metro West Governing Board Meeting
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Virtual Metro West Uniserv Meeting – Zoom
Those of Attendance:
Kay Carlson, SLP, 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
Melissa Benjamin, Orono
Monica Byron, Richfield
Marc Doepner, Westonka
Ann Hersman, Minnetonka
Mark Broten, Minnetonka
Paula Klinger, Hopkins
Anne Naumann, Wayzata
Adam Janiak, EdMN Field Staff
Beth Anderson, EdMN Field Staff
The meeting was called to order at 5: 06 pm by Kay Carlson.
Motion to approve August Minutes. Moved: Marc D
Seconded: Megan L MOTION PASSED
- Treasurer's report: Megan L.
Planning meeting stipends were sent out.
Please send voucher if you still need to.
Megan will be connecting with Melissa for the audit.
Reimbursement policy is attached to treasurer's report.
Marc, could you put vochur and reimbursement policy in the folder that you share with us.
Voucher forms have been updated.
We didn't do a proposed budget in May. It was to be approved at tonight's meeting. See the proposed budget on the screen at this time. Basically a duplicate of last year.
Training is included in member engagement.
Dave Clark question: Does working with the district for how learning will look qualify. No
MOTION TO APPROVE THIS BUDGET:
Moved: Cory K Seconded Anne N
MOTION PASSED
Balance in checking: $11,699.43
- Uniserv Chair EdMN: Kay says the IOs haven't scheduled any IO chair meetings as of yet. She will let us know as soon as she has been notified.
- Monica: Nothing to report on Local Directors
- Council Chairs:
Communications- Melissa: all minutes and meeting dates are on the website. The voucher is also located there too. Roster is also included.
Legislative- Dave : Get out and vote
Cycle Meeting- Marc: Marc is getting some push back as to having a Saturday Cycle meeting. He feels we may want to put it off until the spring. People are resistant to giving up a Saturday. Ann H suggested maybe doing it in February. Orono will help find presenters. Marc will contact Melissa. Dave C. also hears about the heavy lift for a Saturday. If it's virtual, can it be broken up into 2/3 days.
Could a survey go out to see what people prefer? Could the survey ask what weeks to stay away
from ? The stipend for those teaching by themselves is $375.00. A potential draw. License Renewal for some is December 31. (Due to pushing things back.) Could the 1 hour sessions be loaded to Learn Upon so people can go at their own pace. Synchronous or Asynchronous. There hasn't been anyone trained on it yet, but EdMN could lead this.
Beth: when people log on to Learn Upon there is a tutorial to train people before they begin session/s.
There could be a day it is offered and then members can access individual courses after the initial day. Everyone has been sent a Learn Upon link. Beth: I did notice that the suicide prevention is not up on the Learn Upon platform. All other areas are on Learn Upon and ready to go.
If someone doesn't have the link, email EdMN and ask for the link to be resent.
Negotiations- Marc: Nothing now. We are in a holding pattern to see what happens at the Capitol. See folder Marc has sent. Negotiations, Covid, etc. is found within the folder. Marc is going to bring back the monthly survey concerning what's in your contract. There doesn't appear to be a lot of money on the table so look at language.
Field Staff- Adam: The CDOC is going to be virtual. What things do we need to look at? Quick Campaign update: Our Unity Campaign is kicking back into gear. a) We have a support system that has 1 staff member reaching out to 10 members. B) Commit to pro education candidates. Please get one parent or community member to vote for pro education candidate. C) Have car parades so the community can see us all working together for pro education candidates.
We are in the dues revocation window . Our numbers of people dropping are fewer this year. Metro has seen fewer drops than outstate.
Membership is also off to a bumpy start due to Covid reopening. Keep plugging away to get your members to join.
Work load. Safety has been largely addressed. You have been doing all you can to see to this. Streaming a class while teaching a class is the current issue we are working on to put together resources and advocacy for teachers. This is a tough issue. Please reach out to field staff if you need something.
- Sharing of local engagement activities.
Ann Hersman – Do something for teachers for making it so far. She ordered bagels today to be delivered to teachers next week. They ordered masks with logo on them to give to teachers. Used the $5 grant for this. Try to put out something positive several times a week to encourage teachers.
Melissa Benjamin- things are rough at the upper levels. Meeting with EdMN to push to get Fridays for planning. Letter writing to school board on work load. Wearing colors.
Monica Byron- Doing check ins with staff. Listening sessions. Getting good feedback from staff. Appreciate that they are being heard.
Chris Watkins- SLP is angry, frustrated, upset. Online only through tomorrow. Monday goes to hybrid. Teachers thought this wasn't well thought out. Field staff is working with them.
Cory Knudtson- bought masks and hand sanitizer. Logos included. Sit down sessions with Superintendent and HR. Frequent updates to members via email. Cory and Joanna are meeting with schools that want you to come. Bring food to buildings. Helping teachers with unique issues. Teachers are struggling with the hybrid piece.
Paula Klinger- How would Hopkins like to access grants and use them. Teachers wanted survey done. The goal is how to use the data received. Most likely an open session with Superintendent.
Chris Commers- Info picket on Highway 41 through Chaska. 65 members showed up including EdMN presence. Parents and members spoke. Car horns = positive response. Able to get mileage from various media covering the event. We have been in hybrid model in middle school.
Last night they endorsed 3 out of 5 candidates for school board. Board Chair was not endorsed. Trying to build community partnerships. A lot is going on in Chaska.
Marc Doepner- All in K-4, Hybrid 5-12. Averaging 2 Zoom meetings per week. K-4 is getting close to moving to Hybrid. Many teachers frustrated and angry.
Membership drives are going slowly. School districts are still hiring. Wonky is the word for right now. Westonka has only lost 2 so far.
Are there any districts that don't have a cleaning day? Some districts have deep cleaning once a week and some every night.
Are hybrid teachers getting planning time? Cleaning time?
Something needs to be put in the state plan to give teachers planning time and time to meet with parents.
What's an action we could do to give time to teachers to help them with planning in this new environment.
Westonka is trying to cancel conferences and give teachers time outside of class to touch base with parents.
Chris C- we are starting grievances every day.
Lots of frustration in all districts over lack of planning time and constantly changing classroom models.
Anne N- Listing issues, brainstorming solutions. Building by building. Trying to be proactive. Working.
- Unity Campaign: See Adam's remarks above.
Chris C – if we don't flip the Senate we have no hope. We have to cope with the immediate stuff and take care of the future. Can we all work with our communities to help elect pro education candidates.
- Open Forum: Nothing.
- Motion to Adjourn: Moved: Mark Broten
Seconded: Ann Hersman
MOTION PASSED.
The meeting adjourned at 6:46pm
Respectfully submitted,
Rose Korst, Secretary