Executive Committee Minutes

May 6th , 2008

The meeting was called to order at 4:17pm.by President Bob LaCorte. The following members were in attendance: Bob LaCorte, Mario Capitelli, John Heslin, Maureen Hines, Jean Klausz, Cathy Rienth, John Troise, Jennifer Vetter, Valerie Cafarelli, Jen Conti, Sue Hance, Ray Pickersgill, Mark Wojciechowski, Joseph Zarzycki, Nick Antonucci, Frank D’Abramo, John Finta, George Jacobsen, Glen Monsen, Colleen Prunty, Rob Regan, Robin Dallanegra, Thomas McGrath, Gene Higgins, Marnin Lack, Chris Oakes, Cindy O’Connell, James Virga, Gina Capodieci-DeFlumeri, Kathie Stanford, Melanie Purcell, Arthur Bamel, Dan Sussman, Peggy Erickson, Beverly Grosshandler, Linda Klare, Michelle Anastasio, Larry Sciarrone, Brian Rogers, Mary Caffrey, Denise Enlund, Debbie Degenhardt, Christi Skillman, Cathy Mannone, Nicole Villani, Carol Wilkinson, Maryann Robinson-DelGudice, Lauren Roddin, Nancy Bloom, Jeanette Pedersen, Jeanne Lutz, Eric Berman, Darlene Haas, Tom Lipani, Lisa Ficken, Tina Diaz-Foster, Patrick Hill, Maryellen Scarola, Sabine Alfano, Fern Fier, Doris Marshall, Tracy Mancuso, Jean Carruthers.

It was moved by Dan Sussman and seconded by Colleen Prunty to adopt the agenda. Motion carried.

It was moved by Dan Sussman and seconded by Colleen Prunty to approve the minutes. Motion Carried.

Speak Out
The Union will be publishing a special Election Edition of Speak Out.

Special Projects
All Ducks Tickets have been sold.

Election Committee Report
BLT elections for Teacher representatives should be held by the SCTA in each building before June 1, 2008. A letter of intent needs to be in the SCTA Office by May 16 for anyone interested in running for Teaching Assistant or Aide Representative for next year. These elections will be held at the same time as the Officer Election. Teacher Representative Elections need to be held before the June Executive Committee Meeting but do not run them at the same time as the Officer Elections. The Officer and Delegate Election will be held on May 28 & 29, 2008. The Election Committee will be meeting on May 19 at 3:45 pm. to put together election packets. The packets may be picked up on May 20 &21.

Treasurer’s Report
It was moved by Marnin Lack and seconded by Arthur Bamel to approve the Budget for 2008-09. Motion carried.

It was moved by Maryann DelGudice and seconded by Mary Caffrey to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried.

Vice Presidents’ Reports
Mario Capitelli
There were 14 Scholarship winners from Sachem Teachers for the LITBF Scholarship. Seven were also Sachem students. They will receive $250 - $300. The SCTA Lottery Scholarship Application is in the representative packet. There will be fifteen, $300 scholarships. The Union has received 23 applications to date for The Educators of Tomorrow Scholarship. Ten scholarships will be awarded to students looking to pursue Teaching as a career. Winners will be honored at a dinner at West Lake Inn on June 10.Order forms for Short Sleeved Solidarity Shirts will be in the buildings shortly.
Retirement Plaques will be given to those members who did not attend the dinner. Fourteen delegates attended the NYSUT Representative Assembly on April 10-12. Delegates pre-selected committees to sit on to discuss proposed resolutions and make recommendations to the full assembly. Speak Out won three awards; Best Feature, Best Editorial and Best Health Issue. We received recognition for Community Service for the money raised for Breast Cancer, American Heart, etc. The Union also received the Albert Shanker Award for Vote Cope. We were #2 in the State.

John Heslin
Five members were not asked to return for employment in the District. Two grievances were heard and one relented. The vertical step and the second summer school grievances were lost. The first summer school grievance ended with a letter of apology and the difference in pay. The middle school improper practice will be heard on July 9. The 25th step grievance will be held on June16. The end of year bash will be held on Friday June 27th at Dublin Deck. Flyers will be out in June.

Maureen Hines
Defensive Driving for May 7 and 14 has 9 seats left. New classes will be available in October. The American Cancer Relay for Life will be held at Sachem North on June 20. If anyone would like to form a team please contact Maureen. The Union will be collecting “Bucks for Backpacks Overseas”. We are asking each member to donate $1 to this cause. The Union will be matching up to $1500 from Vote/Cope Money.

It was moved by Colleen Prunty and seconded by Arthur Bamel to donate the money from the Solidarity Shirt Sale as a separate contribution to “Bucks for Backpacks Overseas”. Motion Carried

Jean Klausz
The Union is in the process of writing a complaint to The State Education Department regarding improprieties with the Math, ELA and Science Assessments. Five of the twelve schools had representation at the Elementary Concerns Committee. There will be another meeting on Monday May12 at 3:45pm. We hope all 12 schools will be represented.

Cathy Rienth
Teacher Appreciation Day Posters are in your packets. Please post in the buildings this week. The wonderful spread here today for Teacher Appreciation Day has been donated by Jen & Joel Vetter. Teacher Aides are being asked to take on responsibilities that are not part of their job description. Some of these are feeding tubes, epi pens, cleaning tables for peanut allergies, cleaning seats on busses and heating student lunches. Please let Cathy know if any thing like this is going on in your buildings.

John Troise
The EAP Committee Survey Results have been turned into a full power point presentation for the Entire Committee which will meet on May 12. The hope is that the report will be given to the Board and they will address the State of Moral of all employees.

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