March 4, 2017
Board Notes
March 4, 2017
Visitors: Laverne Copeland and Sharon Swanson from MSPO - Sharon presented a plaque to MNEA President Charles Smith that had the original casting of the NEA symbol with a document explaining the casting. The casting has been in the office for many years and Uniserv Director Kurt Swanson put the plaque together.
Congratulations to all of the members around the state who coordinated Read Across America events for the Cat Tour.
Reports:
Both President Smith and Vice President Fullington commented on the successful Cat Tour events.
NEA Director: NEA Senior Director, Phil Murray, reported that NEA is in the midst of numerous meetings. The NEA Summit was held last week and upcoming events are the National ESP and Higher Ed conferences. The NEA Board will be meeting again at the end of April.
Legislative Update: Otto Fajen discussed with the Board three main legislative issues going on at the State Capitol.
HB251/SB210 Paycheck, recertification: Language from SB 210 has been added to HB251 which added a collection of restrictions and attacks on public sector bargaining. The language is very similar to what happened a few years ago in Wisconsin. The association is looking for various ways to get many of these provisions changed. Some of the add-ons that we are concerned about include: more financial restrictions, restrictions on what can be in a bargaining agreement, recertification every 2 years. The association is reaching out to locals and districts that have good bargaining agreements to help them get the word out to legislators that these restrictions take away local control. We do not know when this legislation will be voted on.
HB634 Charter School Expansion: Language has been changed so that charter schools would be allowed in first class counties and charter counties. This includes approximately 70% of Missouri.
Budget: We need to keep an eye on the Education funding in the state budget.
Consent Agenda: Approval of the February 17-18, 2017 MNEA Board minutes
The Board approved the consent agenda.
Business Items:
The Board approved certification of the 2017 NEA RA Delegates. Jeanna will be contacting the members who have been elected. Board members were asked not to tell the delegates and let them be informed by Jeanna.
Election of the Uniserv Grant Application Committee: The Board elected Rebeka McIntosh and Andy Slaughter to serve on the UniServ Grant Committee.
Discussion Items:
NEA RA details:
PAC fundraising - $360 per delegate goal for fundraising. Packets will be available at the MNEA Spring RA. Fundraising packets are to be turned in at the June Pre-RA.
NEA RA Pre-RA: June 3, 2017 at the Columbia Courtyard by Marriott.
MNEA Spring RA:
Pre-RA Dates: Board members are encouraged to attend the Pre-RA in their area.
April 10 Kansas City Regional Office; light supper at 5:30pm with meeting at 6:00pm
April 12 Southeast Regional Office; meeting at 5:00pm
April 18 St. Charles Regional Office; meeting at 5:15pm
April 21 Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, 8:00pm
The 2017 Spring RA will be held at the Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark on April 22-23. The Board reviewed the tentative agenda. The RA packet will be posted on March 22, 2017.
Governance District meetings will be held on Sunday morning April 23. The times will be staggered with voting for NEA Director.
There will be a meeting of State Delegates to the NEA RA at the conclusion of the RA business meeting on Saturday April 22.
UniServ Grant Review Meeting: This meeting will be scheduled in the next week or two.
Early Enrollment: Just a reminder that early enrollees are not full members until September 1, 2017. They may not attend the Spring RA as a delegate, serve on local boards or as building representatives until September 1.
The Board agreed by common consent to approve a donation of $250 from the Board account to the HOPE Fund in memory of Virginia Berberick’s son, Wayne Taulbert.
Information Items:
MNEA Joint Conference (Higher Ed, ESP, eMerge, Students and Social Justice):
The MNEA Joint Conference will be held at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel on Saturday March 25, 2017. Board members need to contact members to try to raise the attendance for this conference. It is free for MNEA members. Non-members may attend for $30.
Summer Leadership Training:
July 10-11, 2017; Kansas City, location TBA
July 17-18, 2017; St. Louis, location TBA
MNEA Committee Volunteer forms are due by May 12, 2017.
Future Leaders’ Academy applications are due by April 1, 2017.
Information about the MNEA Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship is on page 55 of the Board packet. Please encourage minority members to apply.
March 4, 2017
Visitors: Laverne Copeland and Sharon Swanson from MSPO - Sharon presented a plaque to MNEA President Charles Smith that had the original casting of the NEA symbol with a document explaining the casting. The casting has been in the office for many years and Uniserv Director Kurt Swanson put the plaque together.
Congratulations to all of the members around the state who coordinated Read Across America events for the Cat Tour.
Reports:
Both President Smith and Vice President Fullington commented on the successful Cat Tour events.
NEA Director: NEA Senior Director, Phil Murray, reported that NEA is in the midst of numerous meetings. The NEA Summit was held last week and upcoming events are the National ESP and Higher Ed conferences. The NEA Board will be meeting again at the end of April.
Legislative Update: Otto Fajen discussed with the Board three main legislative issues going on at the State Capitol.
HB251/SB210 Paycheck, recertification: Language from SB 210 has been added to HB251 which added a collection of restrictions and attacks on public sector bargaining. The language is very similar to what happened a few years ago in Wisconsin. The association is looking for various ways to get many of these provisions changed. Some of the add-ons that we are concerned about include: more financial restrictions, restrictions on what can be in a bargaining agreement, recertification every 2 years. The association is reaching out to locals and districts that have good bargaining agreements to help them get the word out to legislators that these restrictions take away local control. We do not know when this legislation will be voted on.
HB634 Charter School Expansion: Language has been changed so that charter schools would be allowed in first class counties and charter counties. This includes approximately 70% of Missouri.
Budget: We need to keep an eye on the Education funding in the state budget.
Consent Agenda: Approval of the February 17-18, 2017 MNEA Board minutes
The Board approved the consent agenda.
Business Items:
The Board approved certification of the 2017 NEA RA Delegates. Jeanna will be contacting the members who have been elected. Board members were asked not to tell the delegates and let them be informed by Jeanna.
Election of the Uniserv Grant Application Committee: The Board elected Rebeka McIntosh and Andy Slaughter to serve on the UniServ Grant Committee.
Discussion Items:
NEA RA details:
PAC fundraising - $360 per delegate goal for fundraising. Packets will be available at the MNEA Spring RA. Fundraising packets are to be turned in at the June Pre-RA.
NEA RA Pre-RA: June 3, 2017 at the Columbia Courtyard by Marriott.
MNEA Spring RA:
Pre-RA Dates: Board members are encouraged to attend the Pre-RA in their area.
April 10 Kansas City Regional Office; light supper at 5:30pm with meeting at 6:00pm
April 12 Southeast Regional Office; meeting at 5:00pm
April 18 St. Charles Regional Office; meeting at 5:15pm
April 21 Lodge of Four Seasons, Lake Ozark, 8:00pm
The 2017 Spring RA will be held at the Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark on April 22-23. The Board reviewed the tentative agenda. The RA packet will be posted on March 22, 2017.
Governance District meetings will be held on Sunday morning April 23. The times will be staggered with voting for NEA Director.
There will be a meeting of State Delegates to the NEA RA at the conclusion of the RA business meeting on Saturday April 22.
UniServ Grant Review Meeting: This meeting will be scheduled in the next week or two.
Early Enrollment: Just a reminder that early enrollees are not full members until September 1, 2017. They may not attend the Spring RA as a delegate, serve on local boards or as building representatives until September 1.
The Board agreed by common consent to approve a donation of $250 from the Board account to the HOPE Fund in memory of Virginia Berberick’s son, Wayne Taulbert.
Information Items:
MNEA Joint Conference (Higher Ed, ESP, eMerge, Students and Social Justice):
The MNEA Joint Conference will be held at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel on Saturday March 25, 2017. Board members need to contact members to try to raise the attendance for this conference. It is free for MNEA members. Non-members may attend for $30.
Summer Leadership Training:
July 10-11, 2017; Kansas City, location TBA
July 17-18, 2017; St. Louis, location TBA
MNEA Committee Volunteer forms are due by May 12, 2017.
Future Leaders’ Academy applications are due by April 1, 2017.
Information about the MNEA Gilbert Balderrama Minority Scholarship is on page 55 of the Board packet. Please encourage minority members to apply.