RA Minutes 10-28-03

ROYAL OAK EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY
October 28, 2003

President Kardon called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. in the Dondero High School Media Center.

Buildings not represented were: Board Office, Churchill Opportunity Center .

The PAC drive was discussed and packets were handed out. PAC forms need to be sent to Betty Ann Garlak on November 7 and November 14, 2003.

No Report.

Curriculum Subcommittee – Barbara Pollis

Issues discussed at the October 15 Curriculum Subcommittee are the following:

	Pinnacle+ Management System - Concerns about how this program may be used to evaluate teachers were discussed. At this time there are no classroom teachers on this committee.
	10-week marking periods vs. 6-week marking periods - At the December meeting the history of why 6-week marking periods were put in place will be discussed.
	Middle school enrichment program -needs to be reevaluated.
	Class size concerns - swimming, AGPS and health classes were discussed.
	Professional Development Days – The first speaker, Larry Thomas, was effective. The second speaker was ineffective. Request was made to have Larry Thomas come back and offer professional development classes for the District. Suggestions for the March professional development day are requested. No topic has been set at this time.

Issues to bring up at the next Curriculum Subcommittee meeting are the following.

	The enrichment courses are used as a full-time class at some of the schools.
	How will Pinnacle+ be used with special education students and whether the program has already been approved for purchase?

The Joint Committee met on September 3, 2003. Issues discussed at this meeting were the following.

	Sick leave requests – 325 days were in the sick bank at the beginning of the school year. 100 days were immediately requested and granted.
	Class size relief petitions

The Joint Committee will meet on October 29, 2003. Issues to bring up at this meeting are the following.

	Attendance at professional development and staff meetings – If someone is absent from work that day, they are not required to make up the session. If someone leaves the session early, the missed time needs to be made up.
	Mentor Meetings – Request if possible to have mentors paid on a pro-rated basis instead of requiring mentors to make up time for missed meetings.
	Upton Elementary Report Cards – Report cards have still not been delivered to Upton . Not enough cards were printed for the school district.
	Attendance for meetings for part-time employees – Clarification is needed about the amount of time part-time employees need to attend at after school meetings, etc.
	Hours for the kindergarten program – Working hours for the program are too long.
	Elementary and middle school club sponsors – According to Sandra Standel the $400 for club sponsorship does not apply to elementary and middle school clubs. The contract language does not preclude the clubs from reimbursement.

	The report for September 2003 was presented.
	The budget for the 2003-2004 school year will be presented for approval at the next meeting.

	The team has met once and is trying to come up with a multi-step way of getting information related to bargaining to the public.
	The use of the red shirts, red folders and buttons was discussed.

	“Working without a Contract” buttons are available. Hand them out to anyone that wants one.
	The MEA Instruction and Professional Development Conference is December 4-6. If anyone is interested in attending, let Sid Kardon know as soon as possible.

	The grievance committee met and approved two grievances for arbitration. Two other grievances went on to step 2.
	Midyear Celebration is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2004 at the Elks Club after school.

Marcia Rauschendorfer moved to adjourn the meeting. Betty Ann Garlak seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.

Marcia Rauschendorfer, Secretary