PAJARO VALLEY FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MINUTES
October 10, 2005

Convener: Don; Reflector: Peggy; Recorder: Pat

  1. Approval of the minutes
    Motion to approve - Betty Peck
    2 nd - Pat Christie
  2. Positive Check in - round robin: name, site, positive comment
  3. Reports-
    1. Negotiations: Peg Pughe & Margie Jennings
      The 2 TAs (8/31/05 &9/26/05) have been signed by negotiation committee and gone to the board of trustees for approval. Topics include: Adult Ed health care; sub pay during prep. Period; restructured days; Leadership teams.
    2. COPE - Francisco Rodriguez:
      •  For special election, "No in November" COPE has distributed "Uncle Louis" info. Cards and pins. Lawn signs will arrive shortly.
      •  Phone banking and precinct walking are taking place regularly in: Watsonville , Santa Cruz , Monterey , Salinas , Castroville, Marina.
      •  Cabrillo College Rally 10/18 from 12-2
      •  Save Our Schools forum 10/11 at Aptos High
      •  COPE cards to donate money to CFT state wide effort
    3. President - Carolyn Savino:
      •  Kudos to Sandra Nichols for organizing "SOS", and to members for "Letters to the Editor"
      •  Attended Democratic Forum 9/29
      •  School scans are not evaluative. Purpose of scan is to start conversations about classrooms. District is creating a rubric for "learning environment".
  4. Old Business
    1. Review of Roles: the RSRA descriptions will be copied for each building rep.
      •  Convener - runs meeting, no stake in conversation
      •  Recorder - public notes for reference
      • Reflector - comments at end of meeting on the group process and following norms. Norms will be created at the PAL retreat.
      • Parking Lot- writes on sticky notes to discuss at end of meeting.
    2. RSRA - Redesigning Schools to Raise Achievement
      •  Partnership of PVFT &PVUSD . CSEA will be invited to all workshops and retreats, and may form an independent partnership with district through this process.
      • Planning team meetings - planned the PAL retreat. Members of the planning team had previously attended the NY RSRA training. Board and cabinet also invited.
      • PAL Retreat Nov. 17: principal and 1 building rep. From each school site is invited, as well as Board, cabinet, community leaders. Issues to be discussed and agreed upon: beliefs, guiding principles, behaviors, ______________
      • RSRA West Coast Training No. 18-20:
      • NY trainers will be at the Crown Plaza near SFO. PVFT has 1/2 of the 150 slots. Each "Year 3,4,5" program improvement school will send principal + 4 teachers, e-council members may attend.
    3. NCLB issues
      •  Professional Development equity issues : Too Many development trainings on various topics including AB466. There is a negative impact on classrooms, subs, rest of staff. Savino will meet with district cabinet to interpret law, to determine what is mandated and what the time line really is.
      •  Program improvement status & sanctions : What will really happen to year 6 schools? Research shows that reconstruction doesn't work.
      •  API vs. AYP - positive conversations in Washington DC .
  5. New Business
    1. Dan Tracy's disaster proposal: Many Teachers can support a few volunteers to aide schools in Texas that are accommodating evacuee students from Hurricane Katrina. Tracy will be coordinating efforts with the Texas Fed. Of Teachers to establish an appropriate location, position. Volunteer teachers would not be paid or replace a credentialed teacher, s/he would act as an aide to a Texas credentialed teacher. We would need district approval. Fundraising and donation of sick days to volunteers are issues up for debate.
      •  Should PVFT suggest to the district that a "Disaster sick leave bank" be created?
      •  Proposal : PVFT will donate $2000 for the volunteers' expenses (airfare, lodging) to show support for the volunteer once the details of placement are worked out with Texas Fed of Teachers and PVUSD.
      Motion to accept : Fred Mindlin
      2 nd : Heloise Schaser
    2. Staff lists handed out to building reps.
  6. Good of the Order
    •  Parking Lot issues.
    •  Dues increase without salary increase - CFT/AFT raised per caps.
    •  Mental Health resources, $8 million grant to Pajaro Valley Prevention
    •  Reflector - could everyone reflect?
    •  Catastrophic sick leave bank - to use you must: use all your own sick leave, use 100 days differential pay, have previously contributed to the bank. Certificated cannot donate days to Classified.
    •  Hudson Rebate - how do members/ fee payers receive this?
    •  Disaster relief: if PVFT donates money, the volunteer should be a member. How will volunteers be selected to go to Texas ?
    b. Reflector - Peg Pughe