General Membership Meeting: PVFT
September 10, 2007

A. Call to Order:

a. Assign roles: Convenor Francisco Rodriguez, Reflector Krishna Roman, Timekeeper Jenn Laskin, Recorder Ann Sisco.

B. Review and approve Agenda:

add Beth Dyer (NTP), COPE, and Procedural question to agenda, m/s/a

C. Review and approve Minutes from May 14, 2007 and April 2, 2007,

In Aprils Minutes change from Negotiated to take into effect in 06-07 to there will be a 3.66% increase this year. Mays minutes item B.6. inform membership that fiscal year will not be changed this year and it has been put off to the Budget Committee to make a recommendation. Both Minutes, m/s/a.

D. PVFT Committee Reports

  • a. Beth Dyer, New Teacher Project (NTP). Informed membership of voluntary Peer Assistance and Review (PAR). Wants Reps to encourage teachers at their sites to be part of Voluntary PAR. The NTP has advisors to work with any certificated person. Not necessarily used if your struggling, maybe just to work on something you want to learn. If you decide to do voluntary PAR, it does not go in your record. Voluntary PAR is totally separate from Mandatory PAR. PVFT gets 5 reps on the PAR Panel, we have 2 we need 3 more reps.

  • b. Negotiations George Lerek, update on negotiations includes Migrant Head Start, language was clarified after their rights were violated, Pat Lerman and Francisco Rodriguez fixed the Migrant Head Start issue. Issue regarding Francisco and Pat Lerman getting stipends for Program Specialist. Francisco informed membership was enforcing contract and resolving long standing grievance that had been lost in the shuffle. Negotiating team felt it was negotiations. Sunshine is going to the Board of Trustees. Clarity on $300 bonus, it was agreed that is was to be tax exempt, not what happened, a reminder to get everything in writing. Optional work day clarified, you don’t have to work, if you do you get paid. You cannot be reprimanded for not being there, it is not a contracted day, does not affect STRS, you will be paid your per diem rate. No staff meetings, trainings, etc. It is an “individual, teacher directed” for EL development. Will address how to be accountable for day with district on September 25th. Membership expressed the big issue with negotiations is salary and not losing benefits.

    Extension of time for negotiation 10 minutes m/s/a

    Membership feels we need a negotiations plan, with a continuous salary increase. Build PVUSD budget around teachers, not administration. We need a contract campaign. We need to assist Negotiations team in going to the board to show people power. Dental coverage hasn’t changed in 25 years, one time dental work, coverage is gone. Membership feels that we are at the bottom of salary with districts around us. Negotiations teams have compared salaries, found District’s are funded differently, and we have a unique district with our population and migrant population. Membership wants to concentrate on salary for all versus special groups. Contract campaign sign up sheet passed around to be a support for the negotiations team against the district.

  • c. RSRA: Peg and Gerry, Redesigning Schools to Raise Achievement (RSRA) is a partnership with the union and the District. Peg and Gerry are working to raise student achievement and increase school climate. Update to membership is that they are following up on the last RSRA Reunion that people wanted more support and follow up at their sites. Members feel that there still needs to be a district-wide evaluation done on RSRA. Abel Mejia would like to see RSRA in the High Schools especially WHS.

    5 more minutes for RSRA m/s/a

    Site specific issues discussed surrounding RSRA.

  • d. By-Laws: Update, we had 9 members meet on September 14th, 2007 to discuss current by-law. Asking membership to review by-laws on the website and let committee know of anything they feel needs to be changed. Will continue to report progress at meetings.

  • e. USLAW
    • i. Review Resolution—to join other union is a mass demonstration regarding the Iraq moratorium. Starting on September 25th, 2007 have each teacher do something to protest the war peace symbols, black arm bands, vigils, etc.
    • ii. Approve Resolution—motion to approve PVFT’s support of the USLAW resolution against the war. m/s/a

E. Treasurers Report

  • a. 2007 Budget Approval m/s/a (3 no’s)
  • b. 2008 Budget Format: Francisco and Ann informed membership of the Budget process for 2008. We need more people to sign up to be on committee, sign up’s went around. Membership will have a say in budget spending.

F. President’s Report:

Has been meeting regularly with HR and will start monthly meetings with Superintendent starting this month. Most of the time spent on non specific teacher issues, time spent on general issues like added duties, ROP instructors. Went to Quest during the summer and did a special data training and ULI where he found out information on Contract Campaigning.

G. Beacon

  • a. Review Resolution—They want to start charter school in our district and have made an official proposal to PVUSD. Areas of concern are: parent choice, employees can bargain collectively within, governance structure, elected by representatives, school site has not decision making power, typical staff support replaced with parent volunteers, unclear whether they’d become their own SELPA, and they can higher any willing teacher.

  • b. Approve Resolution, motion to oppose support of private charter coming to PVUSD, m/s/a
    H. Administration Evaluation Update: Several sites want to know what happens with the evaluations. Not feeling that they are being heard. They used to go to the board. Membership wants to improve surveys and have outcome be different then it is now. When less than 50% of teachers respond, there should be an official statement to that to principal and teachers. PVFT to look into improving Administrative Evaluations at all levels.
    I. Good of the Orde