Napa Valley Educators Association Site Representative Council
August 26, 2019

3:30-5:30

Minutes

Executive Board Members Present: 
President - Gayle Young, Secretary - Debbie Kmiec, Treasurer/Chief Negotiator - Ginger Dunne, Directors-at-Large - Erin Reilly (High),  Kristin Pruitt (Elementary), Communication - Mike Willmarth,Karen Fleming (Middle) ,  Human Rights - Courtney Garcia, Grievance - Patty Wyman
 
Site Reps Present: 
Alta Heights:  Ginger Dunne, American Canyon HS:  American Canyon MS:   Alex King, Mark Portwood, Bel Aire: Susan Loomis, Browns Valley:  Angela Oster, Canyon Oaks:  Amy Bardwell, Kirsten Fouquet, Donaldson Way:  Maureen McCullough, Willow:  Corey Morton, Harvest MS:  Karen Fleming, Manya Franco, Independent Studies:  Jessica Farrell, McPherson:  Laurie Gaynor, Mt. George:  Annie Tisher, Napa HS:  Melinda Miller, Napa Junction:  Kay Folks, NVLA:  Marliese Esquivel, Sara Miller, Northwood:  Karen McKeown, Phillips:  Ann Brown, Redwood MS:  Nancy Lussier, Lorna Dekker, River MS:  Louann Talbert,  Shearer:  Pam Thornell, Silverado MS:  Jen Can, Patty Wyman, Snow:  Teri Isola,   Valley Oak:  Evrim Cakir, Vichy:  Debbie Cates,  Vintage: Michael Alger, Kelli Watkins, West Park:  Laura Zinser, Yountville:  Debbie Simpkins
Executive Board Members Absent: Vice President - Mary Duenow, CTA Liason -  Steve Savage
 
Site Reps Absent:
American Canyon HS:  Elizabeth Hawkins, Devin Reza, Fontaine Segerquist, Scott Hayburn, Lilian Zmed, Harvest MS: Sara Kvidahl-Schmitz, Napa HS:  Sharon D. Anderson, Troy Gittings, Steve Hatton, Sean Gregory,  New Tech High:  Angeline Warnock, Pueblo Vista:  Amelia Brown,  Redwood MS: Julie Blanton, Silverado MS:  Anne Murphy, Vintage:  Chris Auld, Andrew Barker,  Marc Caddell,

• Welcome - Meeting called to order at 3:40pm
• Review of Agenda
• Review February Minutes
  • Corey Morton made a motion to approve the March minutes.  The motion was seconded by Anne Brown.  All present were in favor of the minutes as written.

 

• NVEA Internal Committees
  • The goal is to set up internal committees amongst the site reps to report out during meeting so it is not just one person talking all the time.  Committee for examples include:  budget, classroom management, etc.

 

• Budget
  • additional conferences were attended this year than in the years past.  We need to look at the amount of money being allocated for conferences and adjust if necessary
  • Dues increase
    • Our local dues haven’t been raised in at least 29 years

 

• 2019-2020

 

• Engagement
  • Member engagement is not just parties and get togethers, but also looking at different things that we could do for our members like mini workshops on topics such as classroom management, benefits etc.  This also includes participating in activities throughout the community as well.

 

• Educating our own
  • We would be working with our site reps, members, etc. to organize educational training lead by our members for our members such as union issues, classroom management, etc.

 

• Site Rep Responsibilities in an IBPS unit
  • We will be looking at what we as site reps do and the expectations of site rep memebers as well as what responsibilites our members have as a whole.

 

• Communication
  • We are looking at different communication options and what we can do to communicate with our members more to keep them informed of what is going on.  It takes more than one person to do the job the Communication Director does.

 

• Logo Design
  • We have been talking about swag for the past couple of years.  We need something new within a design that can be placed on a shirt, cup etc.  We need to be self promoting

 

• Negotiations 
  • Impact
    • Continuing to work on a vetting tool for any additional things the district wants to put in place (ie: primary grades new arts program and secondary grades transition from ECHO to google classroom/Aeries. 
    • Goal is to make sure their isn’t too much placed on teachers with all the other things that teachers do and admin as well because if there is too much placed on admin those tasks could trickle down to teachers.  

 

• Continuing Professional Growth
  • Evaluation process goal is to change the mindset towards continuing to get better.
  • They are checking at making sure forms have similiarities between the three different options and making sure the language is clear.
  • Will need to look at the language in the contract which will be available at the next meeting.

 

• PBIS
  • Mike Wilmarth shared concerns brought forth at last meeting.
  • District is looking to move toward a MTSS (Multi-Tiered System Support) method. 
  • Dr. Mucetti wants to make it clear that the district will suspend students who should be suspended.  She doesn’t want anyone to think that we are a district that doesn’t suspend. 
  • Dr. Mucetti will be putting together a committee of administrators over the summer to come up with a clear discipline model. 
  • A principal shared that when discipline is discussed at admin meetings anyone who is green for suspensions is applauded and those that aren’t in the green are frowned upon.  Because this person spoke up the district will be more mindful about making sure no one is made to feel less of themselves or their choices for discipline because they are choosing to handle discipline at their site.
  • One of our new school board members is very anti PBIS due to issues his own child has had along with information shared with him by teachers and other parents.

 

• SPED
  • We will be meeting on Friday, May 3, 2019.

 

• A survey will be coming out asking teachers what they feel is important to have a committee formed to address concerns in council.

 

• Council Members
  • Members of Council are appointed positions and voted on by exec board.
  • There are currently 3 high school members, 2 middle school members, and 1elementary school representation.
  • The job of council members is to be able to look at the whole picture not just their interest. 
  • Group changes when there are openings and Gayle asks people if they are interested in serving on council. 
  • One thing that is being looked at in the future is family leave and meet the needs of the entire district. 

 

• Next Member Engagement Event
  • May 10, 2019 at Napa Sport flyer to come out next week

 

• Staffing Update
  • Transfer process
    • All administrative transfers have taken place.
    • Voluntary transfers at elementary level are done and they are beginning to look at secondary transfers.
    • If you have been administratively transferred the district moves your stuff.  It is suggested that you move your personal thngs. 
    • Contract language article 9.4 states members are alloted 1 day of release time for packing, etc. 
    • If concerned about whether or not a member was administratively transferred vs. voluntarily transferred contact Gayle

 

• Subs
  • At last board meeting it was voted on by the school board members to increase the sub pay from $120.00 to $160,00 a day which will make NVUSD more marketable amongst substitute teachers.

 

• Political Action -
  • Request from Skinner’s Office - Senate Bill 37
    • Nancy Skinner sponsors this bill and purpose is to increase the tax rate on the top 2% of corporations. 
    • Tax rate being proposed would look at income of mean worker vs income of CEO. 
    • Pros are will end up with money in our pockets, cons are that businesses could take their corporation elsewhere. 
    • Do we as a body want to support this?  CTA proper is supporting this.  A link will be sent out with more information on SB37.

 

• Charter Bills that affect us
  • District is not anti charter schools, but more on clarity of charter schools (link)

 

• May 22, 2019 State Wide Rally
  • CTA call for action statewide rally beginning at 5pm in Sacramento. 
  • For NVEA we are asking everyone to wear red in support of what is going on in California regarding education.

 

• CTA State Council Info
  • Report
    • There was a change in direction with elections at State Council this year.  In the past Secretary/Treasurer has been elected to Vice President, and Vice President has been elected to President. 
    • The retiring Vice President was not elected President.
    • Toby Boyd is the new president and is highly regarded amoungst CTA.

 

• NBI (New Business Item) to committee - Lice
  • The difference of opinions regarding lice was very interesting. 
  • Gayle turned in an NBI which went to school safety committee and is being looked into.

 

• Contract Article 17
  • Talks about how schedules are developed and who is involved etc.  The pendulum is swinging and there will be some professional development options in lieu of staff meetings. 

 
Meeting adjourned at 4:50pm with a motioned made by Karen Fleming and seconded by Michael Alger.  All were in favor of adjourning the meeting