ELEA Executive Board Meeting
September 18, 2024 💠 High School
3:30 PM
ATTENDANCE: Rebecca Tidlund, Erica Nissenbaum, Kris Nordin, Abby Steiner, Tim Mullett, Kris Rueger, Sara Scibelli, Lisa Fitzpatrick, Hilary Coughlin, Angela Emiterio, Valerie Sousa, Susan Thomas, Patrick Morrissey
- Treasurer Report. Checking Balance: $19,527.81 Savings: $29, 18.99. We have been successfully audited by Accurate Accounting. This is a yearly process required by the MTA.
Laptop Insurance Costs. Erica reported that we paid $1500 to the ELPS for the laptop insurance account. Since July, there have been seven screen replacements. This is significantly more damage than in previous years. Erica says it might be worth a discussion of how to make the account sustainable. Abby asked if IT or the ELEA should send out a message about the costs of screens. Kris Nordin wonders when exactly the damage took place and what people are saying. She thinks we should send out the message, rather than the school system. We should also be careful of how we word our message. People might need to know how to take care of the laptops to prevent unnecessary damage. Pat wondered if there might be some laptop protectors that would be beneficial. Sara wondered what other town departments were doing to pay for computer damage. Kris Nordin said we could consider buying screens. Another concern was damage caused by children.
Rebecca made a motion to accept the treasurer’s report. Sara seconded. The report was approved unanimously.
- Approval of the August Minutes. Kris motioned. Hilary seconded. The minutes were unanimously approved.
- Opening of school. The Meadowbrook kindergarten team says concerns about student behavior were raised last year and have been addressed by the administration. The PAC is being implemented at Maple Shade and Mountain View, and the Assistant Principal seems open to implementing them at Meadowbrook. At BPMS, the year seems to have started well. The administration seems to be more by the book with both students. Some staff are less happy with administration going by the book on them. The administration is following the contract.
- At Mountain View, there are concerns about the curriculum implementation and mixed messaging about how it should be implemented. The rollout has been a disaster. There is a lot of frustration. Teachers do not feel like they are addressing the needs of the students with the curriculum. At Meadow Brook, there are concerns about Common Planning Time being micromanaged. It takes place during the prep period. It feels like the coaches are being pitted against the teacher. At the high school, attendance has improved. Administration will now take responsibility for handling the loss of credit for absences.
- Donors Choose. An administrator wanted the ELEA to remind staff about procedures for requests to Donors Choose. Staff need to discuss requests with the principal. ELEA must be notified. Administration needs to be aware of requests. Kris suggested it be put in the monthly update.
- PowerSchool (special programs, Messenger, 504s). We have a new IEP format and a new system for accessing IEPs. SPED teachers don’t know how to edit. Information is not easily accessible. We would like our curriculum and student services directors to provide the information we need. There is also a lack of knowledge of who are liaisons and ETLs for students. A new SPED director will begin working in the next couple of weeks. Dani Labarre, Stephanie Jakus and Patricia Scully represented us on the hiring committee. The candidate pool was small. There were a number of people who were not going to be interviewed.
- Degree Advancement on the pay scale in contract:
There is a greater than normal number of people moving up steps due to education. It’s taking a long time to process their increases. People will get paid retroactively.
- Other. Meadowbrook wants issues with Common Planning Time and the inequities between schools dealt with as soon as possible. This was an issue that was brought up during negotiations and the negotiation team can bring it up again. One day a week, Meadowbrook loses a prep period to Common Planning Time. The contract allows it, but it’s not equitable. The CPT is turning into professional development. The other elementary schools have six prep periods and lose one to CPT. Meadowbrook gets five prep periods and loses one to CPT.
- Discussion about Safety in the Schools. We discussed concerns at all 5 buildings and the need to form a committee to address these concerns.
MOTION: Erica moved to create a school safety committee.
SECOND: Abby
VOTE: Unanimous
Motion to adjourn meeting : Rebecca
Second: Erica
Next meeting: October 16 at Meadow Brook