LAKE ORION EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Executive Board Meeting
January 8, 2009
Members Present
President Heather Olsen; Vice President Maureen Schabel; Secretary Diana Dodson; MEA/NEA Tracy Hobbs, Joanne Purdon, Sandra Fischer (Oakview Rep.); CMC Derek Mazur, Doug Kline; Lake Orion High School Tracy Burlak, Scott Cox, Julie Frias, Josh Hosler, Melissa Hudson, Steve Roberts; Oakview Middle School Gail Snay, Christine Kutchen; Scripps Middle School Robyne Malone, Marie Okopski; Waldon Middle School Rick McNally, Sharon Kline, Joanie Couretas; Blanche Sims Elementary Dave Stafford; Carpenter Elementary Jessica Kropog; Orion Oaks Elementary Abigail Rennels, Vicki Weichel; Pine Tree Elementary David Goetz, Sheryl Stollman; Stadium Drive Elementary Erin Kohler, Katie Kirchner; Webber Elementary Jen DiMaggio, Erica Peruski; Special Services Jillian Knapp
Members Absent
Theresa Laba, Leann Lowe, Stephen Tighe, Connie Brotske, Matt Luhmann, Karen Bitnias, Shannon Curtis, Jane Snage, Janet Fox, Bonnie Jackson
President Heather Olsen called the meeting to order at 4:30 PM.
President’s Remarks
1. Hopefully everyone had a restful and happy holiday break.
2. Oakland Schools has calendars for the next five years set. Check the website for the starting date, winter holiday break and spring break. http://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/CommonCalendar/tabid/1754/Default.aspx?
3. Margaret Schwartz from Oakland Schools will make available an updated form for SB-CEU’s. Heather will forward this form as soon as it becomes available.
4. The LOEA gifts to each board member for School Board Appreciation Month.
5. Jim Weidman is up for re-election for School Board this year. We will continue to support him if he decides to run.
6. As stated in the LOEA Constitution and By-Laws there will be LOEA elections in April. The 2009 LOEA election will be for two year terms for the officer positions of: Vice-President & Treasurer; and the CMC positions of: Middle School & At-Large. The qualifications for these positions are that the candidate must have taught at least four years in the district and served at least one year on the LOEA Executive Board. The positions will begin in the fall. Nominations should be in by March 1, 2009. Please send names to Heather. The candidates will be expected to present at the March 12th LOEA meeting.
7. There 2010 LOEA election will be for the officer positions of: President & Secretary, and the CMC positions of: Elementary & High School.
8. A Nominations & Elections Committee is needed. Please send names of volunteers to Heather as soon as possible.
Secretary’s Report
1. The minutes from the December 4, 2008 Lake Orion Executive board meeting were accepted as presented.
2. Holiday cards were sent to the Board Members, administrators and directors.
Treasurer’s Report
1. Maureen Schabel made a motion, seconded by Melissa Hudson, to approve the Lake Orion Education Association Income Statement of January 8, 2009 and Year End 8/31/09 with the corrections made at the January 8, 2009 meeting. The motion passed.
MEA/NEA
1. Uniserv Director Bill Curtis could not attend the meeting due to an emergency situation in Oxford.
2. Tracy Hobbs distributed the MEA Legislative Update 12/22/2008. One point made was that some districts want more on-line credits for high school students. If students were allowed more on-line credits, a reduction of staff could follow.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Lake Orion School Board
1. The school board met on December 10, 2008. One item on the agenda was that there would be no change in the structure to middle and high school programs for next year.
2. The next meeting on January 14, 2009 will be televised. The January 28, 2009 meeting will be a working meeting. A vote will be taken at this meeting regarding a Free All day/Everyday kindergarten for all students next year.
CMC – Contract Maintenance Committee
1. The Contract Maintenance Committee met on December 11, 2008. The following items were discussed: Online Graduate Credit Form, Sick Day after Holidays, Middle School/High School Restructure, and Missing Specials at Elementary. Details were sent in the CMC Communications.
2. The next meeting will be on Friday, January 16, 2009.
NOCA
1. The North Oakland County Association will meet on Monday, January 26, 2009. A MESSA Representative will discuss how rates for each district’s health insurance are calculated.
Region 7
1. Region 7 met on Thursday, December 11, 2008. MEA Financial Advisor Paul Gonzales discussed the implemented 403B changes. For more information, call MEA 1-800-292-1934 extension 5501.
2. A directive by the RA Board is for MEA Reps to come up with a plan to replenish the Crisis Fund for work stoppage by the Spring RA.
3. Region 7 Elections will be conducted on-line again this year during March 4-11 from 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
2. The next meeting will be on Thursday, January 29, 2009.
OLD BUSINESS
Membership – Joanne Purdon, Theresa Laba
1. Please make sure that Joanne Purdon and Theresa Laba are informed of new members, member name changes, leaves of absences, return from leaves, etc. to keep MEA records up to date.
Shared Teaching Requests
1. The completed new or renewal applications should be turned in no later than March 1, 2009. (Due to March 1st being a Saturday, this year’s deadline is Friday, February 27th.) This is not a contractual issue and must be approved by administration. A building principal has the option to approve or disapprove a shared position classroom. Shared-Teaching also has to be approved by the HR department.
Return from Leave
1. Representatives should contact members who are on a leave of absence. Letters of Intent to Return from a Leave of Absence are due no later than March 1, 2009. If a member doesn’t submit the form on time, a position will not be available for him/her.
Teacher Certification
1. Every member is responsible to know the expiration date of his/her teaching certificate. https://mdoe.state.mi.us/teachercert/
NEW BUSINESS
LOCS – W-2 Information & Replacement Policy
1. W-2 forms must be delivered to staff members no later than January 30. The district will probably distribute a hard copy to each staff member on January 23.
2. If a member loses a W-2 form, a $25 replacement fee will be required.
LOEA Bargaining Survey Update
1. A survey will be made for member completion. Joanne Purdon and Tracy Burlak are looking at surveys from other districts.
2. Our CMC Representatives will attend the MEA Bargaining Conference training February 5-7. They plan to get more survey information at this training. As always, benefits, salary, and working conditions are the main issues.
ORS: Member Statement
1. A Member Statement from the Office for Retirement Services should be received soon. Please keep this important information safe.
LOEA Campership & Scholarship Applications
1. Let students know that funding is available. Applications have been made available by e-mail. Completed applications are due in April.
Issues and Concern
1.Joanne Purdon made a motion, seconded by Sheryl Stollman, to change the date of the February 5, 2009 LOEA meeting to February 12, 2009. The change is due to a conflict in dates for the MEA Bargaining Conference training. The motion passed. (the February meeting date was moved to: Thursday, February 19th, 2009.)
2. The FMLA Leave Act is a federal law. After 5 consecutive absences, FMLA begins whether a person uses sick days or not.
3. Mentors and mentees must use Kalpa to log in meetings in order to receive credit.
4. Thank you to Heather Olsen for providing movie passes for selected pre-screenings throughout the year.
Vicki Weichel made a motion, seconded by Derek Mazur, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 PM.
The next meeting will be on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 4:15 PM – Location: TBD.
Respectfully submitted by,
Diana Dodson
LOEA Secretary