WHEA – Executive Board Meeting
April 7, 2021
Zoom Meeting called to order at 3:35 PM.
Attendance:
Kevin Kavka, Cindy McGann, , Dan Moriarty, Sue Andrews, , Mark Stephansky, Jonathan Wolan, Donna Galewski, Lisa Godbout, Barbara Tiley, Bill Glynn, Michele Quinlan, Sheryl Goldstein, Anthony Arena-Foley, Liz Crowley, Joann Foscaldo, Kathy Meehan, Thomas Craven, Patricia Eunice
Recording Secretary:
- Motion made and seconded to accept Minutes of the EBoard Zoom meeting dated March 3, 2021. Motion passed to unanimously accept Minutes.
Corresponding Secretary:
- Nothing to report
Financial:
- Members had copy of Treasurer’s report emailed to them and it was also shared on screen at Zoom meeting
- Motion made and seconded to accept the March 3, 2021 Treasurer’s Report. Unanimously accepted.
Membership:
- It is a revolving door with staff coming and going
- Through negotiations we should be able to get an accurate listing of each Unit
- In process of establishing individual distribution lists for each Unit
Ten Month Club:
- Food Pantry donations were made to both Whitman and Hanson in the amount of $474.50. WHEA appreciates all that the food pantries do for the families in the district
Unit A
- Nothing new
Unit B:
- No real updates. Unit B members inquiring about negotiation process
Unit C:
- Still a few issues – Kevin and Cindy are aware
Unit D:
- Language changes to contract sent
Nurses:
- Lisa Tobin did a great job informing nursing staff of what needs to be done with contact tracing now that all students are attending school
- Attendance so far (just the first three days) has been manageable as far as making attendance calls to parents
- Still following Massachusetts DPH guidelines
Preschool Academy
- Language changes have been sent to Cindy
- There have been some good conversations with the principal
Political Action/MTA Update
- Lots of discussions at board meeting. MCAS came up again. MTA would like push back altogether.
- Long discussion exploring name change of the MTA to include paras, administrative assistants, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, etc. End result – it is very expensive to change the name of the organization and it will probably not happen
- MTA Conference coming up – let Kevin know if you are interested
- Early retirement legislation – Nothing finalized yet. This is something that has come up before. Discussion about having a Time Frame to this legislation – possibly one year window.
Negotiations:
- Deal has been reached. Information will be coming out within the next few days to membership regarding meetings dates to bring to a vote. Possibly Tues/Wed after vacation. Agreement would be a one year bridge. There would be no language changes but a percentage would be agreed upon that affects all the language in the contract. Financially it is in their best interest to look at bridge year.
- Current MOU regarding COVID would not roll over. There will be a new COVID agreement.
- This bridge agreement should be a rollover to all Units but it will still need to be negotiated
PR & R:
- S&J Services continues to be a concern. Lack of cleaning. Everything needs to be reported when cleaning is not done.
- Pest problem (mice) at Indian Head School is being addressed. Rugs not being cleaned at Indian Head
- Preschool floors continue to be dirty.
- Kevin will speak with Jeff and George regard S&J Services…again
- Full Return – State is saying one thing and not mandating other things. Things are heating up in our district and state wide. Continued patience is needed.
- High School has created another lunch and staff members have been asked to help out with lunches. People impacted feel it is unjust. Teachers in direct line of fire during lunches. Concern about exposure to so many students without masks.
- Concerns about some classes having 30 students in class – Kevin will look into that.
- Masks – there needs to clarity and compliance with mask wearing. Proper mask wearing needs to be enforced
- Question about assigned seats for lunches at the high school. How do you contact trace when students do not sit in an assigned seat?
- Question about having to use sick days to get COVID shot or if you get sick from the shot. Kevin reminded that WH is not mandating shot. Sick day can be taken – and it does not have to Personal Day unless staff member wants to use Personal Day
- Half Day Wednesdays – PLC’s. Clear schedules should come from building administration
PCEA
- Short meeting
- MTA came in and talked about different issues
- Professional Recognition this year will be yard signs in front of the schools for recognized staff
Vice President – Elementary
- Nothing to report
Vice President – Middle
- Nothing to report
Vice President – High School
- Nothing to report
President:
- School Committee meeting tonight will be in person
- Budget – We are looking at an initial 2 million dollar short fall. Hanson is looking at an override but not sure what that is going to look like. Not sure impact on staff yet. Jeff will propose $800K budget cut using federal stimulus money.
- New Director of Business and Finance has been appointed. He was former administrator in Hanson.
- Very good discussions regarding new building principals
- Town Meetings are coming up. We need to get word out that staff members who live in Whitman or Hanson should be attending Town Meetings.
- Next EBoard meeting will hopefully be in person. (May 5, 2021)
Motion was made to adjourn meeting. Motion was seconded and unanimously passed.
Meeting adjourned at 5:00 PM
WHEA – Executive Board June 3, 2020
Meeting called to order at 3:30 p.m.
Attendance: Zoom meeting, attendance not taken.
Recording Secretary: Minutes of the Zoom, May 6, 2020 meeting were read and accepted.
Corresponding Secretary: Donations were made to the Hanson and Whitman Food Pantry’s for $250.00 each. Donations were also made to the Driscoll, McStavick and Perry families for $50.00 each.
Financial: The treasurer’s report from the May 6, 2020 meeting was read and accepted.
Membership: Membership is in good shape. Tom, Kevin and Patricia will contact new members when school starts.
Ten Month Club: Ten-month club winners were picked from the past several months and names read. Tom will mail out checks.
Unit A: Nothing to report.
Unit B: Contract is finalized and ready to print.
Unit C: Nothing to report.
Unit D: Concern over losing 4 Library Para’s.
Nurses: Concerns on all of the changes, moving forward with school openings.
Political Action:
Negotiations: This committee is still looking for a Chair for the Negotiations committee. There will be all kinds of new language added: i.e. Google Classroom, etc. in the up-coming contract. There is a compromise to let staff carry over 1 additional Personal Day if they did not use it because of school being shut down, due to COVID 19.
PR & R: Concerns continue over the lack of budget. Checking carefully for Seniority and bumping rights.
PCEA: The Banquet was canceled, Joanne will send out and email with recipients.
Vice President – Nothing to report.
Vice President – Nothing to report.
Vice President – Nothing to report.
President:
Voted to add to the by-laws another e-board position: Pre-School Academy.
The budget and assessments to the towns, and the corona is creating a perfect storm for so many unanswered questions.
So many RIF letters went out to staff. Contact Kevin is you received a RIF letter and have different license to bump.
Staff may be able to retire early, contact Kevin for information and to see if possible.
Sue Andrews was appointed at the Unit C rep, and also the new Secretary for e-board.
Scholarship winners, WHEA and PCEA all at $100 each: Ryan Kelly, Kathryn Ryan, Victoria Ryan, Anika Floeck, Caitlin Veneto & Courtney Woodward.
Meeting adjourned: 5 p.m. Next Zoom meeting TBA in August.
WHEA – Executive Board May 7, 2020
Meeting called to order (ZOOM meeting)
Attendance: Was not taken as meeting was via ZOOM.
Recording Secretary: Minutes of the March 4, 2020 meeting were read and accepted, with one abstention. (Minutes from Kevin)
Corresponding Secretary: Nothing to report.
Financial: The treasurer’s report from the March 4th meeting was read and accepted. Tom will be mailing the stipends out.
Membership: Kevin and Tom will be working early on to contact all new hires.
Ten Month Club: Raffles winners will still be picked and money distributed. Tom will mail checks.
Unit A: All is well.
Unit B: All is well.
Unit C: All is well.
Unit D: All is well.
Nurses: Meds were given back to students. There will be lots of new guidelines once school reopens.
Political Action:
Negotiations: Personal days are in discussion with Central Office on what can be carried over, as Staff could not take all of their days. There will be a Chair appointed for the Negotiation committee in June.
PR & R:
PCEA: Nothing to report.
Vice President – Elementary – Nothing to report.
Vice President – Middle – Nothing to report.
Vice President – High – All is well!
President:
PCC was canceled so there will not be any scholarships given this year.
MTA Annual meeting is May 1 – 2 in Springfield was canceled
Gary has agreed to stay on one more year as Principal of Indian Head.
There were several donations made: $250 each to the Whitman and Hanson Food Pantry’s. $50 each to the Driscoll, McStravick and Perry families.
Central Office will be making arrangements for Staff to return to their buildings to get what they need.
All staff will be paid to the end of the year.
Sue Andrews was welcomed as the new Unit C rep.
The budget and assessment issue for the district is not looking good. Both town meetings have been postponed.
Adding a representative for the pre-school.
Meeting adjourned: The next Zoom meeting will be in June.
WHEA – Executive Board February 4, 2020
Meeting called to order at 3:45 p.m.
Attendance: Anthony Arena-Foley, Tom Craven, Patricia Eunice, MaryRose Flynn, Katherine Getchell, Bill Glynn, Lisa Godbout, Sheryl Goldstein, Kevin Kavka, James Kozak, Cindy McGann, Kathy Meehan, Dan Moriarty, Michelle Quinlan, Barbara Tilley and Jay Wolan.
Recording Secretary: Minutes of the January 8, 2020 meeting were read and accepted.
Corresponding Secretary: PCC scholarship applications were turned in from Whitman-Hanson and Whitman Middle School, Kevin is reviewing them.
Financial: The treasurer’s report from the January 8, 2020 meeting was read and accepted.
Membership: Membership is at 379 members.
Ten Month Club: Ten-month club winners were picked, building rep have the winners to distribute.
Unit A: The Seniority list for Unit A and B should be out shortly.
Unit B: All is well!
Unit C: All is well.
Unit D: Subs – The Para coverage situation a little better.
Nurses: Lisa Tobin is planning two PDP events.
Political Action: The MTA conference will be held in Springfield for both the 2020 and 2021 years. There are not enough field reps to go around, MTA is addressing this. Congratulations to Barbara Tilley on her “Next Generation” appointment with the MTA.
Negotiations: This committee is still looking for a Chair for the Negotiations committee. Keep the ideas for the next contract in mind.
PR & R: Concerns continue over the lack of a budget and what will happen with staffing.
PCEA: Nominations need to be turned in by March 3, 2020.
Vice President – Elementary – There are issues with “toileting” Duval is hiring a PCA to address this issue. Protocol, procedures.
Vice President – Middle – Teachers are being asked to stay until students are picked up. There are concerns with this.
Vice President – High – All is well!
President:
School Committee meeting is February 12, at 7 p.m. all should try to attend
MTA Annual meeting is May 1 – 2 in Springfield
Make sure you are following procedure in AESOP when calling in sick. Frequency, coverage is being monitored.
Looking into the By-Laws to appoint a Rep from the Pre-School, there are concerns with pick-up, drop off and curriculum.