HACKENSACK EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

Faculty Council Meeting

February 25, 2008

The February 25, 2008 HEA Faculty Council meeting in the High School Library was called to order at 3:40 p.m. by President Fran Borg.

Vida Story made a motion to accept the minutes of the January 14, 2008 Faculty Council meeting. The motion was carried.

OFFICERS' REPORTS

Corresponding Secretary. There was no report.

Recording Secretary. There was no report.

Vice President. Amy Fink reported that a T.A.L.C. report was received from the High School. Please submit other T.A.L.C. reports to Amy.

BCEA Representative. Betty Meeks Manning reported that BCEA Summer Leadership Conference seminars are scheduled for three-day cycles in July and August. Betty added that these are excellent workshops that are held at the New Brunswick Hilton. If interested in attending, contact President Fran Borg. New teachers (under the age of 30 with five or less years of experience) are encouraged to attend a SPARKS program workshop that promotes involvement in the union.

Treasurer. Lorelei Kaminsky distributed copies of the HEA Trial Balance as of January 31, 2008. Vida Story made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report. The motion was carried. Plans have been made for the September Opening Day Breakfast to be held at The Princess on Route 46.

President. Fran Borg reminded members that there is a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. On Wednesday, February 27, there is a meeting with the School Board Association of New Jersey, which will report impartial poll findings back to the Hackensack Board of Education. School Board elections will take place in April, and the new school Board will select the Superintendent.

An HEA email will be created for information to be disseminated to members. If there are members who do not have private email accounts, liaisons will be designated to get information to them. Lorelei Kaminsky provided her email address: Lorelei.Koran@verizon.net

Faculty Council members were requested to send a copy of updated snow lists from each school to Eileen Hooper at the High School.

Three positions are open for the Delegate Assembly, which will have a working meeting in Washington, DC over the 4th of July weekend. The Delegate Assembly is part of the NEA

Delegate Convention. Vida Story and Betty Meeks Manning were nominated, and both were voted in unanimously for the Delegate Assembly. There is still one vacancy. A nominee needs to be a faculty member but does not have to be a faculty representative.

Individual building meetings should continue. Fran spoke with the Administration regarding lesson plans. Building leaders were requested to take polls in their respective schools regarding lesson planning—the number of hours it takes, volume, and personal supplies used—and to report back to Fran.

Any issues with working conditions need to be reported in writing (physical hard copy, not emails) to the Principal with a copy to Mr. Frank Seery. Follow up all meetings and discussions with the Principal in writing.

Members were encouraged to check their Professional Development hours, being sure to have all paperwork in order. Any professional development meetings that deal with advocacy issues are not used for the PD requirement.

Sick Bank benefits, when members donate their unused sick days to a fund for someone who has a catastrophic illness, was discussed. At the present time, this is not available.

The Legislative Dinner will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at the Venetian.

The members approved the proposed HEA logo to be used on a banner and other things to be decided at a future date.

There will be a Faculty Council vacancy for the 5ive6ix School. Nominations are being accepted. Suzette Febre-Hart and Abel Castaneda were nominated for the High School vacancies, and were voted in unanimously. A vote was also taken for the Nellie K. Parker temporary vacancy, and Melissa Saldana was nominated and voted in unanimously.

School Reports. Individual school reports were discussed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Election. Amy Fink distributed Faculty Council nomination forms for each building leader to copy for their perspective schools. Forms are to be distributed to members only, and are to be returned to Lisa Bernardo at Hillers school no later than March 17. Lisa will send a letter to those who are nominated to confirm their willingness to serve on the Council and then create ballots. Ron Durso will create a template for a brief biography to be added to the ballot.

Alan Recarte has been in touch with PRIDE and is planning to have the HEA support a student sports team.

Contributions (which may not come from dues) for the NEA fund were discussed.

Membership. There was no report.

Negotiations. Lou Ferrante announced the first Negotiations Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 10 in Room 320 in the High School.

Legislative. Vida Story stressed the importance of the passing of the budget.

Professional Rights and Responsibilities. There was no report.

Teacher Education. Diane Menditto will be running new courses.

COMMITTE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION. There was no report.

OLD BUSINESS. The lack of substitutes was discussed.

NEW BUSINESS. Various health situations were discussed. A recommendation was made to have a crosswalk painted at the high school, and to have tickets given to anyone speeding through 2nd Street.

ANNOUNCEMENTS. There were no announcements.

ADJOURNMENT. With no further business, Vida Story made a motion at 4:55 p.m. to adjourn the meeting. The motion was carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Melanie Stagg

Recording Secretary