The January 10, 2000 HEA meeting was called to order by President Robert Curtis at 3:31 p.m.

The December 13, 1999 minutes were approved. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Vida Story and seconded.

The Treasurer’s Report for December 1999 was presented. A motion to accept the report was made by Vida Story and seconded.

The Corresponding Secretary read an announcement regarding a retirement luncheon for Regina Brennan, the high school nurse. It will be held January 26 at 1:30 p.m. at J. T. McTooles.

The BCEA representative reported that each member will receive a 36-page listing of web sites which are arranged according to subject matter; this listing was received from NEA.

The Vice President was not present; there was no report.

The President reported that during the public comment portion of the December 21 Board of Education meeting, he stated that there are not enough substitute teachers and that teachers are losing their planning time to cover these classes and not receiving compensation. Mr. Bellocchio responded by stating that if teachers weren’t absent, there would not be a need for subs. President Curtis contacted the schools to confirm teacher attendance for December and was told it was between 91-97% throughout the district. A subsequent meeting with the Negotiations Committee arrived at a suitable solution. Faculty Council representatives then stated that teachers are out because of curriculum writing and board-approved field trips. Faculty Council representatives further reported that teacher assistants are asked to cover classes; Title 1 teachers are asked to leave their classroom and cover another class; other personnel can be asked to cover classes, but they are not; Middle School and High School teachers are paid if they cover a class during their prep or lunch (the Department Chair fills out the form for this); extra students are brought in to a study. President Curtis stressed that teachers take their planning period and their lunch. President Curtis reported there is no answer yet for the elementary teacher who did not get paid for a half-hour per day for three years due to a clerical error.

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There is still one problems at the Middle School; the Spanish teacher’s problem has not been totally resolved.

The Membership Committee reported there are five or six teachers/teacher assistants who have not joined; President Curtis will give the Chair an up-dated list.

The Election Committee reported one representative is needed at the High School to replace Regina Brennan who retired. Mark Porto nominated Chris Ryan; Betty Manning seconded the nomination. A vote was held; Chris Ryan was unanimously elected.

There was no Social Committee report.

The Negotiations Committee reported having a three-hour meeting with the Board on January 4, 2000. A strategy and proposals meeting will be held February 9. A meeting with the Board is scheduled for February 17. A questionnaire will be sent to each Faculty Council Representative regarding building maintenance, monitoring staff meetings, and the need for telephones. This information is very important and should be returned to the Negotiations Committee by February 1.

The Legislative Committee reported there is a "Meet the Candidates for Senate" conference on February 26, 2000 at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick. BCEA reports that Allendale needs help for a rally on January 12. President Curtis received an e-mail from Evan Goldman this morning asking members to call their legislators today regarding the Governor’s veto of the subcontracting services bill.

Professional Rights and Responsibilities was included in the President’s report. Regarding the nurses in the high school, Mrs. Brennan has been replaced with a nurse who will also teach some courses. A work load cannot increase, but schedule changes can be made. The number and location of teachers' rooms in a school cannot be changed, or what is contained in them, without negotiations.

The Teacher Education Committee reports that two courses are in progress. Bernadette Lombardi will teach a Behavior Modification course in March. There was a request to teach a course during the summer; Mrs. Porto will ask Mr. Kaminsky about this matter.

Building leaders were reminded to submit their TALC reports.

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Old Business. Mark Porto asked the Faculty Council members for a vote to amend Article 10 of our by-laws in order to increase the HEA dues. The dues increase would reflect an increase of approximately $3,500 per year. A vote was taken; approval was unanimous to amend Article 10.

New Business. The High School Physical Education teachers have requested that vending machines be removed from certain gym areas. Sue Young reported that this issue was brought up at the TALC meeting; the machines will be removed one at a time over a period of time. There is a contract with the vendors that must be honored. The Calendar Committee met and discovered a conflict with the spring break for 2001. ESPA make-ups are scheduled for the week we traditionally have off. Building leaders were asked to survey their school staff for their preference of the week off. Please return the surveys to Karen Girardi at Fairmount School as soon as possible. It was questioned if non-tenured teachers are permitted to collect disability and/or unemployment while on medical leave; the answer is that the rules for non-tenured teachers are the same as those for tenured teachers in this regard.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Valerie Gancarz, Recording Secretary