We Educate - We Motivate - We Inspire

Rohnert Park Cotati Educators Association, 1963

We Educate - We Motivate - We Inspire

Rep Council Minutes

Thursday, Sept. 14th, 2017 - 3:45-5:15pm @ TMS, Room L1

RPCEA Mission: Represent, educate and support members while protecting the contract so Cotati Rohnert Park educators can best support our students.

Call to Order - Time 3:49pm

In attendance: Jen Bodlovich (President), Yvonne Cobert (2nd Vice President), Bob Ruiz (Treasurer), Matt Transue (1st VP), Jessica Gilleran (Secretary), Stephanie Teahan (LJ), Diana Smith (Hahn), Suzie Williams (Waldo Rohnert), Kate McGerity (RCHS), Emilie King (THS), Oliver Steinfels (MV), Deb McCampbell (MV), Jessica Pengel (TPA), Teresa Sullivan (TPA), Nancy Aiona (EV), Denise Ybarra (EV), Debbie Ziese (Richard Crane), Mark Mitchell (CTA), Betsey Moses (RCHS), Lauren Everett (Hahn)

1. Business

1.1 Approve Agenda (2 min) M/ NA, S/ JP, P/Yes

1.2 Approve May Minutes (5 min) M/NA, S/KM, P/Yes

Site Rep Roles and Responsibilities (Jen- 10 minutes) Jen reviewed packet with site reps. Jen is planning site visits and wants to hear what is going on at different sites. She will be visiting on Thursday or Friday. If the dates don’t work please communicate and reschedule. Please reach out to Mark Mitchell (CTA staff person) if you have questions (707) 477-1075 or the office at (707) 544-1075.

2. Reports

2.1 Treasurer’s Report (20 min - Bob) M/NA, S/JP, P/Yes

  1. After report, Treasurer will present three options to balance budget. Exec Board advocates for dues increase to support CTA conferences as well as $2,000 for arbitration. Site Reps will ask members what they prefer for October vote.

●  See September 14th Treasurer’s report for full disclosure. Checking account balance at beginning of last year was $20,140.92. Savings Account Balance at the beginning of last year was $11,394.20. 2016/17 budget finished in the black by $35.57.

●  Three different options discussed: Proposed budget as-is, Proposed budget +$2.00 and Proposed budget +$3.00. Proposed budget equates to a budget where RPCEA is unable to send members to conferences, give scholarships, etc. +$2 means we will have a surplus of $2,400 which becomes carry-over for 2018-19. Proposed budget +3 means we raise dues $3.00 and will have a surplus of $5,600 at the end of the year.

2.2 President’s Report (10 min - Jen) Extension for 2 minutes M/BR, S/NA, P/Yes

  1. Teachers in Charge (TIC’s)- If your site needs a TIC please give your feedback to President. A proposal was made by Jen Bodlovich and RPCEA to have administration meetings on Tuesday afternoons. Let your principals know what your thoughts are regarding Teacher in Charge. Dr. Haley doesn’t want students to lose out on educational time when teachers are taking on administration duties. However, office personnel are having to deal with issues they are not necessarily prepared to deal with.
  2. Summer District Training payment- Information was not disseminated by district regarding payment/non payment and units to attend summer training. Members were unaware they would be paid if they did not need units.
  3. PERB ruling (8/21/17) in favor of RPCEA- Public Employment Relations Board- There are laws governing employee and board relations and these relations were ruled unfair by PERB. A notice is to be posted in every staff room throughout the district. Guidelines are established for what to do when a Board member comes into your room. Please see “What to do when a Board member comes into your room” notice. School Board members are not STAFF- They are elected officials and have no power outside the Board Room. Take a photo of where the PERB posting is located on your campus and send to Mark Mitchell. The ruling notice must remain until Oct. 6th- a six week posting.

2.3 Bargaining Report (5 min - Carley)

  1. RPCEA Bargaining Team meets 9/13 to work on Article 18- The tentative agreement did not pass. The team met yesterday to discuss article 18, Special Education.
  2. 1:1 aide stipend payment from 2015 Grievance will be determined in Article 18 negotiations- The way the grievance was settled was that the district will pay for this in concurrence with settlement of Article 18. We had 263 votes which was an excellent turnout. The bargaining team will go back to the table with the TA as a starting point. Everything in the TA cannot be retracted. Voting took place via written secret ballot; bylaws state voting cannot be digital. To run an election digitally the provider platform must be CTA approved and that cost is prohibitive. The bargaining forum is in 2 weeks; get members to attend and have a voice.

2.4 Grievance Report - (5 min – Drew Kempiak)- Not in attendance. There are no grievances to report.

2.5 1st VP Report - (15 min - Matt)

  1. Union organization information- Emphasis on voices being heard. We need “boots on the ground” and rally the troops to attend. We had close to 80% voter turnout. We really need activity from our members. What do we want? Do we want more money? Is there something else that the bargaining team can advocate. Where are we now? Who are the obstacles in the way? Do we need more interface with our board members? What can we do to show we are organized? What are we willing to lose? If don’t do anything we will not make progress. “Commitment is not a convenience.” (Bill Walsh, football coach). What actions can we do that have a clear objective? We need to show unity and solidarity so we can achieve our collective goals effectively. The open forum is vital. If we have less than ¼ turnout then the board will not see solidarity. We need to show union strength. We need to turnout. We want to hear from everyone who voted; all voices count.

TA forum on 9/25 3:45-4:45 location TBA. We want to have our forum before the board meeting the following week. Site reps please come to the Tuesday school board meeting 9/19. Wear RED. October 17th 5:00pm school board meeting.

2.6 Membership Report - (5-7 mins - Yvonne/Jessica)

  1. CTA membership benefits packets for each member with attached CTA cards- site reps please distribute and discuss the benefits information. New teacher CTA cards are on the way.
  2. Feedback on Back to School Night social. Discussion about low turnout for social event. In the future, we may have a social event for our site reps and happy hour events for all members. Ideas for future membership events will continue.

2.7 Elections Report (3 minutes - Kate)

  1. Announcement of results for tentative agreement (TA) as well as secretary position. Jessica Gilleran elected RPCEA secretary. The Tentative agreement did not pass. Kate announced site reps who sent in their ballots.

3. Site Concerns - (20 minutes)

Complete e-form at rpcea.org OR present hard copy to President at meeting- TPA issue of CPR training taking place on a Tuesday 1-3pm directly following district wide training. Teachers are not required to have CPR training in order to take a field trip with students.

4. Old Business

5. New Business- Discuss going paperless.

RAFFLE!

Adjournment - Time: 5:12pm M/NA, S/JP, P/Yes

Upcoming Dates

Sept 7 - Exec Board Meeting, 3:45-5:15pm

Sept 14 - Rep Council, 3:45-5:15pm

Sept 12 - TK-5 Cross-District Collaboration

Sept 15-17 - Region 1 CTA Leadership Conference, San Jose (approx $400/person)

Sept 21 - RPCEA/District Admin, 3:45-4:45pm

Sept 28 - 2:2 Meeting, 3:45-4:45pm

Oct 20 or 27 - Happy Hour, 3:30pm

Oct 5 - Exec Board, 3:45-5:15pm

Oct 7 - RP Founder’s Day

Oct 12 - Rep Council, 3:45-5:15pm

Oct 17 - Board of Trustees meeting, 5pm at TMS Library

Oct 19 - RPCEA/District Admin, 3:45-4:45pm

Oct 26 - 2:2 Meeting, 3:45-4:45pm

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