Meeting of the NASE Executive Committee
Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 4:00
APPROVED 12/12/2023
JFK Community Room
Meeting of the NASE Executive Committee
Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 4:00
JFK Community Room
In Attendance: (30 participants)
Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Hana Zayatz, Harrison Wallace, Danielle Kowal, Laura St. Pierre, Sara Simmons, Sara Churchill-Winsor, Mareatha Wallace, Jennifer Hayden, Karen Schiaffo, Heather Brown, Andrea Egitto, Kate Fontaine, Kim Bowler, Kevin Schmith, Nick Richert, Sharon Carlson, Paula Rigano Murray, Erica Lamanna, Daria Steward, Brian Bagdon, Jeromie Whalen, Jamie Lawrence, Ellen Brown, Kira Henninger, Ryan Parent, Helen Woods, Tammy LaChance, Erica Caron, Sandy Bombard,
Excused:
Veronica Douglas
Andrea calls the meeting to order at 4:01 pm.
Item I: Call to Order – Check in
Item II: New Business
- Do members get T-shirts?
- Get a list of names and sizes and send to Kate Fountaine to get those T-shirts
- Staff members buying lunch issues → If school lunch is being ordered by a staff member it is $5 for a child sized portion
- Inflexibility of school lunch options for high needs students is also an issue
- Should IEPs have specialty lunch accommodations if the rules/regulations are strict?
- What is the movement on the policy on racial discrimination and bullying? There is a policy but seems to not have a procedures plan for actions/behaviors
- The state is considering reopening the retirement plus option, Heather will share out information with members after the meeting
- After the PD day in November, many special education teachers as well as paraeducators were unhappy and requesting that there is meaningful PD that is more relevant to their position
- Join the PD committee to have a voice → currently no elementary level members
Item III: Secretary’s Report
- Please check the attendance on each of the minutes → this will affect your end of year stipend
- Amendment: to add 2 additional members to the excused absences members
MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report with amendment
Entertained by: Andrea
Moved by: Sharon
Seconded by: Mareatha
Motion Approved: unanimously
Item IV: Sub-Committees and PAL
- Volunteers needed for the following:
Item V: Treasurer’s report – budget for FY24
MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report
Entertained by: Andrea
Moved by: Erica
Seconded by: Mareatha
Motion Approved: unanimously
Item VI: Membership Coordinator’s report
- Plan for reaching out to new members (Jason)
- Starting next fall, we will be starting negotiations. Will also have high budget cuts and financial struggles to come. NEXT: property and budget subcommittee meeting November 28th @ 4:30-5:30 via zoom
- When trying to get members, share a personal experience about being in the union
Item VII: Thrive Act Ballot Question
- Last petition count and give to Jason
- NASE has the highest collection rate in the whole state adjusted per size
- free breakfast announcement for NHS and Ryan Road
- This ballot question will be on the 2024 presidential ballots
Item VIII: Adjourn
MOTION: to adjourn.
Entertained by: Andrea
Moved by: Paula
Seconded by: Sara
Motion Approved: unanimously
Upcoming meetings:
December 5, Executive Board meeting – 4:00, Ryan Road School
December 6, NASE meeting with NPS superintendent
December 12, Executive Committee Meeting – 4:00 JFK Community Room – NHS brings snacks
SAVE THE DATE – Wednesday April 24, 2024 – NASE Annual Meeting – 3:30 Snacks, 4:00 Meeting
Membership Coordinator Report for EC Meeting 10/10/23
-
- 537 NASE members for all 8 units: A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H
- 13 new members since 9/12/23== 54 total since 8/28/23
| # New Members this year | Total # by Unit | Members by Building/Dept. |
| Unit A= 26/ 1 new this mo | Unit A= 295 | BSS=58 out of 69 84% |
| Unit B=0 | Unit B=7 | JFK=100 out of 112 89% |
| Unit C=18/ 11 new this mo | Unit C=99 | JSS=45 out of 57 78% |
| Unit D=7 | Unit D=75 | Leeds=59 out of 68 86% |
| Unit E=0 | Unit E=17 | NHS=121 out of 126 96% |
| Unit F=1 | Unit F=26 | RR=48 out of 55 87% |
| Unit G=1/ 1 new this mo | Unit G=12 | Smith Voc=81 ? |
| Unit H=1 | Unit H=6 | Central Office=7 ? |
| District=18 ? | ||
| Total=54 | Total-537 | Total=537 |
As we continue our work in School Year 2023-24, we must:
- Update NASE bulletin board in break rooms
- Post brag sheets in break rooms
- Post upcoming NASE events in break rooms
- Refer staff to the electronic contracts and the hard copy in binders in break rooms.
- Encourage ALL staff to know their contracts!
Thank you all for your continued work with supporting NPS & Smith Voc staff.
Look out for my email listing current employees that are not NASE members. Please reach out to them to discuss the importance and benefits of union membership.
Karen Schiaffo
NASE Membership Coordinator
RKF/RR School Nurse & Building Delegate