Archives for April 29, 2024

Annual Meeting of the NASE Membership

Wednesday, April 26, 2023 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

JFK Middle School Cafeteria

APPROVED 4/24/2024

click here to download

AGENDA

 

Item I:  Call to Order 

• Andrea called to order at 4:03pm
• Land Acknowledgment by Paula 
• Please sign in and ensure your cell phone and email are current

 

Item II: Introduce Officers, Delegates and CAT members

• Call for delegate nominations 
• Thank you for your hard work this year

 

Item III: Honor Retirees 

• Any retirees thank you for your work and service, we acknowledge your contributions and dedications to our students

 

Item IV: VOTE – Secretary’s report

• 2022 Annual minutes
• Change the name to Erica LaMan to Erica Lamanna

MOTION: to accept the secretary’s report as amended

Entertained by: Andrea Egitto

Moved by: Sara Simmons

Seconded by: Jennifer Hayden

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item V:  VOTE – Proposed Bylaws change

• Due to increased workload, the Executive Committee voted to propose increased stipends for these positions:

Unit A Chapter Coordinator – $5,000             Unit C Chapter Coordinator – $4,000

Communications Chair – $2,500 Membership Coordinator – $2,500

• Concerns that the money is not enough for these positions
• This year a bylaws committee has been developed in order to make sure they are update and fit what we do as NASE → this could include future stipend amendments
• Ryan Parent is proposing a friendly amendment for increased stipends for these positions:

Unit A Chapter Coordinator – $6,000                     Unit C Chapter Coordinator – $4,500

Communications Chair – $3,000 Membership Coordinator – $3,000

VP Chair – $6,500

• Sharon Carlson suggests that the bylaws committee meet with the treasurer to determine each officer or chair or coordinator stipends in the next year
  • Kira proposes to wait with the current motion we currently have with the language of “up to” then readdress in the future

MOTION: to accept the proposed bylaws change as originally proposed by the Executive Board

Entertained by: Andrea Egitto

Moved by: Ellen Brown

Seconded by: Rachel Nichols

→ proposed a friendly amendment to the proposal

MOTION: to accept the proposed friendly amendment

Entertained by: Andrea Egitto

Moved by: Ellen Brown

Seconded by: Deidre Johnson

Motion Approved: with majority, 33 yes to 25 no with 8 abstensions 

MOTION: to accept the proposed bylaws change as proposed with the friendly amendment

Entertained by: Andrea Egitto

Moved by: Ellen Brown

Seconded by: Deidre Johnson

Motion Not Approved: does not pass with ⅔ majority, 28 yes to 25 no with 4 abstensions 

MOTION: to accept the proposed bylaws change as originally proposed by the Executive Committee

Entertained by: Andrea Egitto

Moved by: Lisa Lebeau

Seconded by: Kim Bowler

Motion Approved: does pass by ⅔ majority, 54 yes to 1 no with 4 abstensions 

 

Item VI: VOTE – Elections of Slate of officers 

• Any nominations from the floor? No nominations from the floor
• Highlighted names are elected for the 2023-2024 school year
  

 

VP	Heather Brown
PR&R	Sara Churchill
Treasurer	Sharon Carlson	Emily Dumais
Secretary	Vanessa Coates-Cooney

 

Item VII: Budget Update and Action  

• Bus to Boston on May 16 leaving at 8 am
  • Sign on to our letter to State Legislators

• Northampton Pride Parade May 6th – Meet at Sheldon Field parking lot at 9:15 am
  • Wear NASE shirts

 

Item VIII: NASE Scholarship Announcement  

• Donations 
  • https://venmo.com/u/sara24marie
  • Physical donation in the can

• Scholarship Committee’s recommendation based on number of applicants to award 6 scholarships with the amount awarded based on need.
  • Award scholarships at NHS
    • 2 scholarships for $500 each 
    • 4 scholarships for $250 each
  • Award 1 scholarships at SVAHS for $500

MOTION: to accept the scholarship committee as recommended

Entertained by: Andrea Egitto

Moved by: Susanne Strousse 

Seconded by: Ellen Brown

Motion Approved: unanimously passes

Item IX: Adjourn

 

MOTION: to adjourn.

Entertained by: Andrea Egitto

Moved by: Sara Simmons

Seconded by: Erica Caron

Motion Approved: unanimously 

 

Upcoming dates:

End of the Year Social (members only) – Look Park Dow Pavilion – June 15, 3:00 – 7:00

2024 Annual Meeting – April 24, 3:30 – 5:00

Meeting of the NASE Executive Board

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Room 200, Ryan Road Elementary School

APPROVED 4/2/2024

click here to download

 

In Attendance: (9 participants)

Andrea Egitto, Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Kim Bowler, Sharon Carlson, Paula Rigano-Murray, Kate Fontaine, Erica Lamanna, Brian Bagdon, Karen Schiaffo

 

Andrea calls the meeting to order at 4:09 pm.

 

Item I: Call to Order and New Business

• Heather and Kate are getting feedback on the cease order in Israel & Palestine are ‘threatening’ to pull their membership from NASE 
  • The listening circles are to discuss pros and cons of this. NASE is not voting on anything as of now. NASE is only giving a platform for a listening circle via Zoom
• Paraeducator PD was insufficient for content/role out and there is no collaboration or discussion in the PD Committee
• Concerns with SE Teachers prep time and SE Stipend with the new IEP rollout with the increase in paperwork, time and collaboration 

 

Item II: Delegates for MTA Annual Meeting and NEA Representative Assembly

• Communicate with Kira Henninger to sign up for the MTA annual meeting

Item III:  Secretary’s Report

• Amendment: Add in line to the Unit A Officer Report

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report with amendment

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Paula 

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item IV: Treasurer’s report 

• Report for next week
• Auditor books came back and there are no problems reported

 

Item V: NPS Budget and meeting with superintendent

• Meg has offered to sit down and discuss comparables and the budget
• Potentially meeting with school committee members about the budget around realistic situations if this goes through
  • This should also be shared with city council members
• Ask Jason to set up an action network letter to send out
• Pass out flyers to pass out to community/parent members at events

 

Item VI:  Bylaw Committee presentation

• Tabled for next meeting → Cyndie is not in attendance (SVAHS no school today)

 

Item VII: Officer Reports

Item VIII: Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn.

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Erica

Seconded by: Paula

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meeting

March 6, NASE meeting with NPS superintendent

March 12, Executive Committee meeting 4:00 – JFK – Leeds will provide snacks

April 2, Executive Board meeting – 4:00, Ryan Road School

Save the Date – NASE Annual Meeting – Wednesday, April 24, 3:30 refreshments

Officer Reports

 

Teachers (Unit A)

There are 2 grievances that are pending. Continuing to deal with serious NHS safety issues with large scale organizing, intense determination, and 2 needs improvement plans. MTA have been consulted around teachers impersonated online by students.

 

Admin (Unit B)

 

ESPs (Unit C)

1 disciplinary issue. Will be checking in with the PD Committee Unit C members.

 

SVHS (Unit D)

 

Clerical: (Unit E)

 

Custodian (Unit F)

1 disciplinary issue in progress. Over vacation at Leeds with no clerical outside contractor was not able to access the building for maintenance. No monitors in the now open bathrooms in a building. 

 

Cafeteria (Unit G)

There are positions (1 permanent and 1 sub) still open and waiting to be filled. 

 

SVHS (Unit H)

 

PR&R 

 

Membership Coordinator

 

Communications Coordinator

Nothing to report at this moment.

 

President’s and Vice President’s Report

 

Meeting of the NASE Executive Committee

Tuesday, February 13, 2024, 4:00

Zoom

APPROVED 3/12/2024

click here to download

 

In Attendance: (39 participants)

Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Heather Brown, Paula Rigano, Sara Churchill-Winsor, Sandy Bombard, Ryan Parent, Emily Dumais, Austin Savoie, Xristina Warren, Laura St.Pierre, Jamie Lawrence, Leslie Skantz-Hodgson, Mareatha Wallace, Jennifer Hayden, Mark Baldwin, Cyndie Ouimette, Will Antrim, Raymond Paquette, Tammy Cook, Nass Taskin, Kira Henninger, Ellen Brown, Amelia Arnold, Erica Caron, Jeromie Whalen, Jake Gallant, Helen Woods, Brian Bagdon, Kim Bowler, Laila Copperansky, Daria Steward, Kevin Schmith, Veronica Douglas, Jason Mathes, Sara Simmons, Kate Fontaine, Erica Lamanna, Danielle Kowal, Karen Schiaffo

 

Excused:

Andrea Egitto, Sharon Carlson

 

Heather calls the meeting to order at 4:02 pm.

 

Item I:  Call to Order – Check in

 

Item II:  New Business

• Nass, Amelia, Jake & Raymond: bringing to the table the petition/support the cease order in Israel & Palestine (includes MTA) and to put on the March meeting to have a decision made if supporting 
  • please look over this petition https://secure.everyaction.com/w1qW7B3pek2rTtv9ny5bqw2
  • Listening session to be held February 29th

MOTION: To getting educator feedback and meeting on this

Entertained by: Heather

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Kate

Motion Approved: majority

• Will COVID sick time be reinstated at any point coming up 
  • this is not going to happen, it was attempted in the fall and was told no as a decision, can use sick bank if out of sick time
• Back in the fall a survey about start/end times and wondering how the results will be presented to faculty
  • Shared out at a School Council meeting which the results show 50/50 on the survey
• Start process the JFK progress notes & report cards twice a year to align with the elementary and high levels (Unit A issue)
  • This will be double checked on and bring up to the Superintendent
• JFK is still having racial concerns/issues that are not conducive for students and staff. Want to move that there is a full inclusive policy.
• Can cannabis money be used to help support education in Northampton? It may not be used to support paying for faculty salaries, but can it be paid towards other aspects of education such as building issues

 

Item III: Secretary’s Report

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report 

Entertained by: Heather

Moved by: Veronica

Seconded by: Paula

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item IV:Treasurer’s report – budget for FY24

MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report 

Entertained by: Heather

Moved by: Brian

Seconded by: Erica

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item V: Bylaws Committee Presentation and vote to present amendments at the Annual Meeting

• Willing to present and share out at the March EC meeting in order to then present at the annual meeting 

MOTION: to table and reviewing in March EC meeting

Entertained by: Heather

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Jennifer

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item VI:  MTA and NEA delegates for annual meeting and representative assemblies

• MTA Annual meeting in Springfield April 26 & 27
• NEA meeting in Philadelphia July 3-7
• Need a nominating chair → Kira 

 

Item VII: Membership update – Jason

• Best thing to have is 100% or as close to for support around the upcoming budget and negotiating contract
• We need to get an additional 20,000 signatures for the MCAS petitions
• Salary rates for paras has increased from close to the bottom to top 2

 

Item VIII: NPS Budget season 

• School Committee Meeting on 2/15/24
• Who are the action ‘targets’?
• When are the hard dates?
• Ideas:
  • Speak at public comments at school committee
  • ‘Flood’ the meetings with NASE support
  • Remind that it is a Collective Bargaining Contract so it is all of us!
  • Target school council since it seems that the school committee is in support of NASE
  • Being armed with the facts and share them out to members
  • Reactivate the CAT teams

Item IX: Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn.

Entertained by: Heather

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Tammy

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings:

March 5, Executive Board meeting – 4:00, Ryan Road School

March 6, NASE meeting with NPS superintendent

March 12, Executive Committee Meeting – 4:00 JFK – Leeds brings snacks

SAVE THE DATE – Wednesday April 24, 2024 – NASE Annual Meeting – 3:30 Snacks, 4:00 Meeting

Officer Reports

 

Teachers (Unit A)

There are 2 grievances that are pending. Continuing to deal with serious NHS safety issues with large scale organizing, intense determination, and 2 needs improvement plans. MTA have been consulted around teachers impersonated online by students.

 

Admin (Unit B)

Nothing to report at this time.

 

ESPs (Unit C)

Level 2 grievance at NHS for health and safety. 

 

SVHS (Unit D)

Nurse requested to be department head due to having a department and is already included in the contract.

 

Clerical: (Unit E)

The level 2 grievance is still in the works, but now is at the stage where they are waiting 30 days to move to the next level. Will be reaching out to the superintendent around the issue of clerical members staffing the offices over breaks/vacations.

 

Custodian (Unit F)

All employees who needed the snow day stipend back pay received payment!

 

Cafeteria (Unit G)

There is an issue where a member has been moved to cover other buildings is becoming an issue. This will be addressed with NASE Vice-President and President support/collaboration. 

 

SVAHS Admin (Unit H)

Nothing to report.

 

Membership Coordinator

2 new NASE members since the last EC meeting. new hire list sent out to EC with prorated membership forms.

 

President and Vice President

Attended Western Mass presidents meeting. We discussed ways we can use our regional solidarity and support each other during negotiations. We also discussed the need for ongoing training in various areas. We requested a training on understanding municipal budgets and state funding. Our Unit A and Unit C chapters coordinators went to a school safety meeting the following day. We filed for MTA attorneys for two “intent to terminate” letters and attended level two grievance hearings. We have been trying to work with the superintendent to advocate for funding from the city to alleviate budget cuts and we tried to get her to reconfigure the Strategic Planning Committee to have more educator and caregiver voices at the table. The committee currently has multiple city officials, multiple administrators, and one teacher. Unit C, E, F, or G members were not invited to participate.

Meeting of the NASE Executive Board

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Room 200, Ryan Road Elementary School

APPROVED 3/5/2024

click here to download

 

In Attendance: (11 participants)

Andrea Egitto, Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Kim Bowler, Sharon Carlson, Tammy Cook, Cyndie Ouimette, Paula Rigano-Murray, Kate Fontaine, Erica Lamanna, Brian Bagdon, Heather Brown

 

Andrea calls the meeting to order at 4:00 pm.

 

Item I:  Call to Order and New Business

• How much money is going to be sent to Newton? → will be going to the EC agenda next week
• Governor signed that you don’t need a degree for certain state jobs that could potentially affect education like vocational jobs
• Superintendent Strategic Planning Committee
  • Superintendent asking for a teacher from each level, and NASE member, only has 1 committed currently, no paras currently
  • Currently 19 members = central office, 7 city offices, 2 admin, 1 NHS teacher, 2 parents 
  • Communicating around which NASE officer should join the committee
• Start time survey results are linked in a school committee agenda → seems to be close to 50-50
• Some people are going to be talking at the public comment at the next meeting Tuesday and would like NASE to endorse the cease fire and not take sides
• Crossing guards are bailing on the efforts to join the union
• The superintendent has not addressed clerical working/staffing during the upcoming break coming up, superintendent wants someone in the office 

Item II:  Secretary’s Report

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Sharon

Seconded by: Tammy

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item III:  Treasurer’s report – budget for FY24

MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Tammy

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item IV:  Bylaw Committee presentation

• Housekeeping of the document look great
• The EC needs to discuss stipend payment in 2 payments (½ year and end of year) versus 1 payment (at end of year)

 

Item V: Officer Reports

Item VI:  Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn.

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Cyndie

Seconded by: Kim

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings

February 6, Executive Board meeting – 4:00, Ryan Road School

February 7, NASE meeting with NPS superintendent

February 13, Executive Committee meeting 4:00 – Smith Voc. Cafeteria – SVAHS will provide snacks

March 5, Executive Board meeting – 4:00, Ryan Road School

March 6, NASE meeting with NPS superintendent

March 12, Executive Committee meeting 4:00 – JFK – Leeds will provide snacks

Save the Date – NASE Annual Meeting – Wednesday, April 24, 3:30 refreshments

Officer Reports

 

Teachers (Unit A)

There are 2 grievances that are pending. Continuing to deal with serious NHS safety issues with large scale organizing, intense determination. Addressing 2 needs improvement plans in two other buildings and 2 intent to terminate in the district. MTA have been consulted around teachers impersonated online by students. 

 

Admin (Unit B)

Nothing to report at this time.

 

ESPs (Unit C)

Level 2 grievance at NHS for health and safety. 

 

SVHS (Unit D)

Nurse requested to be department head due to having a department and is already included in the contract.

 

Clerical: (Unit E)

The level 2 grievance is still in the works, but now is at the stage where they are waiting 30 days to move to the next level. Will be reaching out to the superintendent around the issue of clerical members staffing the offices over breaks/vacations.

 

Custodian (Unit F)

All employees who needed the snow backpack received payment!

 

Cafeteria (Unit G)

There is an issue where a member has been moved to cover other buildings is becoming an issue. This will be addressed with NASE Vice-President and President support/collaboration. 

 

Meeting of the NASE Executive Committee

Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 4:00

JFK Community Room

APPROVED 2/13/2024

click here to download

 

In Attendance: (26 participants)

Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Sharon Carlson, Laura St.Pierre, Ryan Parent, Jamie Lawrence, Kira Henninger, Kim Bowler, Hana Zayatz, Daria Steward, Danielle Kowal, Sara Churchill-Winsor, Veronica Douglas, Harrison Wallace, Karen Schiaffo, Erica Lamanna, Paula Rigano-Murray, Jennifer Hayden, Sara Simmons, Brian Bagdon, Nick Richert, Laila Copperansky, Sandy Bombard, Tammy LaChance, Kate Fontaine, Andrea Egitto, Helen Woods,

 

Excused:

Mark Baldwin, 

 

Andrea calls the meeting to order at 4:01 pm.

 

Item I: Call to Order – Check in

 

Item II: New Business

• None at this time

 

Item III: Secretary’s Report

• Title to be changed to “Executive Committee” from “Executive Board”

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report with amendment

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Sharon

Seconded by: Jennifer

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item IV:  Sub-Committees and PAL

• Volunteers are needed for:

• Social Committee
• Scholarship Committee
• Bylaws Committee
• Snacks – each building sign-up

 

Item V: Treasurer’s report – budget for FY24

MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Kim

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item VI: Membership update

• 60 outstanding members overall
• 7 new members from last membership update
• Do have 8 new hires as of now

 

Item VII: NPS Budget season – Ten minute meetings in each building.

• The sneak peek was worse than bleak, worse have seen in a very long time
  • Mayor received a raise of 36% ($70,000)
• FY24 = $37,765,747 total budget and minusing the 1.2 million (was 1 x fund – not continuing to fund this for this year and moving forward) – 36,565,747; anticipated budget of FY25 = $42,897,127

• • Reporting will be needing 4% increase minus $1.2 million from the bailout from last year
    • This is less than what we need! $4.8 million budget gap!

• Thursday, December 15th at 6:30pm school committee meeting → please show up!!

• Read the language in your unit for the reduction in force in the contracts!!

• Show up to school committee meetings!!!

• • • Coming in person is more impactful. If you can’t join Zoom! SHOW UP!
    • Each school should sign up to go to a school committee meeting
    • Share out budget cuts are coming, not in writing → “Pay attention to the budget!” and “Watch the budget!” and “Show up to budget meetings!” 

• Document for strategy and talking points to support the schools (Thanks Kira!)

• Shared from Superintendent Budget Reporting out:
  • Central Office proposed cuts = $135,857
    • Reduce clerk position from 35 hours to 28 hours per week
    • Reduce another clerk from full time to half time (40,000)
    • Transportation $6,400
    • Reduce General Fund support of Cafe $23,000
    • SE clerical hours $9,700
    • Custodian uniforms $3,800
    • Extraordinary maintenance $10,000
    • PD $15,000
    • PD contracts $5,000
  • JFK proposed cuts = about $245,000
    • .5 PTE
    • 2 FTE
    • 1 FTE coach ESSER
    • Tech integration specialist (retiring and now being replaced)
  • Bridge Street proposed cuts = about $197,000
    • 1 para
    • 1 FTE TSS
    • 1 interventionist
    • 1 title 1 reading (.8 instead of 1.0)
  • Jackson Street proposed cuts = about $261,000
    • 3 FTE teachers
    • 1 para
    • Not adding a planned SAC
  • Leeds proposed cuts = about $245,000
    • 2 SE teacher
    • 1 teacher
    • 1 para
    • .5 library para
  • Ryan Road proposed cuts = about $134,00
    • 1 Para
    • .5 para
    • 1 SE teacher
    • Reducing a building sub
  • NHS proposed cuts = about $336,000
    • 3 teachers
    • 1 adjustment counselor

Item VIII: NHS Safety

• Freshman were not being held accountable in the beginning of the room and now is spreading throughout the entire school
• 4 shelter in place in the last 3 days as well as cops called
• No suspensions as of this moment
• Superintendent has not been in the building
• A grievance has been written and is being filed as of 12/12/2023 morning on behalf of all of Unit A and Unit C

Item IX: Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn.

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Sara

Seconded by: Veronica

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings:

January 2, Executive Board meeting – 4:00, Ryan Road School

January 3, NASE meeting with NPS superintendent

January 9, Executive Committee Meeting – 4:00 JFK Community Room – BSS brings snacks

SAVE THE DATE – Wednesday April 24, 2024 – NASE Annual Meeting – 3:30 Snacks, 4:00 Meeting

Membership Coordinator Report for EC Meeting 12/12/23 

• 538 NASE members for all 8 units
• 6 New members in November
  • Unit A=1
  • Unit C=2
  • Unit E=1
  • Unit F=2

2 joined from Staff that weren’t already members (NHS & JSS)   Now 60 outstanding

4 out of 15 new hires joined (JSS, NHS & JFK)

Thank you to Executive Committee members for your work welcoming and supporting staff.

Karen Schiaffo

NASE Membership Coordinator 

RKF/RR School Nurse & Building Delegate

schiaffo89@gmail.com

413-320-3608 

12/12/23