Meeting of the NASE Executive Committee

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 4:00

Community Room, JFK Middle School – Bridge St. will provide snacks

APPROVED 5/13/2025

In Attendance: (30 participants)

Ellen Brown, Daria Steward, Joshua Katz, Andrea Egitto, Erica Lamanna, Karen Schiaffo, Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Danielle Kowal, Harry Wallace, Xristina Warren, Sandy Bombard, Laila Copperansky, Carrie Foley, Tamy Cook, Erica Caron, Jennifer Hayden, Tammy LaChance, Kristin Thibedau, Heather Brown, Kate Fontaine, Paula Rigano-Murray, Brian Bagdon, Kim Bowler, Jamie Lawrence, Jake Gallant, Ryan Parent, Jessica Lavalle, Raymond Paquette, Nick Richert, Emily Dumais

 

Excused:

Holly Taylor, 

 

Andrea calls the meeting to order at 3:59 pm.

 

Item I: Call to Order 

 

Item II: Secretary’s Report

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Jennifer

Seconded by: Jessica

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item III: Treasurer’s Report 

• Trying to avoid reimbursement for subscriptions, but can’t get a credit card from Florence Bank based on our account. If we need to open a second checking account in order to use a debit card to pay for subscriptions, events, ect. with some money transferred from the original account. Our main account will not have a card attached to it at all!

MOTION: to open a second checking account for NASE with the purpose to have a debit card

Entertained by: Emily

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Paula

Motion Approved: unanimously 

MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Kate

Motion Approved: unanimously 

 

Item IV: NASE Annual Meeting  

• April 30th @ 3:30 with a meeting start time of 4:00 at Smith Voc (Wednesday after April Vacation)  
• Plan Agenda 
• Officer elections (Secretary, PR&R chair, Treasurer, VP)
  • Need a nomination chair in order to keep track of nominations → Ellen Brown

MOTION: to change the bylaws to change Secretary, PR&R chair, Treasurer, and VP to be a 2 year term to start at 2025 Annual elections to alternate with coordinators

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Karen

Seconded by: Kim

Motion Approved: unanimously, 1 abstention 

• Discuss a possible dues increase for scholarships
• Tried Venmo donations, cash buckets, calendar fundraisers
• NASE has not increased dues in about 10 years. Could increase differently per unit.
• Would now also be the time to increase dues for the VP and Unit A coordinator as this body has discussed before
• Currently have 280 Unit A members, 8 Unit B members, 102 Unit C members, 72 Unit D members, 17 Unit E members, 29 Unit F members, 10 Unit G members, 6 members Unit H members 
• Current stipends are: 
  • President $10,000 
  • VP $5,000 
  • Treasurer $3,000 
  • Secretary $2,000 
  • PR&R Chair $3,000 
  • Membership Coordinator $2,500
  • Communication Chair $2,500
  • Unit A $4,000 
  • Unit B $1,000 
  • Unit C $4,000
  • Unit D $2,000
  • Unit E $1,500
  • Unit F $1,500
  • Unit G $1,000
  • Unit H $1,000

MOTION: After 10 years without a local NASE dues increase, I propose a motion to increase our local NASE dues by roughly 10% rounded to the nearest dollar (resulting to be about $14 increase for Units A, B, D, H and about a $6 increase for Units C and G and about $8 increase for Unit E and F) in order fund member services and general NASE operations due to inflation, increased cost of living and increase of operations Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Karen

Seconded by: Kim

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item V: Bargaining Update

• Expanded bargaining – including NASE members in the audience who are silent but will help during our caucus time.  
• Money negotiation is in the works with SC, they are discussing this Thursday and waiting for their next counters at the next negotiation meeting
• The Superintednent is sharing two calendars for SC approval (1 with early release days scattered, 1 with all early release days on Wednesdays)
  • Hoping this will be a way to ease into the early release Wednesdays in a gradually increased plan over the 3 year contract
  • This will be presented and voted on by the SC Thursday 3/13
• Upcoming dates: 
  • March  20 – JFK Community room
  • April 3 & 17 – JFK Community room

 

Item VI: New Business

• MTA Annual Conference, we get 12 delegates @ May 2nd & 3rd in Springfield in MassMutual
  • Anyone who is interested please reach out to Ellen Brown
  • If we get more than 12 interested in going, we will have a virtual voting

Item VI: Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Sandy

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings:

March 20, 5:30 JFK – Negotiations

April 30, 3:30 Smith Voc – NASE Annual Meeting

May 6 4:00 RR – NASE Executive Board

May 13, 4:00 JFK NASE Executive Committee Meeting – JFK provides snacks

June 3, 4:00 RR – NASE Executive Board

June 10, 4:00 JFK NASE Executive Committee Meeting – Ryan Road provides snacks

Meeting of the NASE Executive Committee

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 4:00

Community Room, JFK Middle School – Leeds will provide snacks

APPROVED 3/11/2025

In Attendance: (31 participants)

Ellen Brown, Joshua Katz, Andrea Egitto, Sara Simmons, Erica Lamanna, Karen Schiaffo, Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Holly Taylor, Danielle Kowal, Harry Wallace, Xristina Warren, Sandy Bombard, Helen Woods-Blake, Laila Copperansky, Carrie Foley, Kevin Schmith, Laura St. Pierre, Erica Caron, Jennifer Hayden, Kristin Thibedau, Heather Brown, Kate Fontaine, Paula Rigano-Murray, Brian Bagdon, Kim Bowler, Jaime Lawrence, Jake Gallant, Ryan Parent, Jessica Lavalle, Raymond Paquette, Emily Dumais

 

Excused:

Mareatha Wallace 

 

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

 

Item I: Call to Order 

 

Item II: Secretary’s Report

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Sara

Seconded by: Jennifer

Motion Approved: unanimously, 1 abstention

 

Item III: Treasurer’s Report – see hard copies 

• Please fill out the W4s and give back to Emily ASAP
• W-4 were sent out in the mail from Emily in the last week

MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Kate

Motion Approved: unanimously 

 

Item IV: MTA Red Cards

• We have different languages
• To be given to caregivers that could potentially intercepted or approached by an ICE agent
• Please take some before you leave to give out to caregivers from your buildings
• Andrea and Martin met with Portia around the communication around the ICE deportation protocols, 
  • to have clear message for building protocols
  • bus stop protocols
  • sharing a supportive message to the community

 

Item V: Bargaining discussion

• Last session February 4th was cancelled since the SC chair was sick
• Will be meeting February 27th
  • SC will be meeting Thursday February 13th so hopefully will be able to meet with numbers/money information at the next meeting
  • If you are an hourly employee, please email Martin the hours in a day and days in a year
  • Portia projected at the finance committee that payroll for her next budget includes the calculated 3% COLA since that was used in the past (what she communicated at the meeting)
• Expanded bargaining including NASE members in the audience who are silent but will help during our caucus time.
• FOR THE FUTURE: for every 3rd year need to include a line item for negotiations
  • EC would have to vote to pass to amend the budget in order to include this in the current budget  
  • Could include money for foods for late night meetings, stipends for those supporting
• UPCOMING DATES:
  • February 27 – JFK Community room
  • March 6, 20 – JFK Community room
  • April 3, 17 – JFK Community room  

MOTION: Include a line item for negotiations stipends for non-officer/members of the negotiation team ($350), ect.for this negotiation cycle which includes NPS & SVAHS

• 11 people, coming to $3,850 

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: to exclude Unit B from the amendment of stipends → not accepted

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Erica

Motion Approved: passes by majority, yes – 21, no – 2, abstention – 6

 

MOTION: Include a line item for negotiations food for this negotiation cycle for up to $100 per meeting for NPS (up to 5 meetings, then revisit at the April)

Moved by: Erica

Seconded by: Paula

Motion Approved: passes , yes – 21, no – 2, abstention – 6

 

Item VI: New Business

• Andrea will follow up with Matt around the list of staff members and their roles on the committee for the special education programs in the elementary levels 
• What is the MTA doing about the Trump administration with the secretary of education?
  • There are meetings in process with 
• What is the process for the BSS principal?
  • People need to be accepted to be on the hiring committee, send a letter of interest to the Superintendent, if she accepts then you have to commit to the dates
• Timeline of the process for the JFK principal hiring will be starting this week
• BSS only currently has 1 paras when they had 2 openings with 1 other new hire as a retirement replacement 
  • Erica will follow up around the hiring process with the 2nd para hiring process
• Karen sent out the new prorated new member forms, please use this form
• Did Kristin ever have a conversation around JFK breakfast needs?
• There was some feedback from the paraeducator meetings around delegates pressured into not going to the meeting
  • Please feel free to communicate and apologize on behalf if some feel uncomfortable or pushed towards a specific direction
• The NASE website now has a negotiations tab with the initial proposal and SC response
• MTA Annual meeting will be in Springfield at the MassMutual Center again in May 2-3, we typically send 12 members based on our membership numbers
• When you met with Portia did the grounds position get communicated?
  • She mentioned that this is a Tony issue, it should be similar as a long term sub position, superintendent mentioned that she was in favor of getting this covered
• Has there been any communication around MCAS requirements being brought up again?
  • This was discussed at a NHS department meeting, this team communicated and determined what will be the graduation competencies and MCAS is not on the list

 

Item VI:  Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Sara

Seconded by: Erica

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings:

 

February 11, 4:00 JFK – NASE Executive Committee Meeting

February 27, 5:30 JFK – Negotiations

March 4, 4:00 JFK – NASE Executive Board

March 6, 5:30 JFK – Negotiations

March 11, NASE Executive Committee Meeting

Meeting of the NASE Executive Board

Tuesday, March 4, 2024 4:00

Ryan Road Rm 200

APPROVED 4/1/2025

In Attendance: (8 participants)

Andrea Egitto, Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Kim Bowler, Erica Lamanna, Heather Brown, Brian Bagdon, Tammy Cook, Kate Fontaine, 

 

Andrea calls the meeting to order at 4:03 pm.

 

Item I: Call to Order and New Business

• Clerical sub pay – Dr. Bonner put out a memo in November about changing the clerical sub pay from $16 to $15 for a clerical sub
• SC voted to have $600,000 appropriation to be sent to the schools
• Dr. Bonner is going to City Council around the money to be sent to schools, asking for the less than voted on
  • BSS = reading interventionist, math interventionist, tutors, clerical to full time, para to get PD for reading, recess/gym equipment, fencing
  • JSS = 2nd grade classroom teacher, math/reading combined interventionist, para, increase in supplies/sub/PD
  • Leeds = para, 2 math tutors, 2 recess/lunch, BCBA to full time
  • Ryan Road = special education teacher restoration, para
  • JFK = 2 special ed paras, 2 general paras, world language
  • NHS = school psych, special education teacher
• Discussion around Thursday 3/6 negotiations agenda 
• Discussion around the potential 25-26 school calendar → PD day before first day of school with kids moved to March
• Another person needs to learn mail chimp as a backup person, Heather and Vanessa to meet with Paula on ‘training’ for this
• Paula is filling out the T-shirt grant paperwork
• Need to start planning end of the year events → Annual NASE meeting for 4/30 and end of the year party
• Annual NASE meeting is going to be discussed at EC meeting 3/11
  • Voting on officers? 
  • Dues increase?

Item II: Secretary’s Report 

• Amendment: Item III line 1 “benign” changed to “being”

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report as amended

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Kim

Seconded by: Erica

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item III: Treasurer’s report 

• Will be presented next week, and will vote on this next week

 

Item IV: Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn.

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Heather

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings

March 6 – NPS Bargaining 

March 11, 4:00 JFK – NASE Executive Committee Meeting

March 20 – NPS Bargaining

April 3 – NPS Bargaining

April 17 – NPS Bargaining

April 30 – NASE Annual Meeting 3:30

Meeting of the NASE Executive Committee

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 4:00

Community Room, JFK Middle School – Leeds will provide snacks

 

In Attendance: (31 participants)

Ellen Brown, Joshua Katz, Andrea Egitto, Sara Simmons, Erica Lamanna, Karen Schiaffo, Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Holly Taylor, Danielle Kowal, Harry Wallace, Xristina Warren, Sandy Bombard, Helen Woods-Blake, Laila Copperansky, Carrie Foley, Kevin Schmith, Laura St. Pierre, Erica Caron, Jennifer Hayden, Kristin Thibedau, Heather Brown, Kate Fontaine, Paula Rigano-Murray, Brian Bagdon, Kim Bowler, Jaime Lawrence, Jake Gallant, Ryan Parent, Jessica Lavalle, Raymond Paquette, Emily Dumais

 

Excused:

Mareatha Wallace 

 

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

 

Item I: Call to Order 

 

Item II: Secretary’s Report

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Sara

Seconded by: Jennifer

Motion Approved: unanimously, 1 abstention

 

Item III: Treasurer’s Report – see hard copies 

• Please fill out the W4s and give back to Emily ASAP
• W-4 were sent out in the mail from Emily in the last week

MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Kate

Motion Approved: unanimously 

 

Item IV: MTA Red Cards

• We have different languages
• To be given to caregivers that could potentially intercepted or approached by an ICE agent
• Please take some before you leave to give out to caregivers from your buildings
• Andrea and Martin met with Portia around the communication around the ICE deportation protocols, 
  • to have clear message for building protocols
  • bus stop protocols
  • sharing a supportive message to the community

 

Item V: Bargaining discussion

• Last session February 4th was cancelled since the SC chair was sick
• Will be meeting February 27th
  • SC will be meeting Thursday February 13th so hopefully will be able to meet with numbers/money information at the next meeting
  • If you are an hourly employee, please email Martin the hours in a day and days in a year
  • Portia projected at the finance committee that payroll for her next budget includes the calculated 3% COLA since that was used in the past (what she communicated at the meeting)
• Expanded bargaining including NASE members in the audience who are silent but will help during our caucus time.
• FOR THE FUTURE: for every 3rd year need to include a line item for negotiations
  • EC would have to vote to pass to amend the budget in order to include this in the current budget  
  • Could include money for foods for late night meetings, stipends for those supporting
• UPCOMING DATES:
  • February 27 – JFK Community room
  • March 6, 20 – JFK Community room
  • April 3, 17 – JFK Community room  

MOTION: Include a line item for negotiations stipends for non-officer/members of the negotiation team ($350), ect.for this negotiation cycle which includes NPS & SVAHS

• 11 people, coming to $3,850 

FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: to exclude Unit B from the amendment of stipends → not accepted

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Erica

Motion Approved: passes by majority, yes – 21, no – 2, abstention – 6

 

MOTION: Include a line item for negotiations food for this negotiation cycle for up to $100 per meeting for NPS (up to 5 meetings, then revisit at the April)

Moved by: Erica

Seconded by: Paula

Motion Approved: passes , yes – 21, no – 2, abstention – 6

 

Item VI: New Business

• Andrea will follow up with Matt around the list of staff members and their roles on the committee for the special education programs in the elementary levels 
• What is the MTA doing about the Trump administration with the secretary of education?
  • There are meetings in process with 
• What is the process for the BSS principal?
  • People need to be accepted to be on the hiring committee, send a letter of interest to the Superintendent, if she accepts then you have to commit to the dates
• Timeline of the process for the JFK principal hiring will be starting this week
• BSS only currently has 1 paras when they had 2 openings with 1 other new hire as a retirement replacement 
  • Erica will follow up around the hiring process with the 2nd para hiring process
• Karen sent out the new prorated new member forms, please use this form
• Did Kristin ever have a conversation around JFK breakfast needs?
• There was some feedback from the paraeducator meetings around delegates pressured into not going to the meeting
  • Please feel free to communicate and apologize on behalf if some feel uncomfortable or pushed towards a specific direction
• The NASE website now has a negotiations tab with the initial proposal and SC response
• MTA Annual meeting will be in Springfield at the MassMutual Center again in May 2-3, we typically send 12 members based on our membership numbers
• When you met with Portia did the grounds position get communicated?
  • She mentioned that this is a Tony issue, it should be similar as a long term sub position, superintendent mentioned that she was in favor of getting this covered
• Has there been any communication around MCAS requirements being brought up again?
  • This was discussed at a NHS department meeting, this team communicated and determined what will be the graduation competencies and MCAS is not on the list

 

Item VI:  Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Sara

Seconded by: Erica

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings:

 

February 11, 4:00 JFK – NASE Executive Committee Meeting

February 27, 5:30 JFK – Negotiations

March 4, 4:00 JFK – NASE Executive Board

March 6, 5:30 JFK – Negotiations

March 11, NASE Executive Committee Meeting

Meeting of the NASE Executive Board

Tuesday, November 5, 2024 4:00

Room 200 Ryan Road Elementary School

 

In Attendance: (11 participants)

Andrea Egitto, Vanessa Coates-Cooney, Kim Bowler, Paula Rigano-Murray, Kate Fontaine, Erica Lamanna, Heather Brown, Emily Dumais, Sara Churchill-Winsor, Karen Schiaffo, Brian Bagdon, 

 

Andrea calls the meeting to order at 4:06 pm.

 

Item I: Call to Order and New Business

• Discussion around buying school lunch food adult portions for payment will be discussed between Mistelle and the Superintendent
• Reminder for Emily to have new delegates to fill out their W-4s
• Is it past practice to work for the district, left, and came back to the same job around longevity/retirement? 
  • If you leave (resign), you start over. Up to the discretion can be the steps you are at
• If discipline issues are not being followed up on or being held accountable, follow up with the union for support
• Issues around cafeteria workers expectations such as technology lagging, changing in lunch waves (changes in student lunch times), and adult portions for a cost.
• Concerns around the lack of PD committee, we need volunteers to be on this committee and now we have a curriculum director

Item II: Secretary’s Report 

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Paula

Motion Approved: unanimously 

 

Item III: Treasurer’s Report 

• Working with Florence Bank around credit card to help with minimizing reimbursements
• Mid-year (December) stipends will be done through ADP

MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Erica

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item IV: Plan for negotiations

• Tomorrow 10/6 will be a preliminary negotiation meeting listening and brainstorming session
• Will be sharing out a brainstorming document in order to keep everything in one location
• Checking in with units and chapter coordinators for joining on the negotiating teams
• Secretary will be in attendance to talk notes around discussion

 

Item V:  Officer Reports

Item VI:  Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn.

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Heather 

Seconded by: Kim

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings

Nov. 12, 4:00 JFK – NASE Executive Committee Meeting

Officer Reports

 

ESPs (Unit C)

Issues at JSS and BSS. Sent out a follow up to the letter around the qualifications for paraeducators.

 

Custodian (Unit F)

Hired a new night custodian at JFK – in the process of this.

 

Cafeteria (Unit G)

Someone resigned which will need to be filled. Still looking to fill two part times jobs.

 

PR&R 

One of the elementary schools had a health and safety grievance – the response is not satisfactory to all parties. If there are things that still want to be discussed in the meeting to reconvene and move forward with that. Have another grievance to file about the preamble

 

Membership Coordinator

11 new members from our last EC members. The new member forms will be updated after November 14.

 

Communications Coordinator

The website has been updated!

 

President’s and Vice President’s Report-

Organizing meetings. MTA meetings. Went to all 6 NPS schools for the listening tour around the upcoming negotiations. Sent out the to demand to bargain for NPS and SVAHS – received a response from SVAHS. Working on organizing actions.

 

CAT TEAM – volunteers 

Josh Seamon- Ingalls – JFK

Mareatha Wallace – JFK

Erica Caron JFK

Jenny Mae Viets – NHS 

Jess Lavalle – NHS 

Sue Sullivan – NHS

Michele Bernhard – NHS

Jake Gallant – NHS (para)

Karen Hidalgo – NHS

Ray Paquette – NHS

Beth Monopoli – BSS  

Jen Lucine – JSS

Huimin Wan- JSS

Sara Simmons RR

Cori Carey – RR

Lisa Labeau – RR

Kate Dell Olio – Leeds

Sarah Carlton – JSS

Tyler Holter – NHS (para)