Meeting of the NASE Executive Board

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 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)

Meeting of the NASE Executive Board

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 4:00

Room 200 Ryan Road Elementary School

 

In Attendance: (11 participants)

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

 

Andrea calls the meeting to order at 4:07 pm.

 

Item I: Call to Order and New Business

• MOA on cooks pay is unable to be located at this time 
• Job expectation is that cell phones should be put away while working, use when you have a break or free time
• How long can sick bank be put in for? Depends based on the documentation that is given, FMLA can be up to 12 weeks, in our district sick bank can be taken up to a year
• Concerns with Leeds SLP attendance and inconsistent services from beginning of this school year and from the medical leave taken from last school year. Parents upset about lack of services/inconsistencies, no plan for compensatory, and lack of communication around this
• Kathy Greeley reached out about her book reading in Northampton and looking for a teacher to be a conversation partner as well as potential support to go to the read. 
  • If interested reach out to Andrea

Item II: Secretary’s Report 

• Amendment: Change to Sara’s last name to Churchill-Winsor

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report – June 2024 as amended

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Paula

Motion Approved: unanimously 

• Amendment: in item 1 add in student emergency forms paperwork
• Still have not heard anything around the COVID vaccine requirements

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report – September 2024 as amended

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Paula

Motion Approved: unanimously 

 

Item III: Treasurer’s report 

• Upcoming October withdrawals are reimbursements

MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Kate

Seconded by: Tammy

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item IV: Plan for meetings/negotiations

BSS – Wednesday, October 16th @ 10:20-12:10 (Andrea) & afterschool (Kate)

JSS – Wednesday, October 23rd @ 10:30-12:30 (Andrea) & afterschool (Kate)

Leeds – Tuesday, October 22nd @ 10:25-12:15 (Andrea)

RR – Thursday, October 10th during lunches (Andrea) 

JFK – Tuesday, October 15th @ 10:30-12:30 (Andrea) & afterschool (Kate)

NHS – Wednesday, October 9th during PSAT time (Kate, Heather, Paula)

 

Item V:  Officer Reports

Item VI:  Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn.

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Tammy

Seconded by: Paula

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings

Oct. 8, 4:00 JFK – NASE Executive Committee Meeting

Officer Reports

 

Teachers (Unit A)

Continuing to respond to budget related concerns including staffing. Working on MOA. working on safety related concerns at BSS. working on ULPs.

 

Admin (Unit B)

Taking the vacation buy back grievance to level 3.

 

ESPs (Unit C)

Dealing with audit on paraeducators credentials. Working with MTA to remedy this. Had 3 disciplinary issues to deal with. Working on MOA to bring internship coordinator at NPS into Unit C. Still working on Open Meeting Law violation – extension was granted for 10 more days.

 

SVAHS (Unit D)

Met with the new field rep. 

 

Clerical: (Unit E)

Working on staffing issues at the elementary school.

 

Custodian (Unit F)

Hired a Leed at JFK. Posting the opening to close on the 4th and hoping to fill this. 

 

Cafeteria (Unit G)

Trying to hire two additional staff part time – 1 at NHS and JFK. Otherwise fully staffed, just in need for lunch periods.

 

SVAHS (Unit H)

Nothing to report at this time.

 

PR&R 

Nothing to report at this time.

 

Membership Coordinator

19 New members at this time. Getting a new hire list out is being sent out in the future.

 

Communications Coordinator

Nothing to report at this time.

 

President’s and Vice President’s Report

Attended regional MTA legislative issues meeting last month. Spearheaded a regional letter to legislators about issues we care about in Western Mass. This month attending a union alliance meeting around funding and tools for bargaining. Trying to negotiation multiple MOAs for multiple issues. Working on staffing issues. Still addressing and working on the vote of no confidence. Trying to meet monthly with the Superintendent but she has canceled the next two months with no rescheduling dates offered. Went to a presidents meeting in Framingham and presented to the MTA presidents about our budget fight. Been working on yes vote 2.  

.

 

CAT TEAM – volunteers 

Josh Seamon- Ignalis – JFK

Mareatha 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

Meeting of the NASE Executive Committee

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 4:00

Community Room, JFK Middle School – JSS will provide snacks

 

In Attendance: (32 participants)

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

 

Excused:

Mareatha Wallace, Heather Brown, 

 

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

 

Item I:  Call to Order 

 

Item II: Secretary’s Report with officer reports

MOTION: to accept the Secretary’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Sara

Seconded by: Sandy

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item III: Treasurer’s Report – see hard copies 

• Please fill out the W4s and give back by the next meeting

MOTION: to accept the Treasurer’s Report 

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Jennifer

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Item IV: Bargaining discussion

• CAT members per school forms
• Expanded bargaining including NASE members in the audience who are silent but will help during our caucus time.  
• DATES:
  • January 22 – JFK Community room
  • February 4, 27 – JFK Community room
  • March 6, 20 – JFK Community room
  • April 3, 17 – JFK Community room

 

Item V: New Business

• Opposition to Charter School Expansion
• Superintendent has sent out an invitation to the paras about meeting with them around gathering para concerns at each building
• Matt send out communication with outside community around input for making programs in the schools again, this has not been shared out with all SE teachers as well as be included in
• JFK is trial running to do breakfast at the door with some supports
  • This is not manageable, not enough adults to monitor the students, communication to caregivers have been inaccurate
  • Will move forward with having a brainstorming session then come up with an action plan

 

Item VI: Adjourn

MOTION: to adjourn

Entertained by: Andrea

Moved by: Paula

Seconded by: Kate

Motion Approved: unanimously

 

Upcoming meetings:

January 22, 5:30 – JFK – Negotiations

February 4, 4:00 JFK – NASE Executive Board

February 4, 5:30 JFK – Negotiations

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

February 27, 5:30 JFK – Negotiations