RHTA Meeting Minutes

Date: January 23^rd, 2019

Location: Griswold Middle School                               Time: 3:45 to 5:30

 

1. Presidents’ report

Lori Cebelius reported on the most recent BOE meeting topics of discussion:

• Curriculum –new texts and new culinary course
• Facilities -discussion of fixing of the front stairs
• Fieldtrips- such as overnight fieldtrips where staff is expected to room with students in cabins
• Discussion of new insurance consultant which may have an impact on our upcoming contract negotiations
• Chuck Zettergren report that now staff are all certified in “L.i.C.E” ( alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate)
• Discussion of 5 proposed options to time schedules
• 9 parents came to BOE meeting to speak (issues brought up such as child care and getting out on time for HS Academy)
• 1 student came to BOE to speak
• Dr Zito received 10-12 letters on this matter
• BOE members asked about busses coming on time, combination of older students with younger students on bus, concern of early 6:45 am pick up time for younger kids, concern that early dismissal for sports would have students lose instructional time
• This decision wil be discussed at February BOE meeting and voted on for the March BOE meeting

2. Committee News:

Social committee- we purchased a gift for Kim Davis (our UniServe rep) in memory of her recently deceased husband (50 trees to plain in a forsest)

3. Treasurer’s report

Brie Mangiaracina-Mathews reported that all is updated

4. Grievance Report-nothing new reported
5. Membership –roster is updated
6. New Business (The below topics were brought to the attention of Kim Davis and an addendum on the resulting meeting with Michelle Barth, Lori Cebelius and Kim Davis is attached in the last two pages at the end of this document)

• district changes impacting school-in informational report was distributed
• Teacher Assault article will be distributed and put in mailboxes. Here are the highlights:

Knowledge Is the Best Protection: Preventing; Responding to Assaults by Students

As the demands to address all of a student’s academic and emotional needs have increased, it is vitally important that all teachers are informed of their legal rights and duties related to assaults by students.

• What preventive actions you should take to protect yourself and your students before an incident occurs.
• What procedures you can and should take in the event you are assaulted by a student.
• What actions you are allowed to take under Connecticut law if self-defense is necessary to prevent further injury to yourself or to other staff or students.
• Why it’s important to report any assaults or threats of assaults to your principal & and the reporting requirements of principals if there is an assault.
• What your Association can do to help you take whatever steps are appropriate to protect your rights as an employee, including measures to provide a safer workplace for everyone in the building.
• What safety provisions can be negotiated in your collective bargaining agreement related to student assaults.
• Late buses

Upcoming Events

RHTA meets fourth Wednesday of the month in the GMS Media Center at 3:45PM

• February 27th
• March 27th
• April 24th
• May 22nd Elections

 

 

 

 

Addendum to RHTA Executive Board Minutes January 23, 2019

Michelle and I had an extensive meeting with our CEA representative regarding the following issues as well as to begin preparations to enter into contract negotiations.

Late buses…

While it is certainly frustrating for teachers and children alike, we have exact and precise contract language which prohibits us from grieving this issue.  On page 6, Article 7B it states:

…It is understood that, at present, there is no alternative to teacher supervision of the arrival and departure of bus students. Therefore, teachers will be expected to perform this duty.

Michelle and I will continue to discuss the impact of late buses with the superintendent and assistant superintendent.  It should be recognized that the district is attempting to rectify the situation next year as it develops start and end times including the new building due to our diligence in bringing this issue to the table. In addition, as we begin the process of entering into contract negotiations, we will address new contract language which will help to make the Board of Education aware of the issue with the goal of eliminating it.

Teacher Assault – IMPORTANT TO KNOW

You have the right to be safe at work.

An assault is any unwanted physical contact that warrants administrative attention (e.g. biting, spitting, pushing, punching, etc.)

It is never acceptable to be threatened or assaulted by a student and always should be reported.

Before it happens be sure to document in writing unusual or escalating behavior. Make a hard copy for your own records.

Record everything in writing ASAP:

• Include time of day, others present, extent of injury, photos
• See your building nurse to complete an incident report. At the top write:

Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-233g, I am informing you that I was assaulted by a student.

• Remember – this is not a criminal report. It is a notification intended to inform. ‘No school administrator shall interfere with the right of a teacher or other employee of a Board of Education to file a complaint.’
• Make a copy of the incident report for yourself and give a copy to Lori and/or Michelle – white out any student names.

Visit CEA’s website for additional information and resources under Teacher Safety.

 Board of Education proposed start/end times:

Regarding the proposal put before the Board of Education to accommodate a new school including the various studies regarding optimal learning times for high school vs elementary students:

Article 6: Impact

Our contract states;

…. If the Board unilaterally changes the hours of employment teachers are required to work and the Rocky Hill Teachers’ Association feels the change is a substantial one affecting a major term or condition of employment, it may request negotiations, regarding the impact of the change pursuant to General Statute 10-153e.

 The change does not affect length of day which would be a major term or condition of employment. It only affects start and end times.  Therefore, basically, our start/end times fall within the decision-making power of the Board of Education. With that said, Michelle and I can and will have a discussion with the superintendent, but we do not have any power over the outcome (per Connecticut General Statutes 10-153d(b).

Mandatory (BOE cannot unilaterally change) & Permissive (BOE can unilaterally change) Subjects regarding Major Terms of Employment impacts our ability to make a claim or process anything until:

1. The district makes a choice on one of the schedules
2. After the choice is made we would need to find evidence of impact (e.g., if they made the school day start at 6am and teachers can demonstrate there is an impact because day care facilities in the area do not open until 6:30 am for the teacher to be able to drop off his/her own children), and we would collect data to say this schedule change impacts our ability to get to our job on time.