Rocky Hill Teachers' Association (RHTA)

RHTA Meeting Minutes                                                                       Date: Feb. 28^th, 2018

Location: Griswold Middle School                                                     Time: 3:45 to 5:00

• Presidents’ report: Michelle Bartha and Lori Cebelius reported briefly on
• One book, One Community
• Our elementary schools celebrate their annual One Book, One Communityin March Their goal with the One Book, One Community program is to promote the benefits and joy of reading through a community experience.
• Janus v AFSCME

• Lori and Michelle would like to stress an important reminder about duties as teachers:

“It is not our job to supervise or evaluate our colleagues and therefore no one should be assuming this role in any way or at any time.  When we talk to a supervisor that is not directly our own, is important to remember that we are not in a position to judge our peers and to do so jeopardizes our professional ethics and responsibilities”

Your responsibility…..

• Committee News:  No new business
• Treasure’s report: Update on budget was given
• Grievance Report: No active grievances
• Membership: Spring update will be done by May 15

• New business: No new business

• Upcoming Events
• RHTA meets last Wednesday of the month in the GMS Media Center at 3:45PM

March 28^th

April 25^th

May 23^rd  Elections

RHTA Meeting Minutes

Date: January 24^th , 2018

Location: Griswold Middle School

Time: 3:45 to 5:00

• Presidents’ report

Michelle Bartha reported on November B.O.E meeting points:

• Royal Blues won at State Competition in November
• Fieldtrips are getting expensive for families
• Steven School library is getting new carpeting
• Danielle Plona and Barry Goldberg no longer on B.O.E.
• New B.O.E. members are Kim Keough and Judy Murphy
• RHHS collaboration with Nutmeg Credit Union has been approved
• Grade 11 General Composition has been approved at RHHS
• Dave Dubos attended a reception at The Bushnell for all district Teachers of the Year

Lori Cebelius reported on December B.O.E meeting points:

• The curriculum committee has been and is discussing new course at RHHS
• There is a new text for Algebra 2 Academic at RHHS
• UConn Physics has been approved for 2018-2019 at RHHS
• An AP literature class has been approved at RHHS
• The recommendation for a new Psychologist to be shared by WHS and RHHS has been approved
• Facilities is working on a punch list of what needs to be done at RHHS
• Facilities reported that demolition of Moser school is almost done
• A Time Capsule from 1949 has been found at Moser School and is travelling between the buildings. It will be given to the Rocky Hill Historical Society for display

Lori Cebelius reported on January B.O.E meeting points:

• In honor of the 175^th anniversary of the founding of Rocky Hill, an art contest was sponsored to design a new seal for the town. Archisha Jaiswal, a RHHS student, has won that contest and designed Rocky Hill’s new seal
• In honor of the 175^th anniversary of the founding of Rocky Hill, a 3^rd grade writing contest is being held
• Special recognition was given on outgoing B.O.E. members Danielle Plona and Barry Goldberg
• Student Representatives from RHHS report they like a 9^th period day better and it especially helps in the time to make up midterm exams
• There is going to be an adding of a World Language class at GMS for 6^th grade
• Two new textbooks are being looked at for French
• There was a review for B.O.E policy for class size
• Moser budget is on schedule and under budget (anticipated opening is September 2019)
• The School Officers spoke at the B.O.E meeting about the things they were implementing at their respective buildings:
• For example, at RHHS Jake Bouchard demonstrated the Fatal Vision® Alcohol Impairment Simulation Goggles he uses to simulate drunk driving (others also spoke)
• Budget points:
• A 6.12% budget increase is being asked for especially in light of the increase in enrollment (70-80 students per year increase projections), the transportation (3 special ed vans) needs for  outplaced students as well as their tuition and new positions needed in district:
• 1 World Language to be split GMS/RHHS
• 1 Assistant Principal
• 2 special education teachers ( WHS and Stevens)
• 1 P.E. teacher at WHS
• 1 Regular Ed teacher at Stevens School
• .5 secretary at WHS
• 1 custodian at WHS
• 5 technology

Also scoreboards and text are being replaced and that is reflected in the 6.12% being requested

• Science labs at GMS are being brought up to specifications
• Rocky Hill schools are out performing many districts in our DERG (District Education Reference Group) and Dr. Zito said that this speaks highly of our teachers in Rocky Hill

3. Treasurer’s report

• update on budget was given

4. Grievance Report:

• No active grievances

5. Membership:

• Roster is going to be updated in the Spring

6. New Business

• No new business was discussed

Upcoming Events

RHTA Meeting GMS Library Media Center  February 28^th at 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm

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

o    March 28^th

o    April 25^th

o    May 23^rd  Elections

RHTA Meeting minutes for sept 2017

RHTA minutes for May 24, 2017 meeting 

1) President’s report:

 BOE news

➢ Town council approved budget May 15, 2017

➢ At the May 18, 2017 BOE meeting, our soon-to-be retirees were honored

➢ Praise for the method of hiring process for our vacant Director of Special Education and Pupil Services position as it involved parents in the process.

➢ Parent involvement at BOE included a parent concern about air quality at RHHS due to the construction

➢ Renewal on the consent calendar for the following

• Food service contractor

• Athletic trainer contract

• 2 portables for Stevens School

2) Committee news

➢ Students may be able to access banking in their courses through Nutmeg Bank (starting at the high school level)

➢ Contract negotiations continue with the custodians

➢ The new Special Education director has been hired (Amy Stevenson who has 22 years in Education and comes to us from Stafford where she was Director of Pupil Services

➢ The 2018-2019 calendar is still in discussion with the BOE

➢ Superintendent Mark Zito thanked Chuck Zettergren (our Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations) for being such a professional budget crafter

3) Treasure’s report: The RHTA budget for 2017-2018 was adopted on May 24, 2017

4) Grievance Report: No grievances

5) Membership: Updated and waiting for all the fall material

6) Social Committee: A date for our Fall RHTA social will be announced at Convocation. The date TBA, but will be at On the Border from 2:30-5:30.  

7) ELECTIONS: Congratulations to those who have been re-elected to following positions

Co-President ​Lori Cebelius (Stevens)

Co-President ​Michelle Bartha (GMS)

Vice President ​Kirsten Hassett (WH)

Secretary ​Adele Gali (RHHS)

Treasurer ​VACANT

Grievance Chair ​Brian Schlosser (RHHS)

Membership Chair ​Kirsten Hassett (WH) & Sarah Sherman (WH)

Web Master ​Laura Litke (GMS)
The following people are your building reps: 

RHHS Rep ​Dave Fortier & Doug Russell

GMS Rep ​Karla Harding & Laura Litke

Stevens Rep ​Nancy Forte-Dugay & Heidi Kokoska

West Hill Rep  Sarah Sherman & Ann Gombotz

8) New business:

➢ Scholarship committee will be choosing a Senior for our RHTA scholarship

➢ Rally at the state capitol may or may not be rescheduled

➢ Our next RHTA meeting will be at Convocation (August 30, 2017). Reminder that your RHTA meetings are at 3:45 every 4th Wednesday of the month at GMS. (September 27, October 25, etc)

➢ If anyone is interested in the CEA summer leadership conference, please inform your building rep of this. It will be July 31-August 1 (at Mohegan Sun Convention Center). A variety of workshops and mini-sessions are offered to help you and your local become more effective

➢ CEA will be sending in a film crew to a primary grade classroom at Stevens School 

9) At this May 24 meeting, Raisa Bublick, John Cogoli and Eileen Noonan were in attendance. RHTA thanked them for the service they provided for many years to the RHTA.  

TWO IMPORTANT MESSAGES THAT NEED YOUR ATTENTION:

~ The RHTA Treasure position is VACANT. If you are interested in this position, please contact your building rep. A stipend and dues forgiveness are two benefits of this position.

~RHTA is compiling information about two things that we need you to email their Building Rep about:

1) If you have ANY questions/concerns about insurance

2) If you are experiencing any problems with your HSA

RHTA minutes for April 26 meeting

1.) Consider taking the bus from RHHS to the capitol steps on May 18, 2017.                     Ask your building rep about time for bus.

WHO:  You

WHAT: Please attend the rally.  Sign up by going to    www.cea.org/members/rally2017

WHEN: Thursday, May 18, 2017 5:00 pm

WHERE: North Lawn of the State Capital Building, Hartford, Ct

2.) Open enrollment

Open enrollment is during the entire month of May and forms are available on the   public side of the Rocky Hill PS website, located in:

Staff Resources > Staff Forms and Documents > May 2017 Insurance Open Enrollment section.

Each session will have giveaways and raffle prizes.

Group Insurance Open Enrollment Meeting Dates

Stevens Library Media Center        Monday, May 15, 2017          4:00-6:00

West Hill Library Media Center          Thursday, May 18, 2017          3:00-5:00

Rocky Hill High School Room 3017          Monday, May 22, 2017          2:30-5:00

Griswold Middle School Library Media Center          Thursday, May 25, 2017          3:00-5:00

Anyone can attend any meeting that is convenient to them.  Please plan on attending at least one meeting to learn about all the products, innovative tools and new information available to you and your family.

NOTE: Michelle Bartha will be coming to your building to answer any questions members have about insurance options and premiums (see below)

Stevens           Thursday May 11^th   4:00 PM

West Hill         Monday May 15^th      4:00 PM

RHHS              Thursday May 18^th  2:15 PM

GMS                Tuesday May 23^rd     2:50 PM

3.) President’s report

a.) BOE news

• Paraprofessionals have settled their contracts
• Lunch prices will go up 10 cents
• Many winter sports were recognized with many records broken
• Italian Program is in its third year, but will not be starting Italian 1 for the year to come
• Chuck Zettergren reported at BOE that Tuition reimbursement is in the red, snow removal costs were high due to overtime
• Darlene Listro reported at BOE that CMT’s will be computerized as will SAT’s next year
• Dr Zito reported at BOE that May 4 will be the budget presentation

4.) Your building reps will distribute various papers at your faculty meeting

• Signature page for contract
• New insurance rates
• Contact legislators announcement
• Article about retirement plans

5.) On April 25 the revised procedures for tuition reimbursement came through email (effective July 1, 2017 with the new Teachers’ Contract)  In that email they attached the directions as well as the 2017-18 Tuition Reimbursement Form.  (The forms will eventually be on the website shortly)

6.) Committee reports

1. Membership—Roster is updated
2. Rights and responsibilities

• no new grievances
• a new Social Media policy will be drafted by the BOE (more information to come when that policy is written)

1. Social Committee: we will be coming up with a date for our Fall Social (look for that date in the next RHTA meetings)
2. Treasury:

• Donations made to various organizations (memory of Anne Kenney, project graduation, RH Education Foundation)
• Stipends discussed
• Budget will be presented at next meeting
• Scholarship committee will be choosing a Senior for our RHTA scholarship

1. Elections: please nominate someone who you know wants a position. Elections at the next meeting
2. New Business:

Join our rally on May 18 (busses will leave RHHS parking lot at 4:15)