SVFT Executive Council Meeting Summary

November 4, 2009

President Rick Tanasi called the meeting to order at 5:03PM and the Council approved the minutes of the September meeting.

Treasurer’s Report: Greg Beyer

• Greg reviewed the monthly Income and Expense report for October.
• Line item 6155 is one of the supplemental payments to Attorney Scheinberg.
• Annual audit accounting is done and the report is being complied. It will be presented at the December meeting.
• Mileage for the first half of 2009-2010 school year (September –December) will be after 12/9/09.
• Monthly report was accepted, pending audit.

Attorney’s Report: Barry Scheinberg, Esq.

No report due to Attorney Scheinberg’s absence.

Vice President’s Report: Jan Hochadel

• Power Teacher- see notice in the “Extra” edition of the Vocational Instructor
• School Visits- all schools will be visited by December
• New Leadership class- postponed to spring
• Quality Team- proposed a new group of 5-6 members, building reps and instructors to work on feedback for contract negotiations and comments on SVFT leadership team as well as building reps
• PD Reimbursement- give CT43 forms to building PD Chair for processing
• Holiday Social- 12/9/09 at the Rocky Hill Marriott
• Breakout groups brainstormed on ideas for SVFT Mission Statement
• Leadership will review outcomes and report back in December

Executive Union Rep Report: Ed Leavy

• 7 grievances filed to date
• The 6^th grievance concerned the failure to release tuition reimbursement funds
• OPM is now releasing funds per Karen Shaw
• LPN Program- management structure has been adjusted so that the program reports directly to building principals. No more RAPS
• Stipulated Agreement signed for LPN clinical coverage- payments in 11/20/09 checks
• Five people on Administrative Leave, two have now returned to work
• In four of the cases, DCF was involved
• Building Reps should NOT participate in DCF investigations- AFT’s Ferguson and Doyle may assist in this process
• Draft of Seniority List emailed to home and school
• PE and Health list reflects a big change due to combining
• Please inform Ed of errors and omissions on the list ASAP
• Breakout groups worked on blue “Case Scenario” activity sheet

President’s Report: Rick Tanasi

• State BOE VT Sub Board met on 10/14 with Commissioner McQuillam
• Much pressure from OFA and the State BOE on CTHSS inventory by school
• JM Wright building will be sealed in the near future.
• Inventory ongoing and distributing inventory to other schools continues
• Admissions Policy to CTHSS- one Board Member proposes changing the 9^th grade failing grade to “70”
• CTHSS enrollment currently stands at 11,077 including adults.
• Met informally with Central Office on 10/27to discuss concerns such as Whitney, lack of supplies, new teacher orientation, Pat Ciccone’s vision for our system, low enrollment plans
• Again, tone of these meeting has changed significantly since departure of Dr. Hughes
• Major concern is Eli Whitney and the loss of bonded funds
• Rick spoke during the Public Participation segment of the State BOE meeting to voice the concerns of the SVFT on the return of Whitney’s money to the General Fund
• Rick will meet with reporter from New Haven Register on 11/5/09 at Eli Whitney
• A grassroots effort is now underway to alert legislators on this issue and gain their support to keep Whitney from becoming another JM Wright
• Rick has also been in contact with Representative Tony Hart and State Senator Looney
• State of CT Budget: We have given back 700 million dollars and have a 2 year no layoff agreement with SEABAC
• Rick shares the web based NCSL fact sheet on state unions across the country and their specific concessions
• Supplies- the lack of basic educational supplies in trade-technology and academics is compromising our ability to deliver content required by our curriculum
• Realistically, things will only get worse in 2010-2011
• Membership List- Building Reps need to cross check this list at the building level to make sure it is correct
• Communications- missing 5 email addresses from Building Reps
• Web site is still under construction
• Formation of new sub group to research topics and write articles for Vocational Technical Instructor Newsletter and local newspapers- see Rick if interested
• TTAC concerns on paying to for meals for members
• Others commented on the fact that TTAC recommendations are never acted upon, yet we continually are told to ask members for donations to our schools
• HINI- see Administrative Letter # 1
• General Membership Meeting- November 12, 6:30 PM at Wilcox
• Allotments- 8 schools still have not responded on how they will spend their money
• Office Secretary Valerie is now negotiating her contract
• Inventory questions- must sign off 2x per year

Committee Reports:

Health and Safety to meet on 11/16/09 at Norwich Tech

Old Business:

None.

New Business:

• LPN instructors must pay for their license as a requirement of their employment
• This is not the case for trade instructors
• Field Trips- conflicting information on the ability to take field trips this year

Good and Welfare

• Joe Rinaldi, retired HBC instructor, has passed away
• Frank Levanti, retired Math instructor Kaynor, has passed away
• Kim Cerra’s (HBC- Kaynor) brother has passed away
• Tommy D’Amico’s (Plumbing-Abbot) Mother is very ill with cancer
• Gil Pongetti, retired instructor, is recovering from a heart attack
• Sue Loud (Whitney) has been elected to the Zoning Board of Appeals in Prospect
• Happy birthday to Linda DeSousa (Kaynor)
• Veteran’s Day- our President Rick Tanasi asks us to remember all the men and women who have served our nation, past and present

Adjourned: Motion to adjourn at 7:20 PM was seconded and passed unanimously.