CLOSURE STATEMENTS

March 19, 2003            6:30 PM

Present:
Claudia Bill
Many Jane Ingram
Connie Helm [absent]
Mary Ann Wilcox
Perry Soldwedel
Bill Link
Jeff Nelson
Chris Zimmerman
Jeff Brooks
Len Ealey
John Emery
Linda Van Dyke
Sharon Urban [absent]
Pat Keck [Welcome to the committee]
Matt Wilkinson [Resource Participant]Dan Walther [Resource Participant]

BOE President Zimmerman convened the meeting at 6:35 p.m.  EAP President Bill and BOE President Zimmerman served as co-facilitators of the meeting.

Superintendent Soldwedel shared information related to Spring Lake School District 606’s proposal to send its regular division and special needs  7^th-8^th grade students to the district on a pro-rated tuition basis starting in the 2003-2004 school year. While the prospect of increased revenue could potentially restore two full-time teaching positions [one each at the respective junior high schools] the overall terms and conditions of the proposal may not be in the district’s best interests.  The board will discuss the proposal and provide further direction to the administration for closure to the proposal. 

AGENDA ITEMS

District Early Retirement Incentive Memo/Sick Leave

EAP President Bill revisited the Association’s continued desire to address the 2-year accumulated sick leave [340 day sick leave cap] legislation [Public Act 92-0867] signed into law this past January. Business Manager Wilkinson reviewed the Salary & Benefits Committee’s discussions held on March 11, 2003 related to this issue.

The summary of the Salary & Benefits Committee’s meeting follows:

The Committee reviewed information related to two-year sick leave legislation as well as the previous memo of understanding related to the District’s early retirement incentive.  It appears that the current language proposed would address the availability of two years of sick leave for retirement purposes, however, it does not address how prior year sick leave over the cap set in the contract can be applied towards retirement.  TRS has established a way to determine available days that can be added, however, they do not address a procedure nor is the District required to give credit for sick days that are over the District’s contract limit. 

District Early Retirement Incentive Memo/Sick Leave…………Continued.

The Board and Association participated in an interest-based process to flush out interests that both parties have regarding this issue. The Administration will work to develop a procedure to systematically calculate and give credit in a manner that is equitable to all staff.  We will receive input from other districts and associations to see how others are addressing this issue. 

We want to take the time to do this right the first time and avoid further changes to the contract.  The Association will also seek to gather information from IEA and other associations on this issue.

Sick Leave Bank/Contract Development Follow-up Issue

WEB Chair Mary Jane Ingram sought affirmation the of “sick leave bank for catastrophic illness/event” issue identified during contract development this past spring would be addressed by the district and Association.  It was mutually agreed the District Health Insurance Committee will begin earnest discussions regarding this issue at its next meeting [March 25, 2003].  Future updates will be shared with the Communications Committee.

Sick Leave Policy 5:180

Update on the status of the proposed revisions of BOE Policy 5:180: during the March 11, 2003 meeting of the Salary & Benefits Committee, participants reviewed and confirmed shared interests in their efforts to come to mutual resolution regarding concerns the Association has pertinent to the proposed wording revisions for BOE Policy 5:180 General Personnel: Temporary Illness or Temporary Incapacity.

The Salary & Benefits Committee’s 3.11.03 closure statements follows:

John Emery shared interests in seeking a mutual resolution to concerns the association has regarding the revisions for Board policy 5:180 General Personnel: Temporary Illness or Temporary Incapacity.  John sought clarification from Linda Cala, representative of the Policy Service, about changes to this issue.  It seems that changes were recommended due to court cases and legislation related to these issues.

The Association is concerned the policy does not address a catastrophic health event and the possible consequences of such an event as it relates to employment.  The Association asked the Administration to give consideration to the third paragraph of the proposed policy and asked that we would address catastrophic events.   Specifically, the Association would like to change the words “shall be considered a permanent disability” to “may be considered a permanent disability”.   IEA will have legal counsel review proposed policy and potential impacts and the District will consider language changes and review with the Policy Service and District legal counsel.

Dan Walthers and John Emery will do follow-up research and bring the information to a future meeting of the Salary & Benefits Committee scheduled for Wed., April 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m. for review, discussion and mutual resolution. Follow-up information will be shared with the Communications Committee.

SILT Training Update

The committee heard an update related to future SILT training focusing on the IBP [Interest Based Problem] Solving framework.  IEA Facilitator Lynn Adler has agreed to provide training for all SILT members serving on leadership teams.

There will be two training opportunities provided to all SILTs:

Option 1: Aug. 18-19 [Mon./Tues.] or  Option 2: Aug. 20-21 [Wed./Thurs.]

6:00-9:00 p.m., district location to be determined.

Dan Walther and John Emery will meet with Lynn Adler to organize the training sessions.

Pres. Bill will communicate with Association members related to this very important training opportunity for all SILT members.

Contract Development Team & Communications Committee Spring Retreat

Superintendent Soldwedel shared a draft copy of the “Communications Committee Work in Progress” document.  The document contains the history, governance, code of conduct, parameters and signature page.  Committee members were asked to review the draft copy and contact Claudia, Perry or Chris if there are any corrections or clarifications needed in text.  The document will be distributed prior to the spring retreat for review by the Contract Development Team.  

CONFIRMED date for the spring retreat: April 29, 2003.  The Communications Committee will convene at 6:30 p.m and the Contract Development Team will convene at 7:30 p.m.   Format: 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. start time.  Supt. Soldwedel and EAP Pres. Bill will inform respective participants of the April 29 date.

Alternative School Update

EAP Pres. Bill requested an informational update on the “pilot” Alternative School program housed at Edison Jr. High School. Supt. Soldwedel shared the program is still in the formative stage of development.  Asst. Supt. Bowen continues to monitor the programs effectiveness and will present a report to the Board of Education in May.

In addition to Supt. Soldwedel’s brief update, the committee revisited the process of how issues/concerns should be addressed prior to becoming an agenda item for the Communications Committee’s review.  As issues/concerns arise, effort should be made to discuss, clarify and resolve the concern as soon as possible at the site/source of where the issue arises. When such a concern arises, the building principal should be the first point of contact.  If a district level administrator is responsible for a particular program/service, an initial contact should be made to directly to that individual.  Going “to the source” will assure timely attention and response.

If a concern is still not resolved, the building’s Association Representative would contact the Association’s executive leadership for further exploration of the issue[s] and communication with district administration.  If the issue/concerns continues to be unresolved and is widespread throughout the district, then the Communications Committee would review the issue.

Future Discussion Topic

The Communications Committee’s role, function, purpose and effectiveness has evolved over the past few months.  To further enhance and improve the effectiveness of the committee, a future topic will be added to an upcoming agenda [perhaps on 4.29.03] to continue further discussions related to operational processes, roles of key leaders and members, what/how/when does a topic and/or issue come to the Communications Committee, who decides the appropriateness of agenda items, etc.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 23, 2003

Meeting Time: 6:30 PM

Location: District Conference Room

COMMUNICATIONS COMM/03 3 19 Closure Statements