Special committee needs

Good Morning!

Our most recent CBA included language that created special joint labor and management committees to investigate areas of perpetual concern, and provide suggestions to our negotiating team and the Weymouth school committee. These committees and their charges are outlines below. Each committee is made up of 4 members from WPS administration, and up to 4 members of the WEA. As you will see, two committees are still under-represented on our side, after several months of soliciting through our building reps. The list will be made final on Tuesday, November 26 at 2:00 PM. If a committee is still under-represented by then, then the WEA will be at a disadvantage.

I am so appreciative of the many volunteers who have stepped up to serve as building reps and on these, and other committees. We all fully realize the impact that Weymouth budget crisis 2013 is having on our lives this year. With so many corners being cut, our jobs are overwhelming. The WEA officers and grievance team are pushing back every step of the way, but as a district, and as a union, we need long-term solutions. We need changes to the current practices and bargaining agreements that only this committee-work can achieve. The expectation is that no more than 4 meetings will be scheduled for each committee at mutually agreed upon, and convenient times.

Time Committee, to look at the current use of time during the teacher work day. This is in response to the school committee position that in order for WPS to succeed in its goals more time needs to be added to our work days, especially at the primary and middle school levels either in a longer work day or by adding monthly meeting time. During the contract negotiation process, bargaining members countered this notion with the opinion that there is plenty of existing time in our schedule, but that time is not being used effectively. The committee will investigate how current contractual time is being used, and make recommendations for improved use. Distrrict Members: Susan Kustka (point), Jean McLean, Pat Costello, Dan Birolini; WEA Members: Maggie Murphy (point) NEEDS 3 MORE.

PD Committee, to investigate areas of professional development needs in the district and make recommendations to Dr. Salim. District Members: Garry Pelletier (point), Jeremy Burm, Kelly Stukenborg, Jen Curtis Whipple; WEA Members: Joni Cederholm (point), Mike Miller (Chapman), Maggie Murphy, Millie Ficarra. ALL SET, expect to hear shortly from admin for scheduling

JLM Ed Evaluation Committee. This committee is mandated by state law as a way to review the Ed Eval system and recommend changes to the bargaining committee. The WEA bargaining committee is myself, Mary Lou Buell, WEA president, Rich Duseau, WEA vice president, and Mike Murphy, the WEA chair of the Ed Evaluation committee that created our proposals for bargaining last year. It was advised by WEA that a different set of eyes work on the JLM Ed Eval committee---and also, the three of us are all WHS teachers, so we need another perspective here. District Members: Susan Kustka (point), Marianne Weiner, Laura Stevenson, Joe Amoroso; WEA Members: Cheryl Taylor (point), NEEDS 3 MORE.

Appendices Committee, to review all of the stipends in our CBA for coaches, extra-curricular activites, and paid duties. The appendices have not been reviewed in many years, and both sides believe our stipends to be out-dated. District Members: Susan Kustka (point), Mickey McGonagle, Kevin Mackin; WEA Members: Billy McEachern (point), Mike Miller (WHS), Melissa Faulkner, Brendan Poirier. ALL SET, expect to hear shortly from admin for scheduling.

Again, thank you to all who have stepped forward. If additional members can find a way to answer my plea, simply reply to this email, and I will forward your names to Dr. Salim.

Thank you, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!
Mary Lou