East Aurora Council of the IFT/AFT  Council

October 1, 2020

Call to Order 4:00 PM, Virtual over Zoom

See attendance on attached page.

Discussion on Council backing Brooke Shanley for Aurora Alderman at Large:

J. Mleckzo introduced Brooke Shanley. She is running for the position of Aurora Alderman at Large and requested the Council endorse her.  

Brooke described the process.  At this time she is circulating petitions and needs about 800 people to be on the ballot in November.  She sees the position as advocacy for our students. The position on the City Council will be impactful.

Mleckzo requested members send him their vote via email.  

Secretary’s Report:    Motion to approve.  (M. Taylor, F. Zafra)  Approved.

Treasurer’s Report: 

Presented 20-21 Budget

Motion to approve 20-21 Budget (J. Kolodziejek, M. Thomas) Approved

President Report:

Mleckzo introduced building representative interns:

  1. Angie Rosa (EAHS)
  2. Heidi Boehning (Brady)
  3. Alba Hernandez (Johnson)
  4. Janet Jaros (Oak Park)
  5. Beth Edens (Gates)

Motion to approve:  (J. Durham, J. Kuehl) Approved.

Stipends:

Mleckzo reported on the pandemic stipends plan the District provided.  

  • He received a stipend plan from the district.  Refer to the plan.  
  • He discussed a question about choir/band directors.  These are job imbedded stipends.  A virtual concert is required.   See plan.
  • According to the AFT Local 604, stipends do not have to be paid if students are not in the building. We are trying to get this changed.. 

This plan will be shared with the Board on Monday at the Board Meeting.

The question of if we go back to the buildings and how that would impact stipends was discussed.  

M. Taylor: Guide Right Program. Mleczko will talk with her privately on this issue.    

Wild card stipends and curriculum council stipends were discussed.

Insurance:

J. Mleczko discussed what the district has decided about insurance for the coming year.  The District informed him that there was an overage of the insurance coverage of about 7%.  This amount of overage triggered a meeting we have to have.  Per the consensus of the advisory committee of union and administration, insurance will go up 7%.  Mleczko discussed how to deal with this in the future.  It will be discussed by the BBT in our upcoming contract negotiations.

There were several questions about the insurance plan.  One relates to the fact that the District is self-insured, meaning we pay for procedures that we and our families need.  (See discussion in the Chat Room Transcription.)

$200 Reimbursement:

  • J. Gentile:  They are talking about funding it. But they do not want it spent on technology. We have been fighting for technology. 

Related topic:  Teachers are spending their own money, or hoping to use the $200 for better tech equipment for remote learning.   State school law states that items purchased by a school district stay in the building for which they were purchased.  Administration was made aware of the fact that teacher computers and other technology are not adequate for teaching.  Dr. Norrell will address this with IT.  Teachers and TAs are all in need of computers that allow them to reach out to the students to teach them.  Teachers and TAs need working computers.  Some TAs are using inadequate equipment and yet are being expected to help the students online.

Returning to the Brick and Mortar Schools:  

  • There is a tentative plan for return to buildings and hybrid.  However, we will be in remote until Jan 4.  Middle school students will be remote until the Tuesday after Martin Luther King’s Birthday.
  • A member is concerned that the internet is inadequate if all students and teachers return to the school.  

Office Staff Concern: 

 Claudio R.  Office staff has to work on Fridays.  There is concern about the affect the chemicals used while they are working and the deep cleaning is going on around them. 

Negotiations: Our Contract (CBA)  ends in June 

  • Do we want to use a Big Bargaining Team (BBT) for the contract bargaining this year?  There was a discussion of what the BBT is and does and its importance.  Motion to approve creation of the BBT.  (J. Waldo, M. Thomas) Unanimous.
    • The BBT is composed of building representatives from each building:  2 from the elementary, 3 from middle school, and 8 from the high school.
    • It meets on Saturdays, 8-12 once a month, but during the negotiation process itself, it may be necessary to meet more often. 
    • It is a paid assignment. 

Negotiations:  Hiring Legal representation (Robert Bloch):

  • Do we want to employ attorney Robert Bloch to work with us again?  He was instrumental in assisting us during the last contract negotiation.  He provided insights, unpacked issues, and informed us on what we were able to challenge the District on.   
  • Motion to hire Robert Bloch for contract negotiations. (J. Fisher, L. Pauli)  
  • J. Mleckzo will reach out to Mr. Bloch to see when we should start. He directed the delegates to start looking at the contract now.  He has provided forms to be filled out with suggestions for changes to the contract.  

Membership:

  • J. Mleczko requested that the delegates go through the membership list and let him of corrections to be made.  He especially needs help with the elementary schools because some of the teachers work at multiple buildings. 
  • Our membership stands at 97%.

Building Representative Concerns:

  • Protocol for administrators entering remote teaching sessions.
    • The practice of school and district administration, facilitators coming into classes was discussed.  
    • It is felt that some type of protocol be established so all involved are aware of the purpose, duration of stay, and verbal interactions.  It was decided that the Communications Committee will draft a protocol statement.

Working Thursdays: 

  • J. Fisher has Teacher Assistants being upset about going in on Thursday and not even going into the same building.  
  • They are coming in after contract time.  Keep a time chart.
  • There was a discussion of support staff calling off on Thursdays.
  • There is a concern that students are coming to school sick and not being sent home.
  • There is a district document of who can come in with what symptoms. Copies were given to the schools.  It was suggested that some be laminated and given to every bus via the Special Education administrators. 

Adjourned.  7:00