Montgomery County Federation of Teachers

Minutes

Executive Council Meeting of April 4, 2006

Location: Home of Joe Monte
Present: Monte, Welsh, Gorman, McElroy, Beatty, Ferraro

Call to Order: 7:15 PM
No Minutes from March 6, 2006 meeting due to lack of quorum.

Special Order of Business: The Council interviewed a MCPS teacher concerning the teacher’s experience with the PAR program. The teacher has over 7 years teaching experience in middle and high school. A parent voiced a complaint about the teacher’s assignments to the Principal and this caused a reaction by the Principal and Area Supt. leading to transferring the teacher to another school. Two weeks after the transfer, the new Principal observed and evaluated the teacher and recommended PAR. The teacher then was offered the opportunity to resign and the teacher is accepting it rather than fight the system.

I. President’s Report: Joe Monte

  1. Joe reviewed the meetings held with Steve Silverman and Ike Leggett in their quest for the County Executive position. He recommended that the Council consider endorsing one of the men since they sought our help.
  2. MCFT received a response from Larry Bowers, COO, concerning our previous Motion relating to the SAT testing.
  3. AFL-CIO and NEA reached an agreement to allow NEA locals to join AFL Central Labor Councils. This would allow joint efforts in political campaigns.
  4. The AFT MD Conference will be held April 21 & 22. We have been encouraged to nominate up to 5 Delegates and Alternates, which we will do later in the meeting.

II. Vice President’s Report: Al Ferraro

  1. Al volunteered to once again host “A Night in Rome” for the benefit of Teachers COPE. It will be held Friday, May 19th starting at 6:30 PM.
  2. Al reported on the legislative reaction to the takeover of 21 Baltimore schools. Extensive discussion followed concerning the consequences of such an action and the possibility that even Montgomery County could be subject to that action.

III. Treasurer’s Report: Bill Welsh

  1. Bill reported that the final Credit Union deduction of dues will be this month. The working agreement with AFT MD has worked well for us.
  2. MCFT is in better financial condition this year since closing our office and saving over $3800 a year in rent. We were able to pass the savings on to our members by reducing dues.

IV. Other Reports

Technology Education: Joe Beatty

Five Tech. Ed. Teachers are retiring this year and there are NO replacements in the pipeline since no Maryland colleges are graduating certified Tech. Ed. Teachers. It is likely that only 8 schools will have Tech. Ed..

Morale among Middle School teachers continues to suffer from workload and pressures from the top. Some principals seem to understand the problems and try to help, but they get pressure from the top.

V. Old Business

None to report.

VI. New Business

  1. Motion to elect Joe Monte delegate to AFT MD convention and Joe Beatty, Bill Welsh, Darlene Kranz, and Dave McElroy alternates. M/S/C
  2. Motion to elect Bill Welsh as delegate to AFT 2006 Convention in Boston. M/S/C
  3. Motion to request that the relationship of Instructional Resource Teachers to the “Baldridge Plan” be investigated in order to determine the proper functions of, selection for, and job description of the IRT position. M/S/C
  4. Motion to endorse Doug Duncan for Governor. M/S/C

Adjourn: 9:07 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Welsh (in the absence of Sec. Williams)

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