May, 2010
Volume 18, Issue 9
EYES ON THE BOARD
We won!—AFT Communications Awards
McAllen AFT has won two Awards in the Class 3 Classification of Entrants in the AFT 2010 Communications Awards Contest.
Awards will be presented to us on July 6th, 2010. Please look at our web site at top right of this page for winners.
May 24, 2010 - 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Asst. Superintendent Lopez (Business Operations) began the Budget 2010-2011 discussion.
We had to listen carefully as we were not given a copy of the budget. Farias and Kent were absent. There was a lengthy discussion of treating McAllen ISD as a business instead of focused on students and the proper staffing.
Items discussed:
District will follow staffing model—that means more job cuts
1. Discussed cutting counselors for 2010-2011.
2. Movement of coach’s stipends—into other account numbers.
3. Movement of Fine Arts monies into other account numbers.
4. Waiting to hear from Texas Attorney General in regard to not passing stimulus monies to teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses, and speech pathologists—some members of MISD Board talked about cutting salaries.
5. Waiting to hear from TEA regarding district-wide grievance on teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses, and speech pathologists who did not get their step in the fall of 2009. Attorney for the district says McAllen never had a salary schedule but a hiring schedule. If this is won, back pay and interest will be given based on 2008-2009 salary scale.
6. Discussion of what is being cut in other districts—teachers with Masters Degrees, fine arts, athletics, out sourcing bus drivers, plant operations, kitchen, and custodial help.
7. Cutting in special education—unclear what.
8. Discussion of possible raises—was very difficult to figure out—no figures to see.
9. Talked again about attaching evaluation to student scores.
10.Planning future operations.
11.Controlling expenditures.
12.Communicating to administrators of the District’s organizational units.
May 24, 2010 - 6 p.m.-7:45 p.m.
Pulled and delayed cutting health benefit D and DD Days until June or July.
Committee meetings don’t seem to be working—Farias and Kent absent—no reports.
In Monetary Donations from the PTO at Perez Elementary MISD received $50,000 to be applied to a pavilion.
In Monetary Donations from the PTO at Gonzalez Elementary MISD received $45,000 for a new canopy (additional funds added later).
26 students from MISD will participate in the UTPA Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program.
MISD seniors won a total of $12,145,866 in scholarships.
Approved public meeting date for budget.
Approved Interlocal cooperative agreement for Hidalgo County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program.
Graduation coming up on June 5, at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m.
In June there will be additional budget meetings—June 7, June 14, and final approval on June 21.
MCALLEN AFT PRESENTATION TO
MCALLEN ISD BOARD OF EDUCATION
May 24, 2010
Good evening. My name is Ruth Skow, and I am President of the McAllen AFT. We represent employees from the teacher to the custodian.
During the months of December 2009, January and February 2010 we ask teachers and paraprofessionals to participate in our climate survey for McAllen ISD. The survey is web based and handled through the American Federation of Teachers—our national affiliate. We designed the questions with the help of many teachers and paraprofessionals in McAllen ISD. Employees taking the survey were both members and nonmembers (teachers and paraprofessionals)—a total of 852 individuals. We ask ten (10) of our members to review the questions to make sure they were clear before opening the survey on our web site. The American Federation of Teachers handled all the details of hosting the survey, tallying the survey, and formatting the results. We have included a copy of the survey for your information.
Some of the highlights include the following:
1. The school board’s waiver on limiting class size for K-4 has had no effect on my trying to meet the educational, developmental and emotional needs of my students. 64% disagree or strongly disagree
2. Teachers have reasonable class sizes, affording them time to meet the educational needs of all students. 71% somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
3. Efforts are made to minimize the amount of routine administrative paperwork I am required to do. 81% somewhat disagree and strongly disagree
4. Teachers are centrally involved in decision making about educational issues. 63% somewhat disagree and strongly disagree
5. Overall, do you feel supported on matters related to student discipline? 65% say no or not sure
Also this evening we would like to turn in petitions signed by employees in the district regarding their wish to keep the PCI Clinic where employees can receive medical services for a reduced rate. Each Board member has a copy of those petitions signed in the 2009-2010 school year. The Clinic has been a lifesaver for all employees during these difficult economic times.
Thank you.