Highlights of the minutes from:

Executive Board Meeting Monday, February 6, 2017

Attendance: Barbara Hafner, Dina Gould, Wayne Heckler, Chris Senia, Lisa
McCarthy, Nancy Sullivan, Laurie Shinners, Amy Rogan, Chad Hanna, Theresa Lent,
Jennifer Corrado, Stacy Schwartz, Lili Ferguson Baraket, Christina Imhof, Teresa
Moore, Jeanine Scully, Robyn Wagner

Location: George Washington Elementary teachers lounge 3:35 pm

I. President called meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.

II. MINUTES of January 9, 2017 were approved
III. REPORTS
Presidents Report: -
Retirement Letters are due by March 1,
2017 to the Superintendent. The letter
should be written as follows, I am
resigning for the purpose of
retirement effective June 30, 2017.
Constitutional Convention Barbara
again discussed the importance of helping
membership to understand the importance
of voting No to opening New Yorks
Constitution
Keeping our Union Strong! There was a
discussion about the importance of keeping
our members united and strong especially
in todays climate.
Grants and College Scholarships are
being offered through the Long Island
Teachers Benevolent Fund (LITBF )
The forms were given to the building reps.
The deadline to apply is March 6, 2017.
The following NYSUT Training conferences
are being offered. Anyone interested please
speak to a building rep. or officer.
Saturday, February 11, 2017 Nassau
Fall Leadership Conference for all current
and potential union leaders (Crest Hollow
Country Club) In addition - Ask one new
person to attend (could be more than one)
Wednesday, March 1 - Post State of
the State--Relevant Issues
Thursday, March 2 Civil Service
Workshop (Nassau Regional office)
Thursday, March 16 Labor
Movement and History Workshop
(Nassau Regional office)
Tuesday, June 6 Tenure Workshop
(Nassau Regional office)
WHEAs meeting with PTA/PTSA/SEPTA was
cancelled. TBD
The following dates are our final five WHEA
Executive Board meetings for 2016-2017:
February 27, 2017 MS , April 3, 2017 CA, May 1, 2017 GW
May 8, 2017 Budget meeting HS, June 5, 2017 MS
Retiree Report: Not present
Secretary Report: Not present
Sympathy cards were sent to families of
WHEA Members (and several district
staff/students) who had suffered a loss.
Directory was updated again due to name
changes
Several polls will be formed and sent to
membership discussing status on union
issues
(Pres. report cont)
WHEA Wear will be arriving this week.
Please submit short articles, limited to one
paragraph with pictures and captions, for
CHALKBOARD to Jennifer Corrado (C.A) at:
wheachalkboard@yahoo.com by the
following deadline: Friday, April 7, 2017
Executive Vice President Report:
Pre-retirement seminar will take place on
Thursday, February 16, 2017 in the Middle
School Cafeteria at 3:30 p.m. If you are
interested, please email Wayne Heckler at
wheaexecvp@gmail.com
Monthly Nassau Tract meeting takes place
tomorrow, therefore cannot yet report on
tract.
Vice President of Legislation Report:
Congrats to Nancy Sullivan who has been
honored as the RA of the year.
Progress Team:
WHEA Scholarship Fundraiser will take place
on Friday, March 3, 2017. We need
volunteers (ticket sellers, raffles, selling
snacks) for the evening. It is our way to
help the seniors.
WHEAs End-of-Year Dinner and Retiree
Recognition will be held on Friday, May 12,
2017 Elks Lodge.
Our union must remain strong during these
tumultuous times. There are lawsuits in the
works to overrule unions. Agency fee is up
for question. If 15% of the membership opts
out, NYSUT and our protection would be
significantly weakened.
There is an Ethics bill that is coming up in
this years election that states that
politicians who are imprisoned shall lose
their pensions.
Grievance Report
Nothing to report at this time.
Treasurer Report:
Reported that all WHEAs financial records
were sent to the auditor and look good.
Everyone should have received his or her
W2s by now.
 Building Reports/Site Based:
Cornwell:

There was a concern that the district should hire a permanent Special Ed. Administrator in order to
gain some stability.

Some computer problems are not being resolved quick enough.

One administrator is possibly talking unprofessionally to teachers.

George Washington:

5th grade teachers are being asked to continue entrepreneur program that began in Stellar. The
teachers were simply given a book and told to continue. The teachers feel that there is not enough
time to add that to their curriculum.
It was reported that some curriculum is being changed without teacher input. They are being
handed boxes and boxes without training and are expected to teach Reading Fundamentals
Program curriculum.

High School:
Pop-in observations -Some of the pop-ins are intrusive. Some administrators stand in the doorway
for 10 minutes and are distracting the students.
Disclosed and undisclosed personal days- Undisclosed cannot be used before a vacation. Some
teachers were being questioned regarding their sick days.
Concerns about weekly messages.

Chestnut Street:

Questions regarding Extra Help and teachers responsibilities.

Questions regarding the validity of teachers & TAs being observed at the same time.
Administrators are not adhering to the proper time line regarding post observation.

Middle School:

There was a safety concern regarding a Lockdown and the correct procedures Should the lights be
closed because with motion detectors, the lights will go on and off depending on the movement it
the classroom, which would alert an intruder. The other concern was whether or not substitute
teachers have keys to lock the doors.
Teachers expressed a need for enough time to complete next year recommendations
There was a question regarding whether or not Co-teachers are being covered when they are
absent. If it says that co-teachers are necessary in a students IEP, than we would not be compliant.
Issues with proctoring schedule
English teachers were asked to pack the boxes after the tests and be given a day off.
There was a question regarding teacher input with the Scheduling with Looping.
Hall duty rotation questioned

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS FOR 2016-2017

February 27: MS
April 3: CA
May 1: GW
May 8: Budget Meeting: HS
June 5: MS
 NYSUT Committee of 100 first week of March

Meeting ended at ____5:45 pm ________

Minutes created by W. Heckler, edited for highlights by D.DiPasquale, WHEA Secretary