TSTA Region AOT 4A

Minutes    

Dec. 8, 2007

 

The Board of Directors of TSTA AOT 4A met Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007, at Spring Creek Barbecue in Tyler. The meeting was called to order at 11:20am by Vice-President Winifred Jackson.

 

Everyone present was asked to introduce himself, since several locals not usually present were in attendance (Chapel Hill, Marshall, Wood County). The pledges were led by Vice-President Winifred Jackson, and the agenda was approved with flexibility (Renee Steele, Becky Cerliano). Minutes were approved with spelling corrections (Judy McNeil, Renee Steele).

 

Judy McNeil presented her Treasurer’s Report, with an update of recently deposited money. The report was approved.

 

Judy McNeil presented her Community and Instructional Advocacy Report from her October meeting (she was absent in November). Read Across America is upcoming in March, and materials are available through the NEA website. Nominations for awards are upcoming or just passed.

 

Becky Cerliano, Credentials Bylaws & Elections has not had another meeting, and so no report. Winifred Jackson noted that Interview and Endorsement meetings will be upcoming in December and very early January, and that any regional officer or continuing contributor can attend any such meeting. The Legislative and Political Action Committee of which she is a member will meet in mid or late January to accept recommendations.

 

The Governance Task Force of Becky Cerliano, Winifred Jackson, and Stephen Smallwood are members, has not had another meeting.

 

Winifred Jackson met with E-MAC in Washington, D.C., and helped plan upcoming conferences. She is also a member of a teacher certification committee, which met in November.

 

Regional members funded to NEA conferences include Becky Cerliano to Western Regional Leadership Conference and Lois Stephens to that meeting plus the Ethnic Minority Conference just preceding it. Local members from North Lamar plan to fund themselves, and Dora Richardson of Linden-Kildare will also attend. Barbara Davis-Staley will be working the Ethnic Minority Conference for the Black Caucus.

 

In the absence of President Barbara Davis-Staley (due to a funeral), Vice-President Winifred Jackson read some summary information from the minutes from the last TSTA State Board of Directors meeting. Delegate elections for the State House of Delegates April 18-19 in Plano were discussed. Ethnic representation MUST be accomplished. Locals MUST send a copy of the notice of the election with the date, a copy of the ballot, and a copy of the tally sheet by which winners are determined. All of this MUST be in TSTA headquarters by 5:00pm, March 15.

 

NEA-RA elections must also be carefully conducted.

 

Staff person Janna Connolly indicated that she had the master calendar and could schedule building visits. She also asked locals to let her know if they need more materials.

 

The January 5 meeting was discussed. That meeting would be about two weeks of work time, since schools are out for Christmas break. Some schools will not be back in session by then, and NO committee meetings will take place before then. Also, with NEA meetings in January and committee meetings in January, most of the regional officers are committed to 2 or to 3 weekends even without the January 5th date.

 

The BoD voted (Pat McLean, Judy McNeil) to cancel the January 5 meeting. Announcements included dates listed on the agenda.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:09pm. The next meeting will be in Tyler at Spring Creek Barbecue on February 9.

 

After adjournment, Staff (Janna and Charles) remained and worked with locals to help them write plans to meet the new compliance requirements.