Minutes from Building Representative Meeting
9/16/14
In attendance: Lianna Spring (BBES), Diane Espinosa (AHS), Jessica Wilson (Yancey), Yulanda
Hatchett (Monticello), Shirley Palmer (AHS), Therese Murphy (AHS), Charlotte S. Wood (AHS), Anne
Geraty (MLES), Cheryl Knight (WMS), John Burke (Technology), Tracy Aglio (AHS), Teresa Tyler
(AHS)Bekah Saxon (Uniserv Director)
OLD BUSINESS
What to do with the lunch survey data

Lunch time equality issue: Many teachers are getting less than 25 to 30 minutes for lunch, especially
teachers of younger students, who must help students through the lunch line. Sometimes students must
wait in line until the previous classes clear the tables, thus delaying the teacher who is dropping the
students off. This is more true of younger grades when the teacher must help students through the line
than of older grades. This may unfortunately be the nature of teaching elementary students, but it seems
there should be a minimal amount of time that teachers can expect to have duty free to eat lunch if stress
and burnout are to be avoided.

Of particular concern is that Bright Stars preschool teachers have NO breaks at all during the day
and must do both planning and lunch in the room with students while students are napping.

Lunch duty - how many elementary schools require teachers to do lunch duty? Almost no elementary
teachers are assigned lunch duties during their lunch breaks. This is more common at middle and high
school and is somewhat compensated by the fact that middle and high school teachers have longer
planning periods each day.

Time and compensation survey: This survey was prepared jointly by the AEA and the administration.
The results are in and will be shared by Matt Haas at the Exchange meeting on September 30, as well as
a discussion about how to use the data to assist in developing budget requests.

PD days—question from member about whether it is possible to have more flexibility? Many of the
course offerings over the summer were not relevant to some teachers such as SPED and PE. Can we
have more coordination so that all subject area needs are met? Can we survey teachers to see what
types of training teachers feel that they would benefit from?? There also seemed to be some problems
with recording attendance in some workshops. Teachers who understood that the summer workshops
would provide trade-off days for the first two days of the pre-service week appreciated the flexibility
(much as last year’s green work day was much appreciated!) Not all teachers understood that this was
the case, so perhaps better communication would have clarified that.

Principals expecting teachers to perform some duty during summer, especially on short notice, with a
deadline, and without verifying availability. Take to Exchange a request to please remind principals
that teachers are ten-month employees.

Paying New Teachers—the pay schedule has failed to adjust to the fact that teachers (and especially
new hires) are required to work from nearly the beginning of August (starting August 5 this year), yet do
not get paid until the end of September. That is expecting new hires to work nearly two full months
without pay, often at a time when they have extraordinary expenses attendant to moving.. Is it also true
that their insurance coverage does not start until October 1? This is utterly unconscionable! Take to
Exchange.
NEW BUSINESS
What to do with the compensation survey (just presented)—going to Exchange.
TPA—Who double-checks the data from the TPA? Also, can everyone send Tracy Aglio an example of a
SMART Goal that is working at your school? This is in response to a request by VEA to develop a profile of
how performance assessments of teachers are being developed across the state, as well as to develop a bank of
model performance goals. Please email her at taglio by Friday, Sept. 19. (Oops! A little late on that!)
Survey to address need for teacher input on spending needs: We are working on a survey to seek input from
teachers about needs in their schools. (For example, things that need to be fixed, outmoded or inadequate
supplies, etc..)
For Exchange:
*Preschool (Bright Stars) teachers do not get any break for lunch. Can we ask for minimum lunch for
elementary school teachers?
*Why do teachers not get paid until end of September if they start in early August? New teachers and returning
teachers? When does their health coverage start? It should start the first day of employment.
* Please remind principals that teachers are ten-month employees—setting expectations over the summer is
unreasonable.
*AEA Rep for TAC? Where do we stand on this? This was suggested by Billy Haun and agreed to by AEA,
but there has been no further information.
*Follow up on TPA questions. Different applications for TPA across schools. Earlier Matt said that it was a
matter of training at the administrator level. Where are we now on this? Are we moving to more consistency
across the division?
Additional information for VEA. See info on the next page about the annual VEA instructional
conference—not to be missed—great conference and CHEAP!:
Taking A Stand-Walking the Talk memo OCT 2014.doc
One m0re:
Don't miss out on a great opportunity to tune up your instructional repertoire at VEA's
upcoming instructional conference. This is a GREAT conference!
VEA INSTRUCTION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
Teaching, Learning, Leading: Meeting the Challenge
NOVEMBER 21 - 22, 2014
HILTON RICHMOND HOTEL & SPA / SHORT PUMP
Classroom teachers, teacher education students, education support
professionals, and retired educators will come together for VEA's dynamic IPD
Conference, Teaching, Learning, Leading: Meeting the Challenge.
https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1556505