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Unapproved
Lincoln Education Association
http://www.lincolneducationassociation.org
Board of Directors
September 15, 2008
4:30 p.m., LEA Office
PRESENT: Jenni Absalon, Marcia Benner, Julia Doerr, Linda Freye, Matthew Hoffman, Jan
Olmstead, Deb Rasmussen, Arlene Rea, Tammy Schafer, Karen Shelton, Resa Wiltse
ABSENT: Jan Stamper, LEA-R
ALSO PRESENT: Gina Parish, Dan Studer, and Jim Rea. Guests: Daniel Ross
CALL TO ORDER: Arlene Rea called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. The meeting started
at 4:32 p.m. to allow three Board members travel time from other meetings.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of August 7, 2008 Board Meeting were approved as
printed. The Summary of August 25, 2008 Work Session was distributed.
BUDGET REPORT: Marcia Benner
The Financial Report for July 2008 was shared with the Board. We have bills to pay for
August and it appears that we will be over budget.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION:
President’s Report—Arlene Rea
Association and Membership Update—As of today, 172 new members! Thanks to all for your
hard work! We know that membership is a year-long effort.
Request for Membership Cancellation—The Board took no action on this request.
LEA Board of Directors 2008-2009—Arlene shared the updated list for this year.
Website Update—Check it out! There are some advertisers helping to support the Association
– please patronize our supporters. Click on www.lincolneducationassociation.org.
Ad Hoc Committee of the Board on RA/Travel meeting expenses—Arlene asked for three
Board members to review policy and procedures in this area. The committee will look at NSEA
guidelines for some initial direction.
Update on ProCom Action Plan for Teacher Workload—Arlene Rea, Jim Rea and Gina Parish,
NEA Intern, have been visiting buildings. Elementary schools know about the Best Practices
discipline handbook. The ProCom Action Plan for Teacher Workload states that district wide
assessments will be printed as soon as possible. At the elementary level, math has been
printed and distributed. Reading theme tests have not been. Sped concerns continue to arrive
at LEA. Arlene has met with Mary Ells and Mary has said that she will answer the concerns.
Nominations of three people to the Elections Committee—See ACION ITEMS.
Committees and Committee Chairs— See ACTION ITEMS.
September 18, 2008 FR Council—Ken Haar will be at this meeting. We will elect the
Elementary Board Seat representative.
I Can Do It—Linda Freye and Marcia Benner
Seven people signed up; the minimum number was ten. The concern was the use of time and
district money. Interested parties may be able to attend the session October 18, 8:00 a.m. to 3:
30 p.m.
Other—Board members received leather portfolios compliments of 1st NE Educators Credit
Union.
UniServ Director’s Report—Dan Studer
Dan reported he has represented a member at a meeting with the member, their principal, and
Risk Management re: the member’s need for accommodations at the workplace and has met
with a member re: potentially filing a discrimination charge against their administration. LEA
requested legal advice on behalf of a retired member who has returned to LPS, is being
treated as a “new hire,” is required to take disability insurance as per the contract, but if the
member is disabled they will not receive benefits because they are drawing on their state
retirement. Dan also reported advising members who are losing plan and/or lunch time and a
number of members who have had to deal with volatile student issues already this year. Dan
presented his twice-annual Member Rights seminar to UN-L Elementary Ed Student Teachers
last Monday night. Gina accompanied Dan to the presentation and has sat in on some of the
Member Rights meetings, too. In response to a Board member’s question, Dan advised that it
is best to always have an administrator’s wishes regarding allowing students’ use of restroom
privileges in writing, especially if the administration is requesting any restrictions be placed
upon the student (i.e. before a drug search).
Report from Gina—Gina Parish, NEA Intern
After three weeks, Gina said…it's been great; I’ve learned a lot. All school districts have
problems that are alike. I have been to several schools and they have all been different. I
have attended LPSDO Board meetings and met some of the district personnel. I look forward
to more challenges and learning experiences in Lincoln.
Executive Director’s Report—Jim Rea
Financial Statement—the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008. In October, Jim will review the
last fiscal year and the new fiscal year.
Elaine and Jim are preparing documents for the annual financial audit. The audit will be
presented to the Board in December.
Reported the District request to have on file at LPSDO original payroll deduction forms from all
LEA members. This request resulted in nearly 130 hours of staff and volunteer time to
complete.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board is going to try a new format for Board meetings; the first meeting of the month will
consist of a short board meeting following by planning and the second meeting of the month
will be devoted to Board action etc.
ACTION ITEMS:
Motion to approve 2008-2009 Committee Chairs. The LEA Board approve the Committee
Chairs and Co-Chairs. Shelton/Doerr Voting YES: Absalon, Benner, Doerr, Freye, Hoffman,
Olmstead, Rasmussen, Rea, Schafer, Shelton, Wiltse Voting NO: none Absent/Not Voting:
none
The Board nominated Paula Buckner, Scott; Pam Olsen, Huntington; and Jennifer Northouse,
Bryan Learning Center. The Board approved these nominees and they will join the 2008-2009
LEA Elections Committee.
COMMENTS, CONCERNS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Registering for Benefits: Question: If a member takes no benefits, why do they need to fill out
all of the questions? Response: Ken Babcock, from Human Resources, states, “Through
completing the enrollment process, the district has definitive proof that the employee knew of
his/her eligibility for the various forms of insurance but chose not wish to participate. This is
particularly important this year when we have an open enrollment for health insurance. Also,
the answers given concerning why an employee declines the health insurance are important
when we compute our participation percentages for EHA.”
Discussion centered around the timing of building flex when all seven hours are to be
completed during the first quarter. This is good and bad news. Staff at buildings need to be
more proactive in working with the administration to develop schedules that meets the needs of
staff.
Many elementary staff are still concerned that there is so much to do (BIST, Teaming, and new
curriculum) and so little time.
Benefits: Some building principals are sending out benefit notices to staff with school ID
numbers included. Response: Individuals have talked to their principals.
ADJOURNMENT: Arlene adjourned the meeting at 5:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Benner
LEA Secretary-Treasurer
Lincoln Education Association
http://www.lincolneducationassociation.org
Board of Directors
September 15, 2008
4:30 p.m., LEA Office
PRESENT: Jenni Absalon, Marcia Benner, Julia Doerr, Linda Freye, Matthew Hoffman, Jan
Olmstead, Deb Rasmussen, Arlene Rea, Tammy Schafer, Karen Shelton, Resa Wiltse
ABSENT: Jan Stamper, LEA-R
ALSO PRESENT: Gina Parish, Dan Studer, and Jim Rea. Guests: Daniel Ross
CALL TO ORDER: Arlene Rea called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. The meeting started
at 4:32 p.m. to allow three Board members travel time from other meetings.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of August 7, 2008 Board Meeting were approved as
printed. The Summary of August 25, 2008 Work Session was distributed.
BUDGET REPORT: Marcia Benner
The Financial Report for July 2008 was shared with the Board. We have bills to pay for
August and it appears that we will be over budget.
INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION:
President’s Report—Arlene Rea
Association and Membership Update—As of today, 172 new members! Thanks to all for your
hard work! We know that membership is a year-long effort.
Request for Membership Cancellation—The Board took no action on this request.
LEA Board of Directors 2008-2009—Arlene shared the updated list for this year.
Website Update—Check it out! There are some advertisers helping to support the Association
– please patronize our supporters. Click on www.lincolneducationassociation.org.
Ad Hoc Committee of the Board on RA/Travel meeting expenses—Arlene asked for three
Board members to review policy and procedures in this area. The committee will look at NSEA
guidelines for some initial direction.
Update on ProCom Action Plan for Teacher Workload—Arlene Rea, Jim Rea and Gina Parish,
NEA Intern, have been visiting buildings. Elementary schools know about the Best Practices
discipline handbook. The ProCom Action Plan for Teacher Workload states that district wide
assessments will be printed as soon as possible. At the elementary level, math has been
printed and distributed. Reading theme tests have not been. Sped concerns continue to arrive
at LEA. Arlene has met with Mary Ells and Mary has said that she will answer the concerns.
Nominations of three people to the Elections Committee—See ACION ITEMS.
Committees and Committee Chairs— See ACTION ITEMS.
September 18, 2008 FR Council—Ken Haar will be at this meeting. We will elect the
Elementary Board Seat representative.
I Can Do It—Linda Freye and Marcia Benner
Seven people signed up; the minimum number was ten. The concern was the use of time and
district money. Interested parties may be able to attend the session October 18, 8:00 a.m. to 3:
30 p.m.
Other—Board members received leather portfolios compliments of 1st NE Educators Credit
Union.
UniServ Director’s Report—Dan Studer
Dan reported he has represented a member at a meeting with the member, their principal, and
Risk Management re: the member’s need for accommodations at the workplace and has met
with a member re: potentially filing a discrimination charge against their administration. LEA
requested legal advice on behalf of a retired member who has returned to LPS, is being
treated as a “new hire,” is required to take disability insurance as per the contract, but if the
member is disabled they will not receive benefits because they are drawing on their state
retirement. Dan also reported advising members who are losing plan and/or lunch time and a
number of members who have had to deal with volatile student issues already this year. Dan
presented his twice-annual Member Rights seminar to UN-L Elementary Ed Student Teachers
last Monday night. Gina accompanied Dan to the presentation and has sat in on some of the
Member Rights meetings, too. In response to a Board member’s question, Dan advised that it
is best to always have an administrator’s wishes regarding allowing students’ use of restroom
privileges in writing, especially if the administration is requesting any restrictions be placed
upon the student (i.e. before a drug search).
Report from Gina—Gina Parish, NEA Intern
After three weeks, Gina said…it's been great; I’ve learned a lot. All school districts have
problems that are alike. I have been to several schools and they have all been different. I
have attended LPSDO Board meetings and met some of the district personnel. I look forward
to more challenges and learning experiences in Lincoln.
Executive Director’s Report—Jim Rea
Financial Statement—the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008. In October, Jim will review the
last fiscal year and the new fiscal year.
Elaine and Jim are preparing documents for the annual financial audit. The audit will be
presented to the Board in December.
Reported the District request to have on file at LPSDO original payroll deduction forms from all
LEA members. This request resulted in nearly 130 hours of staff and volunteer time to
complete.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Board is going to try a new format for Board meetings; the first meeting of the month will
consist of a short board meeting following by planning and the second meeting of the month
will be devoted to Board action etc.
ACTION ITEMS:
Motion to approve 2008-2009 Committee Chairs. The LEA Board approve the Committee
Chairs and Co-Chairs. Shelton/Doerr Voting YES: Absalon, Benner, Doerr, Freye, Hoffman,
Olmstead, Rasmussen, Rea, Schafer, Shelton, Wiltse Voting NO: none Absent/Not Voting:
none
The Board nominated Paula Buckner, Scott; Pam Olsen, Huntington; and Jennifer Northouse,
Bryan Learning Center. The Board approved these nominees and they will join the 2008-2009
LEA Elections Committee.
COMMENTS, CONCERNS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Registering for Benefits: Question: If a member takes no benefits, why do they need to fill out
all of the questions? Response: Ken Babcock, from Human Resources, states, “Through
completing the enrollment process, the district has definitive proof that the employee knew of
his/her eligibility for the various forms of insurance but chose not wish to participate. This is
particularly important this year when we have an open enrollment for health insurance. Also,
the answers given concerning why an employee declines the health insurance are important
when we compute our participation percentages for EHA.”
Discussion centered around the timing of building flex when all seven hours are to be
completed during the first quarter. This is good and bad news. Staff at buildings need to be
more proactive in working with the administration to develop schedules that meets the needs of
staff.
Many elementary staff are still concerned that there is so much to do (BIST, Teaming, and new
curriculum) and so little time.
Benefits: Some building principals are sending out benefit notices to staff with school ID
numbers included. Response: Individuals have talked to their principals.
ADJOURNMENT: Arlene adjourned the meeting at 5:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Marcia Benner
LEA Secretary-Treasurer
| LEA Board Minutes The LEA Board of Directors is made up of twelve LEA members elected by their peers. The Executive Committee of the Board consists of the President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer. In addition to the Executive Committee, there are three elementary representatives, one middle level representative, two high school representatives and three at-large representatives. The Board meets at the LEA Office twice a month during the school year and once per month during the summer. Members are always encouraged to come and observe. |