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Executive Board Minutes - February 16, 2023


Cleveland Heights Teachers Union

Executive Board Meeting
Thursday February 16, 2023
Virtual on Zoom
4:30 PM

Present: 

  • Officers:  K. Rego, T. Underhile, C. Pavel, W. Ward Price, T. Reynolds, D. Lausche, J. Bennett, N. Davis, J. Shelton-Townes, T. Gray
  • High School (HH):  V. Larkins-Forte, M. Mrazek, G. Nachman, J. Tayse, Q. Tucker, G. Wroblewski, J. Boris, M. Johnson
  • Monitors: 
  • Middle School:  M. Friedman, L. Lorek, Q. Teer, K. Marbury
  • Elementary:   N. Davis, K. Duhanich, G. Gee, C. Young, T. White, K. Minnillo, K. Hodson, D. Hirsch
  • Ancillaries: L. Hill
  • Delisle: K. Cooper
  • Student Services: M. Cecconi, A. Mazzone
  • Retiree Liaison: 
  • Immediate Past President: A. Klein
  • Tom Schmida

Absent: N. Williams, S. Glenn-Colley, M. Spears, S. Malek, D. MacDonald

  1. Call to Order at  4:55 pm  after Divisional Meetings
  2. Secretary Minutes from January 2023
    1. T. Underhile moved to accept the Secretary’s minutes from the January 2023 Executive Board Meeting. Seconded by M. Friedman; Voice Vote; Motion approved.
  3. Officers’ Reports:
    1. Divisional Vice Presidents
      1. Middle School - Wendy Ward Woodard 
        1. One School - Success Tutors no longer pulling kids; have been assigned to grade level math classrooms
        2. Rox: Students on contract for behavior (RTI) requiring time daily
        3. Rox:Edmentum (WIN) Period - went from monitoring to requiring small group intervention in reading and/or math and some teachers may not be certified or comfortable (knowledgeable) about that subject
        4. Monti - Boot Camps during advisory period - some teachers not certified for these areas 
        5. Students not receiving consequences 
        6. Questions around restraints with students in ED units; What happens if CPI restraints don’t work (how to keep students and staff safe)
        7. Adult to adult conflicts 
        8. ALC Issues - not staying in room
      2. Elementary - Darrell Lausche & Tina Reynolds
        1.  Limits being placed on meetings during planning time
        2. Report Card window open over a break again
        3. Adopting Wonders but ReadyGen Assessments will still be used
        4. Excessive testing continuing
        5. Title Teachers and IS being pulled from regular jobs for testing, subbing, lunch aids, etc.  Students are not getting their minutes and interventions
        6. Specialists not adequately assigned to meet the needs of all students.  Large groups of students. (30+)
        7. Process for following up with students who are homeless?
          1. Checked at end of the year (per social workers)
        8. Students are being pulled out during core instruction and the teacher of record is responsible for grades. 
      3. High School & Options - C. Pavel 
        1. Monitor was injured a while ago and didn’t get response from HR; in the future, notify union asap. 
          1. Recommend a card for ID badge that outlines procedure for assault
        2. Working on getting teachers to report (email and cc Pavel) to admin when teachers smell substances.  Security footage has  been pulled.  Need a long term solution.
        3. Some doors zip tied open due to the magnets (usually released during fire drill) not working.  This is a safety concern.  
        4. Teacher on maternity leave and there is no long term sub.  Some teachers are subbing. 
        5. Some members having questions about license renewal and new process; 
          1. 2/27/23 virtual and March in person help sessions
          2. HR has the information from the Kiosk
          3. Always keep documentation of what is sent to HR
        6. TBT’s - teachers are not guiding topics; extra meetings being called 
        7. SPED/Intervention Specialists - Admin are not showing up to IEP meetings which are forcing the meetings to be rescheduled.  This puts the IS at risk for not completing the IEP’s on time. 
    2. Vice-President
      1. CHTU Website Updates 
        1. Many FAQ’s can be found on the website
        2. Encourage members to check the website
      2. Vision Coverage
        1. Costco - can submit claims and FSA to help cover the cost of glasses
      3. Independent Work Day
        1. Negotiated - time over money
        2. Teachers can work on what they want, from where they want, as needed.
        3. No meetings are to be scheduled during this day.
        4. Planning for other adults (paras) is not required.
    3. President
      1. Committee Report questions (none asked)
      2. March 2, 2023 - Heights Coalition Event
      3. Meeting with Intervention Specialists next week to discuss issues and needs
  4. Old Business
    1. PD Questions
      1. 4 hours have been used by the district (during the work day); mostly taken up by Public Works trainings
      2. PD can be done by pulling teachers ½ day or full day
  5. New Business  
    1. Two members on paid administrative leave
    2. Union lunch
      1. During the month of May
    3. Other new business
      1. Q. Tucker - Political Director
        1. Looking for one person from each building to be on the committee
        2. OFT looking for 3-5 executive board members to attend a virtual meeting next week  

      6.  Action Items 

  1. Assault Leave Arbitration
    1. T. underhile moved to approve an arbitration for a member who had assault leave denied.  Seconded by: D. Lausche
    2. Roll Call Vote
      1. For:  40  Against: 0 Abstain: 0
      2. Motion Passes
  2. Excessive Discipline Arbitration
    1. T. underhile moved to approve arbitration for a member who has received excessive discipline.  Seconded by C. Pavel.
    2. Roll Call Vote
      1. For:  39 Against:  0 Abstain:  1
      2. Vote: Motion Passes

T. Underhile motioned to Adjourn; Seconded by t. Reynolds; Passed unanimously; meeting adjourned at 6:08 pm


Respectfully Submitted,

Nadine Davis, CHTU Secretary


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