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Solidarity - October 25, 1999

Volume 33, No. 10
We teach the children ... Collectively we decide ... United we act

MTI ELECTION RESULTS

At its October 19 meeting, the MTI Faculty Representative Council re-elected Amy Greenebaum (Hawthorne), and elected Joan Dickerell (East) to at-large positions on the MTI Board of Directors. The Board consists of the MTI President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Past-President, Secretary, Treasurer and four at-large positions. Officers are elected by the general membership in May and the at-large positions by the Council in October.

The Council also re-elected Stuart Dymzarov (on leave) and elected Bobbi Zehner (LaFollette) to the MTI Cabinet on Personnel. The Cabinet, which oversees MTI's employment relationship with its staff, consists of four at-large positions elected by the Council, the MTI President and Treasurer, and the Presidents (or his/her designee) from MTI's educational assistant, substitute teacher, and clerical/technical bargaining units.

For the MTI Finance Committee, the Council re-elected Ruthann Lewis (Black Hawk), Bob Prugh (West) and Dick Varichak (Whitehorse). The Finance Committee consists of the MTI President and Treasurer, three at-large positions elected annually by the Council, and the Presidents (or his/her designee) from MTI's educational assistants, substitute teachers, and clerical/technical bargaining units.

The Council also re-elected Pat Mooney (Emerson), Tom Grogg (Lincoln), and Hall Hardy (Jefferson), and elected Bonnie Augusta (Cherokee) to the Political Action Committee, MTI-VOTERS. The Committee consists of the MTI President, Treasurer, the Presidents (or his/her designee) from EA-MTI, SEE-MTI, USO-MTI, and nine members elected by the MTI Faculty Representative Council, one of whom will be a member of MTI's retired teacher organization.

COUNCIL OPPOSES THREE TIER LICENSING

MTI's Faculty Representative Council last week took strong action against the proposed three tier licensure of teachers. In stating her rationale against three tier licensing, MTI Legislative Committee Chair Barbara Keresty stated, "Wisconsin students have ranked #1 or #2 in the country on most achievement tests for 10 years or more. With money available to local school districts being heavily restricted by the State budget, school districts cannot afford an additional burden such as that which would be placed on them with the proposed three tier licensing system. The current licensing system already contains one of the highest fees in the country. The proposed licensing system would be far more costly and will promote divisiveness, rather than collegiality and sharing of instructional materials and techniques."

It is feared that with peer review, teachers will be pitted against teachers. "Professional educators should not be demeaned by having to jump through such hoops as peer review and developing portfolios of their work," Keresty said.

Keresty asks MTI members to contact their legislators to register their opposition. Phone and email numbers can be found in the MTI calendar. See your MTI Faculty Representative for others to contact.

SCFL ENDORSES DISTRICT REFERENDA

MTI delegates to the South Central Federation of Labor last Monday ushered endorsement by the SCFL Delegate Body of the three District referenda which will appear on the November 9 ballot. The Delegate Body is made up of representatives of all member unions of the SCFL, AFL-CIO.

MTI Executive Director John Matthews said that the SCFL's endorsement of the referenda provides a major boost to passage of the referenda. MTI members are encouraged to assist in the effort to gain passage by the residents of the Madison Metropolitan School District. Those willing to give a helping hand should contact Doug Keillor or Jeff Knight at MTI or see their MTI Faculty Representative.

AUGUSTA NOMINATED FOR BARGAINING COMMITTEE

The transfer of Vaunce Ashby from Sherman Middle School to LaFollette High School resulted in a vacant middle school position on the MTI Bargaining Committee. At the October meeting of the MTI Faculty Representative Council, Bonnie Augusta, a program support teacher assigned to middle schools, was nominated. The election will occur at the November meeting of the Council.

UNITED WAY: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

In her remarks to the MTI Faculty Representative Council last week, United Way spokesperson Kathy Hubbard was expected to talk about the United Way drive with MTI members. Instead, Ms. Hubbard began her remarks by stating, "thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you to those you represent for what you do for children in this community." She also thanked MTI members for their 20% increase in contributions to United Way last year. Last year was the first year that MTI ran the United Way Combined Campaign among MTI represented employees.

Hubbard also thanked MTI for its participation in the Schools of Hope and with the Schools of Hope/United Way Reading Project in the Madison schools. She invited MTI members to become active participants in United Way Committees, such as The Needs Allocation Committee which determines the service agencies that will receive funding from United Way, and the First Call for Help which fields thousands of calls each year. Those interested can contact Kathy Hubbard at 246-4350.

AD HOC COMMITTEE TO STUDY TEACHER WORKLOAD

Given the additional burden on elementary teachers of grading reading and math standardized exams, and the similar added burden on middle and high school teachers regarding scoring and computer entry of grades and other information, MTI President Paula Ferrara-Parrish has appointed three ad hoc committees to study the added burdens and make recommendations to the MTI Board of Directors to seek redress. Appointed are:

Elementary: Gary Mory (Allis), Darcy Wanzong (Shorewood), Margaret McCann (Sandburg), Gail Harris (Midvale), and Maria Cavicchio (Lowell).

Middle School: Donna F. (Whitehorse), Larry Schoenemann (Black Hawk), Lori Hamann (Cherokee), Molly Corbett (Jefferson), and Bob Latchaw (Sherman).

High School: Art Camosy (Memorial), Ted Widerski (LaFollette), Nancy Roth (West), Steve Stuckert (Shabazz), and Cathy Kaplan (East).

Let these individuals know of your concerns and the added burden on you as described above.

CLERICAL/TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES (SEE-MTI) AND OVERTIME

Members of MTI's clerical/technical collective bargaining unit (SEE-MTI) who are performing overtime duties are encouraged to obtain authorization from their supervisor in order to receive overtime pay or compensatory time for performing these duties. It is very important to document any overtime hours worked, whether approved by the supervisor or not in order to ensure compensation. In the event that overtime pay/compensatory time is not being properly granted, contact MTI (257-0491).

PEACE COALITION OFFERS SPEAKERS

Teachers who are interested in having speakers for their classroom about the efforts of the Peace Coalition may contact Bonnie Black (256-5088). The Coalition has speakers available with information that can be tailored to any grade level.

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Posted November 4, 1999