Steering Committee Minutes

Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

September 22, 2016

Present: Rick Poulette(Facilitator), Tim Bargeron,Tricia Chesser,Dan Frank, David Freeland, Patti Galloway,Marla Grant, Rivers Lewis,Laura Lovitt-Estima, Lydia Martin, Kathy McGinn, Cynthia Poole, Jon Prince, Vicki Rodriguez, Sandy Rohn, Rafael Sanchez Jr.,Martha Vickers, and Helen Wild.

Handouts

Agenda, Minutes from August 25, 2016, Letter of Understanding (LOU) Concerning Probationary Periods, Continuing Status, and Promotion – CU, and LOU Concerning Hours of Work and Overtime Payment for Safety and Security Officers.

Check In:

Time Constraints: 4:00 p.m.

Meeting Highlights

Acceptance of Minutes
August 25, 2016 Minutes – Minutes were reviewed and approved.

Sub-Committee (SC) Updates

Compensation/Benefits – The SC met September 22, 2016. The SC discussed the Teacher Classroom Supply Assistance Program funds. Checks and directions were sent to school sites mid-September; however, a variety of things are not occurring according to the plan. A call-in session will be scheduled for Principals and Executive School Secretaries to call in with questions concerning the distribution of funds and collection of receipts from teachers. The CTA requested that in the future they be included in this type of communication to employees so that they can answer members’ questions.

The SC also continued discussion aboutTeledoc during their meeting.

ESE – No report. The SC will reconvene after the September Interest-Based Decision Making training.

Detention Center Working Conditions –The SC met for updates on the two remaining issues: maintenance of the facility and the employee calendar. There is now a process in place to report maintenance issues. Both the teachers and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) are aware of the process. The 12-month DJJ calendar only differed from the 10-month District calendar on December 19, 20, and 21. The teachers will be able to request the dates off if they want to and the requests will be approved. The SC has completed its work and SC is dissolved.

CU Subbing Rate –No report. The CTA wants to make sure that Principals understand the intent of the Language was for employees to sub for a class period, not a clock hour. The District will send an email out to Principals notifying them that Behavior Technicians are now eligible for substitutes. A concern was raised about the training rate for CU employees. Currently CU employees receive minimum wage for attending workshops after work hours. A meeting will be scheduled for the week of September 26, 2016 to discuss solutions to bring to the next Compensation meeting. Once a solution is reached a Letter of Understanding will be drafted.

Planning Time – No report. A meeting will be scheduled for the SC to reconvene after the September Interest-Based Decision Making training.

CU Experience for Work – Discussion concerning the Districts process for evaluating years of experience and how years of experience relate to the current position. Determination is based on years related to the position. For example, an employee with 10 years’ experience as a Food Service Worker would not bring that experience in as a Media Clerk as it is not clerical experience. All requests for experience are reviewed on an individual basis. There is an appeals process in place for employees who believe they should receive credit for years of experience they are not granted. The CTA/CU stated that there is a benefit to having employees advance within as they have valuable District knowledge and they should be granted their experience, even if given a percentage of their years with the District.

Draft LOU Concerning SafetySecurity Officers – The Safety and Security SC reconvened on August 8, 2016 for its annual review and had its second meeting on September 7. A LOU was presented to the Steering Committee for review. The LOU provides for Safety Security Officers (SSO’s) to receive a minimum of 3 hours of pay when required to work at District sponsored extracurricular or athletic events outside of the work day. The LOU also provides that SSO’s will receive 3 hours of pay if notice of cancellation is not provided to the SSO at least twelve (12) hours in advance of the event. A motion was made to move forward with the LOU. Outcome: Thumbs up.

Draft LOU Concerning Correction to the CU Contract Article XI.F.1 – The Steering Committee was presented with a LOU to review for CU Contract clean up. When the CU Contract was ratified in 2015, a sentence was added to Article XI.F stating that employees who receive a promotion will have a 90-day probationary period. However, there was Language which was not stricken which states this probationary period is 120 days. The District and the Cu agree that the correct probationary period for promotion is ninety (90) days. In Article XI.F.1 the line stating the probationary period for promotion is one hundred twenty (120) days will be stricken. A motion was made to move forward with the LOU. Outcome: Thumbs up.

Other Issues and Concerns

Discussion concerning the Transportation Department. A concern was raised about a meeting which occurred with Transportation Managers where it was discussed that if employees were out of sick days, and they had to take time off, they would get an “I” on their evaluation. The CTA requested a copy of the email concerning this, if there is one. The CTA discussed an interest in the District looking into a comprehensive strategy for an attendance incentive for all employees. HR representatives recommended that incentives should be tied to a complete attendance improvement model to be effective, otherwise the incentive will not work. They did meet with Transportation to see how they could support the Department. As for attendance problems, that would be looked at on an individual basis to find out what the circumstance is for each employee and how to proceed. For example, an employee may need to go on Family Medical Leave or need accommodations and contractual and board language would need to be followed. The District will be working with the Transportation Department to advise how to handle concerns in the future and to provide training opportunities for staff.

Discussion concerningsalary review and job descriptions. A request was made to reconvene the Job Description Review SC. It was decided not to reconvene the SC. The District stated it is an organizational right to change job descriptions – for example as positions change with technology advances duties/responsibilities need to change.The CTA stated in a collaborative environment, they should be notified when a job description changes. The CWA reminded the District that if a job description changes and it affects employees – for example if qualifications are changed and an employee no longer qualifies for the position he/she works in – that they can negotiate the impact on the employee. The District reminded the CTA and CWA that they are notified when job descriptions are new or impact salary. The District also reminded the CTA and CWA about Board Policy 6.95 concerning Job Descriptions and the adoption of job descriptions.

Discussion concerning School Psychologists and Speech and Language Pathologists having a task added to their job description. CTA discussed that in the past, when there was a significant change to a job description, the CTA was made aware of it. The CTA was reminded that this does happen when new positions are created and when salary changes are made to positions. HR representatives referenced Policy 6.95 concerning job descriptions and that the Board recently adopted job descriptions [September 13, 2016].

Discussion concerning Military Leave. Florida Statute 115.07 states that employees on military leave will receive 240 hours pay (240 hours = 32 days). The Language in the CTA contract states 17 days. Kathy McGinn proposed that a LOU be drafted to change the Language to reflect Florida Statutes. No decision was made to move forward.

Discussion concerning dues deductions for CWA employees. Part-time employees are supposed to pay prorated dues. Rick Poulette has discovered that part-time employees are having too much deducted for their CWA dues. Barbara Audette will be made aware of the discrepancy.

Meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 27, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. Location: Board Room at the District Offices located at 4204 Okeechobee Road, Fort Pierce. The Facilitator will be Christine Hill.

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FACILITATOR SCHEDULE

JANUARY – DECEMBER 2016

January 28Jon Prince

February 25Vicki Rodriguez

March 24David Freeland

April 28Helen Wild

May 26Sandy Rohn

June 23Marty Sanders

August 25Kathy McGinn

September 22Rick Poulette

October 27Christine Hill

November 17Pamela Dampier

December 15Lydia Martin

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