MSCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
March 5, 2004
Worcester State College

Present: J. Ambacher, B. Art, G. Concannon, N. George, P. Hogan, P. Markunas, P. McGee, J. McKeon, F. Minasian, C. O'Donnell, G. Price, S. Schlosberg, M. Seider, C. Stigliano, J. Stonehouse, G. Tetrault, D. Twiss.
Guests: D. Sirutis, R. Whalen (MTA)

Approval of the Orders of the Day and the Minutes:
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m.

It was moved and seconded to approve the orders of the day. The motion was amended to make the DGCE tentative settlement the first item of business. The motion, as amended, passed.

It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2004, meeting. The motion passed.

DGCE Bargaining Committee Report:
It was moved and seconded to go into executive session to discuss the DGCE tentative settlement. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded to come out of executive session. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded that the MSCA Board of Directors recommend ratification of the 2003-2006 collective bargaining agreement between the MSCA/DGCE/MTA/NEA and the Board of Higher Education/Council of Presidents, which contains an agency fee provision. A roll call vote was conducted:

J. Ambacher.Yes
B. Art. No
G. Concannon.Abstain
N. George.Yes
P. Hogan..Yes
P. McGee.Yes
J. McKeon.Yes
F. Minasian.No
C. O'Donnell.Yes
G. Price.Yes
S. Schlosberg.Yes
M. Seider.Yes
C. Stigliano.Yes
J. Stonehouse.Yes
G. Tetrault.No
D. Twiss.Yes

The motion to recommend ratification passed by a vote of 12 in favor, three opposed and one abstention.

It was moved and seconded to conduct the ratification vote on March 31, 2004, from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. and to count the ballots on April 2, 2004, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Worcester State College. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded to congratulate MTA Consultant Robert Whelan, DGCE Bargaining Committee Chairperson David Twiss and the DGCE bargaining team for their work on behalf of the DGCE membership. The motion passed unanimously.

President's Report:
President Markunas discussed statewide issues and problems with the Board of Higher Education. She placed seven action items before the Board. The Board acted on these items as follows:

It was moved and seconded to send a letter to the chancellor and the Board chairman, with appropriate copies to the legislature and others, expressing our lack of confidence in the chancellor's ability to provide leadership on the issue of accountability, given the actions taken in February to release the Accountability Report to the press while withholding it from the college presidents, the members of the BHE and the union. This letter will request a meeting with the chancellor and/or the chairman to explain the actions taken. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded to appoint an ad hoc committee of the MSCA Board to prepare an "Accountability Report" of the performance of the Board of Higher Education, to be released to the press in advance of the April 20th BHE meeting at Fitchburg State College. Directors Art and Tetrault volunteered to serve on this ad hoc committee. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded that a demonstration be held at the April 20th Board of Higher Education meeting at Fitchburg, stressing the perennial theme of "Attacking State Colleges IS class Warfare" and other messages as appropriate. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded that a letter of support be sent for Representative Kujawski's letter to the chancellor and that this letter be circulated among legislators for additional signatures. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded to request from MTA that it appoint a full-time lobbyist for higher education issues to replace Consultant Arline Isaacson while she is on leave. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded to give a special recognition award to Dr. Jeffrey Ryan, the 2003 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year for refusing to attend a meeting with Secretary of Education Ronald Paige. The motion passed. The specific award to be given will be determined at the April meeting of the MSCA Board.

It was moved and seconded to give the 2004 MSCA Friend of Education Award to State Representative Paul Kujawski, (D-8th Worcester). The motion passed.

Vice President's Report:
The vice president expressed his concern over the vacancy of the position of higher education lobbyist at MTA. He wants this position filled during Ms. Isaacson's absence. He also noted that the compensatory time issue is still being discussed at the ERC. So far, no definitive resolution has been agreed to.

Secretary's Report:
It was moved and seconded that, because the number of nominees is fewer than the number of delegate seats, to waive the at-large election and elect the following seven delegates to the NEA-RA. The motion passed. The delegates elected are:

Patricia V. Markunas (Salem) Gerald Concannon (Mass Maritime) Stanley Jackson (Westfield) Joel Litvin (Bridgewater) Charles Wellens (Fitchburg) Leonard Paolillo (MCLA) Joseph Ebiware (MCLA).

It was moved and seconded that the delegates be given a stipend of $1200 each subject to the verification of attendance provisions of the 2003 NEA-RA. The motion passed.

Committee Reports:
It was moved and seconded to change the order of business to hear the report of the (day) Bargaining Committee. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded to change the order of business to hear the report of the Grievance Committee. The motion passed.

It was moved and seconded to change the order of business to hear the report of the Health and Welfare Trust. The motion passed. D. Twiss informed the Board that Met-Life has contributed $75,000 to the Health and Welfare fund. This was an unexpected windfall.

It was moved and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.