February 29, 2012 Meeting

Agenda

Taft College Faculty Association Agenda

Thursday, January 12, 2012

 

  1. Welcome and Lunch

 

  1. Approval of Minutes from November meeting

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report

 

  1. Retirement Board of Authority Update

 

  1. Proposed Updated Bylaws

 

  1. TCFCBC Update
    1. Voluntary Severance Package Update (Notification Deadline)
    2. Frye Language Update
    3. Earning Sick Leave Credit for Overload Assignment
    4. Prioritize Upcoming Topics

 

  1. Retirement gifts (chairs or scholarship donation & plaque)

 

  1. Benefit Highlight – California Casualty Insurance – Amanda Biagioni

 

  1. Other

 

  1. Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 12:10pm, Location: Cougar Room (Lunch will be provided) (Note: 5th Wednesday)

Minutes

Taft College Faculty Association

Minutes of February 29, 2012

 

Call to Order

President Diane Jones called the meeting to order at 12:12 pm.

 

Approval of Minutes

Minutes of the January 12 meeting were approved as presented.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Ruby Payne reported that the current balance in the association account is $6727.27.

 

Proposed Updated Bylaws

President Diane Jones distributed the updated proposed by laws, including the bargaining team composition under the proposed bylaws. A motion was presented and seconded to ratify the updated proposed bylaws. Ratified Unanimously

 

Taft College Faculty Collective Bargaining Committee (TCFCBC) Update

Voluntary Severance Package Update

President Diane Jones reported that two faculty members notified the district of their intent to retire this academic year. This is one member short of the three required to enact the agreed upon STRS severance package.

 

Frey Language Update

President Diane Jones reported that the Board of Trustees pulled this item from the agenda during their last meeting They then discussed this item in closed session. They have asked for a copy of the Frey Report and had questions for Alan Frey. Additionally, Diane and Craig Johnson are going to make a presentation to the board in closed session during their March meeting. Tony Thompson reminded the association that the bargaining unit has made several requests to have a board member present at TCFCBC meetings. Diane stated she could prepare a bargaining update for future board meetings.

 

Earning Sick Leave Credit for Overload Assignment

President Diane Jones read the memorandum of understanding (MOU) presented in our last TCFCBC meeting reflecting the consensus agreement reached in January, and ratified in the last Faculty Association meeting. Diane suggested that association members keep track of their own sick leave hours.

 

Faculty Load Calculations

President Diane Jones reported that this issue was addressed in our last TCFCBC meeting. There have been many questions about load calculations, and their effect on the 50% law. The difficulty lies in how load is calculated for non-teaching faculty. If a 100 % of assignment non-teaching faculty member chooses to teach a three unit class in overload, that faculty member gets paid roughly $3000. The district has been calculating those three units as 10% of a full time annual salary (as much as $10,000) toward instruction in the 50% law. This practice has been changed for Counselors, Librarians, Athletic Director, and Categorical funded faculty. Any overload taught by faculty in these positions is now calculated toward the 50% law in actual overload dollars paid to the faculty member. This issue will remain on the bargaining unit’s radar.

 

Budget

President Diane Jones reported that the district took a $111, 000 hit in tier one cuts, and an additional 3.4% ($552, 000) hit in what is being called the “February surprise”. She reminded members that the budget is a preliminary budget, and has some wiggle room in it. Additionally, we are sitting on a healthy reserve. We are not to panic. Interim Superintendent/President Dick Giese has instituted a non-instructional hiring freeze, and a purchasing freeze beginning April second. Interim Vice-President Patti Bench has stated that she will try to keep personal budgets for 2012-2013 as they are now.

 

Scholarships

President Diane Jones asked Darcy Bogle, Juana Escobedo and David Layne if they wanted to serve on the scholarship committee again this year. They all agreed to continue serving. A motion was presented and seconded to award $2000 in scholarships form Faculty Association funds in scholarships this year, to be awarded as the scholarship committee sees fit. Ratified Unanimously

 

Over Enrollment of Classes by Faculty

President Diane Jones led a brief discussion on the practice of over enrolling classes.

 

Benefit Highlight – California Casualty Insurance – Amanda Biagioni

Amanda gave a brief presentation pertaining to California Casualty Insurance.

 

Other

President Diane Jones reported that Interim Vice President of Instruction Patti Bench has agreed to stay on for a while in her current capacity. The VP search has been suspended. All applications received will be maintained and considered when the search resumes.

 

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 pm.

Supporting Docs