Hinsdale High School Teachers Association

MINUTES OF THE ROUND TABLE MEETING
BETWEEN THE HINSDALE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION
AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
HINSDALE TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 86

January 9, 2008

Call of Meeting. A District Round Table Meeting between the Hinsdale High School Teachers Association and the Board of Education of Hinsdale Township High School District 86, DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois was called to order by Superintendent Dr. Nicholas D. Wahl at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, in the Administrative Center Conference Room, 55th and Grant Streets, Hinsdale, Illinois.

Roll Call. The following members of the Board were present: Secretary Dr. Janet Plate and Mr. Vinaya Sharma. Attending for Hinsdale Central were: Tom Ludovice, Tom Dorrance, and Valerie Ruth. Attending for Hinsdale South were: Troy Courtney, Tim Davis, and Rick Cazzato. Also attending was Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nicholas Wahl.

Introduction. Superintendent Wahl introduced the Committee and distributed the agenda which was collaboratively set by Tom Ludovice, Troy Courtney, and Superintendent Wahl.

Teacher Websites. Superintendent Wahl led a discussion related to teacher websites and forming a committee to study teacher websites for District 86 classroom teachers. As prescribed in the Contract, it was agreed that the committee structure would be used for this initiative. Tom Ludovice shared his experience as a classroom teacher using SharePoint as his website, as well as Valerie Ruth sharing her experience and perception related to teacher websites, communication to parents, etc. A general discussion ensued related to this topic and the Round Table agreed that the Teacher Website Committee should be formed for second semester study.

Extra-Curricular Stipends (Article XI). Superintendent Wahl introduced the topic and indicated that he mentioned at the last District Round Table meeting to allow for the Round Table to keep this item in front of them as the current extra-curricular stipend will be sun-setting at the end of the 2008-2009 school year. It was agreed, as the agenda was mutually constructed by Tom Ludovice, Troy Courtney, and Superintendent Wahl, that this item would be better served as an Interest-Based Bargaining or Negotiated Item, rather than just a committee structure study. A general discussion ensued related to this topic and it was mutually agreed that the Association, Board of Education, and Administration would bargain this topic in the spring or summer of 2008.

District Insurance Committee Update. The Association requested an update from the District Insurance Committee. Association representative and District Insurance Committee representative, Valerie Ruth, was present to give this review. In addition, Troy Courtney read a statement from District Insurance Committee and Association member, Kathy Wynn, as it related to this insurance update. In this review, it was reported that the definition of “incident” has not been resolved, as well as the Committee’s continued efforts in reviewing the experience of the insurance plan, and a review of the Hewitt Study which was completed this past fall. Also shared was the District Insurance Committee’s desire to conduct an on-line survey of Plan membership to determine the experience of those in the Self-Insurance Trust Plan as it related to the plan design, as well as the third-party administration by BSSI. Valerie Ruth led a discussion as it related to the definition of “plan design” and “third party administration.”

Vision/Strategic Planning Update. Board Secretary Dr. Plate led a discussion as it related to the Vision/Strategic Planning Initiatives in District 86 and an overview of the surveys that will be administered as well as the Administrative Organizational Study that will be presented Monday night at the Board of Education’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Association representatives requested that the surveys be viewed and accessible for HHSTA membership. Board Secretary Dr. Plate and Superintendent Wahl indicated they would have to check with the ECRA Group and had not thought about that item as it relates to posting, but would follow-up with that request.

Other Items for the Good of the Organization. Rick Cazzato and Tim Davis inquired as to the status of the subcommittee that would be meeting to discuss the 403(b) plan for the District. Superintendent Wahl inquired if there had been a meeting. Association membership indicated they had heard nothing on this topic since the November meeting of the District Round Table. Superintendent Wahl indicated he would make sure that there would be a meeting to discuss the 403(b) plan for District 86 in the near future.

Adjournment. At 6:30 p.m., the January 9, 2008, District Round Table Meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is March 12, 2008.