The meeting was called to order by President Barbara English at 3:40 p.m..

Roll Call

Officers
President	Barbara English	Present
Vice-President	Deb Carty	Present
Treasurer	Jo Bononno	Present
Recording Secretary	Charles Nowalk	Present
Corresponding Secretary	Marilyn Shober	Present

Treasurer's Report: Nadine presented her final report as past treasurer for June. Jo presented her report for July & August. Motion to accept the treasurer's reports made by Chuck and seconded by Deb. Passed unanimously. It was noted that Nadine had completed the past four years as treasurer. She was acknowledged and applauded for her efforts.

Secretary's Report: Motion to accept the minutes of the June 12, 2007 meeting was made by Linda M. and seconded by Deb. Passed unanimously.

Committee Reports:

1. Membership:
   1. Joann Bonnville, middle school teacher, is the new chair. Building reps should contact and recruit all new employees. Contact Joann if you need membership applications. Chuck noted that approximately 20 new members have been enrolled as of today.
2. Ed Council:
   1. Next meeting is Oct. 10, 6 p.m., at Flynn's on the Hill. New reps this year include Pam McFadden from PASS, Chip McFadden & Tina Kish from PMS and Zena Wambold from Andover-Morris. A representative from Special Services is still needed.
3. Health & Safety:
   1. Marilyn Shober, chairperson, reported that she is sending out an e-mail to recruit members for this committee. Barb noted that she receives plenty of concerns & complaints from our members about the poor environmental conditions around the district. Two 'moldy' glue sticks, white sticks that had turned black, were presented to the Executive Committee to demonstrate some of the problems around the district.
4. WCEA:
   1. Marilyn Shober reported that there will be a 'Meet & Greet' workshop for ESP members at Harkers Hollow Golf Club on Oct. 4.
5. Scholarship:
   1. The committee will meet before the next Executive Committee meeting to determine fund-raising dates in October.
   2. Contact Joan Ricker at Barber School for t-shirts for new members.
6. Grievance:
   1. Kevin Mahony, high school teacher, is the new chairperson. Barb wants a co-chairperson from either the middle school or elementary schools to assist Kevin with the duties of this critical committee.
   2. Kevin noted that his first meeting of the Grievance Committee will be Oct. 2, at 3:30 in trailer 18 on the side of the high school next to the auto shop and greenhouse.
7. Negotiations:
   1. There is still no copy of the new teachers' contract. Once the language has been agreed-upon and approved, the copy will be posted on-line on the district's & PEA's websites. There will be no hard-copies of the contract passed out to our members.
   2. The coaches' salary guide still has not been agreed-upon by the board. As soon as this happens, both sides will vote upon the guide. Provisions are being made for coaches' to be paid in the meantime with retroactive salary increases after the salary guides are approved.
   3. The security & para-professional groups have been without a contract since June 30. Next meetings for these two groups are Oct. 3 & 4.
   4. This is the last year of the contracts for the custodians/maintenance & secretaries.
8. Legislative:
   1. Chuck noted that Assemblyman Doherty came out publicly this summer in support of building & funding the new PHS.
   2. Arky DeStefano represents the Association and high school on the district's SOS (Save Our School) committee. Arky is retiring at the end of January 2008. A volunteer from the high school to take Arky's place is being sought.
   3. The NJEA is organizing another 'Committee of 1000' for this year's elections in November. More information will be forthcoming.
9. Finance:
   1. Melissa Fey, chairperson, noted that this committee will meet the Thursday before each Executive Committee meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 4 at 3:30 at the middle school.
   2. A laptop computer and Quicken software have been purchased for the treasurer.
   3. The Association's books are currently being audited by an outside firm. This is standard procedure whenever a new treasurer takes office.
   4. An internal audit of the Association's finances is being planned also.
10. PD:
    1. Ryanne Bigelli, Charles Nowalk, Ro Rinker & Zena Wambold represent the Association on the district's PD committee.
    2. Chuck noted that the high school viewed the 'Asthma' video today during their faculty meeting during normal school hours.

Building concerns:

1. The middle school expressed concerns about the high temperatures & humidity over the past few days. Parent conferences are set for the week of Oct. 8.
2. Freeman had concerrns about subs and half days, mentoring & utilizing a reading teacher to sub for other teachers. The lack of supplies also featured prominently in their report.
3. The board office noted that out-of-state conferences require a minimum of 6 weeks notice while in-state conferences require a minimum of 4 weeks notice to Carol Bloch. All requests submitted with insufficient time will be turned down as a matter of procedure.
4. Special Services noted the continuing lack of relevant continuing education programs for their members and nurses, librarians, counselors, child-study teams and social workers. (The teachers noted it also!)
5. Green St. expressed concern about the lack of collaboration time between regular & Title I teachers. It was also noted that the new automated sub system, AESOP, can probably determine the location of the computer and/or phone utilized when calling in for a sub.
6. Barber inquired how many building reps they are entitled to and that they have a rotating list of personnel for emergency subbing purposes.
7. The Early Childhood Center inquired about jobs & seniority for paras.

Old Business:

1. Barb proposed a Constitution Committee to look at our current document. During last year's teachers' negotiations, no votes could be taken because Robert's Rules of Order state you must have more than 50% of your members present unless your constitution indicates otherwise. The PEA Constitution does not indicate otherwise. Barb is looking for volunteers for this committee to look at our current constitution and recommend any necessary changes.

New Business:

1. Motion: Melissa Fey moved that the PEA support the middle school's Algebra Club, that it should be a paid extra-curricular position and this matter should be brought to Gordon's attention. Seconded by Ryanne Bigelli. Passed unanimously.
2. Deb Tucker-Frank will be this year' ESP of the year candidate for Phillipsburg.
3. Barb changed the date of the November Executive Committee meeting from the 13 to the 6th to avoid conflict with elementary school conference meetings.
4. The building reps were asked to appeal to all our members to donate a personal day to the district's Sick Leave Bank. A high school teacher has been hospitalized since March. He suffered a major heart attack while recovering in June and is back in the hospital awaiting his final surgery while his heart grows strong enough to risk the surgery. He has long since used up his sick days. Without days from the Sick Leave Bank, he will not receive any pay and may lose his medical insurance coverage. Click here to download the donation forms for the Sick Leave Bank.

Motion to adjourn was made at 5:40 p.m. by Chuck and seconded by Deb. Passed unanimously.

Next meeting October 9, 2007, @ PMS in library.

Respectfully submitted,

Chuck Nowalk, Secretary