In a very lengthy preamble to the last Herricks School Board meeting, resulting in the regular meeting lasting well past 1 a.m., the Executive Committee of the Herricks Teachers Association met with the members of the school board, in a roundtable format, to express to them some concerns.

HTA President Robert Zeni was present, and did most of the talking, along with Riisa Lawton, Susan Orlick and Dr. Paul Wolsky.

The first item on the agenda of the HTA was mentioned by Susan Orlick who said that the floor tiles in certain rooms at the Denton Avenue School are a cause for concern. She specifically mentioned the tiles in rooms 29, 15 and 17.

Board President Paul Ehrbar said that the board was aware of the problem, but could not give a date for remediation. Assistant Superintendent for Business Arline Visconti said a report would be submitted to the board with recommendations. Ehrbar said that it would be taken care of as quickly as possible.

HTA President Zeni said that he had concerns about the quality of substitute teachers in the district, especially at the high school. A very long discussion followed.

Zeni said the problem is that substitutes have no commitment to the district and are just there to pick up their paycheck. He cited an example of students who had a substitute teacher a few weeks ago and all but two cut the class.

Zeni also said that the district needs continuity in its substitutes. He said, "Recently there was a certified math teacher that substituted for an AP Social Studies teacher. Obviously, she couldn't teach that class, monitor it yes, but not teach. He said most of those students you could tell not to come to class. You could just give them an assignment and they could go to the library to work on their assignment."

He said that Monday he was going to a conference out of the district, but is coming in before leaving to teach his AP course. He said if he didn't do that it would be a waste for the students. He commented, "I think we have seen the benefit of having permanent subs and I don't know whether or not that is the answer, but I think we have to explore that."

Superintendent for Personnel Dr. Ronald Barnes said, "If I may comment. We can't find them. We would hire up to five permanent subs at the high school. We have advertised vigorously in all kinds of publications. And, for some reason, the market has dried up for the substitute teachers. We pay $90 a day and we are experiencing trouble this year."

Barnes continued, "We hire people who are certified in an area such as science or math and language. Then if a science teacher is out they will sub for that teacher. They can cross over into other areas if need be."

HTA representative, Risa suggested that since we have a special relationship with Hofstra that the district get teachers who are about to be certified and hire them since they would be glad to get experience in the field they are specializing in.

Barnes said that he would explore her suggestion, but it was not as easy as it sounded since once a teacher is certified they become employable. This conversation continued on for a very long time with Zeni suggesting that the first day a teacher is out that no sub be employed and have those students go to the library to work on assignments left by the teacher and that can be done, but does add to the number of free periods.

Vice President Christine Turner said that this method is not very popular with parents because they would rather see a substitute teacher with their children rather than none at all which could easily lead to cutting school for the entire day.

Zeni said he would like some kind of study conducted regarding this problem.

Turner said she personally feels that if all but two students cut a class then those students who cut should be punished.

Barnes said one solution is to show the wonderful documentary films available in the Herricks film library. The substitute wouldn't have to teach and could absorb what is on the film.

Paul Wolsky said that he wanted to extend an invitation to the board to become involved in the teacher center. He said, "As the teachers who came to teach at Herricks in the '60s and '70s are now reaching retirement, we are experiencing an acceleration in hiring new young staff. This is a great opportunity and challenge. If we don't meet the challenge we lose the opportunity. One of the greatest things for a child is mom and dad at home with a professional in the classroom."

He continued, "Last year Dr. Barnes shared a discussion central administration had about a more comprehensive approach to help new teachers that would go beyond the mentorship program, maybe for three years."

Wolsky said, "I would propose we are very interested in working with you in a comprehensive program to cover management, motivation and effectiveness as a teacher. I would ask you to consider that there are two benefits from this. To help the new teacher and also do something very valuable for the senior staff."

Wolsky continued, "We do have senior members with a lot of expertise and I suggest we tap into that expertise. This is valuable for the younger teacher because this person would be there to help the younger teacher at all times. Also, a great benefit is that you are saying to the veteran teacher that you have something that is invaluable and that would help the new teacher. If we could look at a comprehensive program for perhaps a three year program."

President Ehrbar said, "Isn't that, at least at the high school, that the chair people are doing that on an ongoing level."

Barnes said, "We agree with you we need more staff development and it needs to be mandatory not voluntary."

Zeni pointed out that teachers go from class to staff development to home to work on lesson plans. He mentioned that his son works for K-Mart and when they wanted to train him in a different program they sent him to learn that program. He said they did not expect him to work all day and then learn the program. He commented that there is a limit to what can be learned.

Trustee Peter Grisafi said, "You should be in the CPA field because there is no comparison. You have to run from working in a firm to attend a CPA review class. From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays. It's continuing education."

Zeni said, "I'm talking about teachers who have been teaching for 25 years." Grisafi countered, "And I'm talking about CPAs who have been in the business 50 years. They must continue with education in the field."

Zeni said, "Well, that's the ideal way. Once people reach a certain point in their career they say they have reached the maximum."

Ehrbar said the ideal is to take you out of your current job and teach you a new program, but it is highly impractical because it becomes too expensive. Barnes said that is done, but there have to be priorities set as to how much is done.

They pursued this topic for a very long time going back and forth discussing the economics of the suggestions with realities.

They then switched to the topic of the kindergarten committee and after a great deal of heated discussion Superintendent Dr. Sidney Freund said, "We are in the process of developing recommendations and looking at different proposals. The kindergarten teachers have had the opportunity to participate equally with the parents in those discussions in formulating a recommendation. It's premature to say that anyone has not been listening. Plus, the teachers do not speak up at these meetings."

Zeni said that when they leave the meetings they go back to their building principals and discuss their concerns which is adding an extra half hour to the kindergarten day.

Dr. Freund said, "I'm sitting back, pretty much as an observer, and I'm listening to the issues being discussed and I'm scratching my head saying why are they being discussed at this table instead of being discussed by the superintendent. I am certainly aware of floor tiles, but that has not come to my attention through any teachers. But before it comes to this table it should be discussed with the superintendent and that has not happened. The quality of substitute teachers has not been discussed as an issue for this year. Why are the three kindergarten teachers on the Kindergarten Committee, why are they coming to you (Zeni) to discuss their concerns about the direction of the committee, why aren't they talking to the chairperson of that committee, which is me? There is definitely a breakdown of communication."

Board Vice President Christine Turner said that she, too is disappointed that the teachers on the kindergarten committee do not speak up. She added, "Don't volunteer on a committee if you don't want to speak up!"

The problem of inclusion was then discussed and the special education teachers and once again Dr. Freund expressed concern that the topic had not been mentioned to him before being brought to this forum, which is the way the chain of command works in the district.

Zeni wanted to know about finals and how they will be scheduled. Ehrbar said that it will be advisable for the HTA representatives to meet with the administration to determine this and it had been commented that the regular meetings of the HTA and administration have been cancelled.

A heated discussion then took place regarding the basic skills in computers. Zeni said that he didn't think that teachers should be computer experts and both Barnes and Freund said that is not what is expected of a teacher, but that teachers are expected to have basic computer skills.

Ehrbar said that he had a problem with the HTA newsletter, entitled, "The President's Pen." He said that often times the board of education is put in an unfair light and because it has to do with specific personnel they cannot respond.

Ehrbar continued, "I'll give you one specific example I can discuss. You mentioned that this board of education does not do something for teachers that are leaving in terms of what is in a contract that is signed five years ago, by you (Zeni). At that time there was only one board member currently sitting on the board (Turner). It was a contractual issue. You approved of that plan and then to say that the board of education won't do something for our teachers is wrong."

Zeni said, "Because you are on the board you must understand the genesis of this. The previous superintendent ¬ and obviously Dr. Freund has nothing to do with this ¬ signed a document as part of a pre-negotiation process in which the district was going to get rid of all non-tenured SNTs and not replace the ones that were there with anyone except an RA. Whether or not the board saw it I don't know, but I acted in good faith. By then the district was going to be sued. This should never have been an issue. I then sent you a letter giving you copies of contracts back to 1968 stating that any teacher who announces his/her retirement will be given a $1500 bonus. And I said if you don't want to negotiate a retirement incentive at least some kind of recognition should be afforded those who retired after 30 years in the district."

Freund said, "My memory serves that there was a sidebar agreement and you agreed, that there will not be another retirement incentive during the life of this contract."

Zeni said, "There has to be some way of honoring these people."

Barnes answered, "But we do, we guarantee that their health insurance will not be reduced, which is much more valuable to know that your health insurance and the part the district pays will not be reduced forever and that's a darn good benefit."

Freund said, "We are a public entity. We can't give people gold watches or $1500."

Zeni said, "There are ways. You didn't call me."

Ehrbar said that his issue was the way this was portrayed in the newsletter and perhaps the way to resolve this by open dialogue.

The meeting was ended and the HTA said that they hoped there would be another meeting held again in the spring.