MHS Faculty Senate Working Group

Highlights, Bylaws and YOU!MHS Faculty SenateWorking GroupWhat we didMembers met twice, once before school and once after school, to discuss three questions:We then had two meetings to discuss the bylaws and two weeks to offer suggestions/improvements. More on this laterWhat kinds of issues would a faculty senate address?Is there a need for the creation of a faculty senate?What should it look like?

Victoria Alex, Steph Gates, Jim Drier, Corey Knigge, Michele Bonadies, Jed Doyle, Mary Jane Chiado, Jane Siegal, Jeff Harding, Jed Doyle, Mike Hicky, Dianna Parro-Napolski, Jerri Craven, Nancy Toland, Nancy Cope, Joseph Maxwell, Rahul Sethna, Randy Lerner, Dennis Szymkowiak, Anatasia Valassis, Catherine White, Melissa Sethna, Serry Pollock, Todd SkeltonWhat types of issues would a Faculty Senate address?Creating more social opportunities for faculty members to interact with each otherData-walksAttempt to discuss new initiatives with administration before implementation to improve buy-in and ownership among facultyData Warehouse and Partners for ResultsImprove relationships between faculty and with administrationRebuild trust within schoolPlans to include student performance as part of evaluation process

Is there a need for a Faculty Senate?YES, It will take hard work but we have to do somethingYes - help teachers get to know each other betterNeed to get to know other teachers as people NOT just as "teachers" or "curriculum developersCould formulate positions and then "push information out" to facultyCan start by simply addressing little thingsNeeded to address serious disconnect growing between departmentsNeed to bring back interdepartmental discussion groups within school dayWhat should the Faculty Senate look like?Whatever it is it needs to be focused on involving new members/teachersIf any department is not represented by initial quintile strategy, that department would elect their own "rep" to join faculty senate so all ages and departments are representedClose partnership with the unionnot a competing organizationAge-based quintile system based on Oak Park model - would produce 10 senate membersWhat about leadership of activities...run meetings/minutes/etc.Lets not rushrather take our time and be careful measure twice, cut onceSowhat we came up withBylaws: Gives the group a structure and helps eliminate any conflict/controversy before it beginsA draft version was made and then we held two meetings to discuss suggestions/improvements. Members also made electronic suggestions as we do have other things to do!Highlights:Quintile systemSpecial, departmental elections if no representationLeadership flexibilityonly mandated position is secretaryCommittees and leadership structure based on majority vote of elected representativesAllows for maximum flexibility to deal with important issues that might arise each yearMEA Vice-President as member of Faculty Senate representatives

Full Text of Bylaws at MEA website: www.ieanea.org/local/mhsmea/