The Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators

A State Unit of the Association of Teacher Educators
and The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education

 

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October 27, 2010
PAC-TE Board of Directors
Minutes
Held at the 39th PAC-TE Teacher Education Assembly
Holiday Inn Harrisburg/Hershey

Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 10:40 a.m. by President Fred Savitz. In Executive Director Linda Cook’s absence, at Teacher Education Assembly registration, Carla Claycomb served as recording secretary.

Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the September 10, 2010, Board meeting were approved unanimously as presented.
Motion -- John Butzow
Second -- Sally Winterton

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Reports
All reports may be accessed by consulting the PAC-TE Web site at www.pac-te.org.

1. President’s Report
   The President’s Report was offered by President Fred Savitz.

   USC Proposal -- Discussion ensued on the USC proposal to offer a master’s degree in teaching in Pennsylvania. Past President Kathy Ruthkosky reported that PAC-TE will be among others presenting testimony at a PDE December 1 hearing on the proposal. Fred Savitz, Kathy Ruthkosky, and Jackie Edmondson will represent PAC-TE at the hearing. Kathy brought Board members’ attention to a federal appellate court decision that is negatively affecting alternative certification programs throughout the country but especially in California, as the many interns being placed in high needs schools are not highly qualified. The USC program would prepare teachers for California in Pennsylvania at five sites. After these teachers intern in PA they would move to California. USC would be offering a K-6 certificate, even though PA institutions cannot. Even though the intention is not to prepare teachers for a PA credential, our concern is that teacher candidates will not necessarily understand that they will not be eligible for certification in PA. In addition, PA institutions are having trouble placing students in school districts so USC’s placements would conflict with needs of PA programs and students.

   Technology Integration Workgroup – Following discussion at the April 2010 board meeting of a possible move to processing of credit cards for conference registration and membership and discussion at the September 2010 board meeting of other uses of technology that might benefit the association and its members, President Savitz appointed a Technology Integration Work Group, chaired by Treasurer Fuller and including as members John Butzow, Bob King, Jay Hertzog, Linda Cook, and Fred Savitz. The work group will meet via phone conference and report at the January 2011 board meeting. The committee will also address a possible move from Chorus Call to Adobe Connect for Board and committee meetings, in order to save costs and take advantage of additional features. Rick asked board members to send him any technology ideas for organizational efficiencies within the next few weeks at fuller@rmu.edu.

   Graduate Programs Networking/Planning Breakfast -- Fred reported that on Thursday morning at the TEA there will be a discussion group breakfast session focusing on post-baccalaureate program certification approval and PAC-TE’s role as a voice around post-bacc program approval issues. The group will also discuss PAC-TE’s role in bringing together institution administrators and faculty involved in graduate leadership programs.

2. Executive Director’s Report
   The Executive Director’s Report was presented in the Executive Director’s absence, at the TEA registration table, in writing in meeting packets. A motion that the Board express its thanks for the above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty work that Linda has done to manage this organization was approved unanimously.
   Motion – John Butzow
   Second – Jay Hertzog

3. Treasurer’s Report
   The Treasurer’s Report was offered by Treasurer Rick Fuller.

   The Association Account report was approved unanimously as presented.
          Motion --- Tammy Feil
          Second – Jim Nolan

   The Conference Account report was approved unanimously as presented.
          Motion – Kathy Ruthkosky
          Second – Jay Hertzog

   Rick reported that the PAC-TE Certificate of Deposit will mature before the next Board meeting. He will request a Board vote on his recommendation as to further investment of these monies via e-mail.

   Rick also reported that he will be completing and submitting a 990-EZ form to the Internal Revenue Service by mid-November. President Savitz reported to the Board that the bylaws call for the members at the Annual General Business Meeting to receive a report on the previous year’s Board-approved budget as an information item, not an action item.
   

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Old Business

1. Verification of Electronic Votes
   A motion to verify the Board votes taken by e-mail since the last face-to-face Board meeting was approved unanimously, as reflected in writing in meeting packets.
   Motion – John Butzow
   Second – Bob King

   The following motions were included in this verification:
   

   1. Approval to develop a survey to gather information regarding issues related to program design and implementation, the 190 field experience hours requirement in PDE’s guidelines for all programs including secondary teacher education programs, and commentary regarding the secondary teacher education program approval process in general.

   2. Approval for PAC-TE to spend $200 to purchase a year’s subscription to Survey Monkey for the purpose of administering the member survey approved by vote #1 above and to enable further member surveys. This motion was not acted upon as a number of questions led the President to put forth for vote the #3 statement below.

   3. Approval to purchase a one month Survey Monkey subscription for the purpose of the survey approved by vote #1 above.

   4. Approval of the program review survey for distribution to the membership.

2. Audit Committee
   The Audit Committee consisting of Chair Bob King, and members Keith Dils and Larry Vold, as appointed by President Savitz, met in late summer to review the 2009-2010 PAC-TE income and expenditures. Their report submitted in writing found financial records to be accurate. The committee commended the Treasurer, Dr. Richard Fuller, for his diligence and accuracy in maintaining the financial records for PAC-TE. The written Audit Report; the full final report of the 2009-2010 association account, conference account, and CD investment status; and the Board-approved 2010-2011 budget will be presented to the membership at the October 28 Annual General Business Meeting as an informational item.

3. Program Review Survey
   President Savitz reported on the administration and results of the recent member survey on the “Perceptions on levels of agreement with the design and implementation of the PDE initial review process,” as administered via Survey Monkey and as being distributed in TEA packets. He expressed gratitude to members of the Board who provided input on the draft questionnaire; particular thanks to Tammy Feil and Kathy Ruthkosky, members of the working group who helped to put the report together; and specific thanks to Linda Cook for formatting the survey and the report.

   A motion was made to share the survey report with the PDE.
   Motion – John Butzow
   Second – Jay Hertzog

   Extensive discussion ensued on the distribution of the survey – in what format and to whom, culminating in an amendment that the report be distributed widely by the President.

   The motion as amended was approved unanimously.

   The discussion included:

   • The report should be shared with State Board, House and Senate Education Committees and staff, presidents/deans/department chairs of institutions of higher education with teacher education programs, PSEA and PFT.
   • Distribution formats could include e-mail, hard copy, PAC-TE Web site, invitations to meet with PAC-TE, and a breakfast event at the spring meeting.
   • The report should be distributed as soon as possible.
   • The expansion of the report to a white paper rather than just a data report was discussed, including tying it to the Principles Document currently being developed by the Government Relations Committee, with a cover letter using language from the last page of the report.

4. Government Relations Committee
   Government Relations Chair Jay Hertzog reported that the committee will be asking for member input to the document draft at the Wednesday banquet session, the Thursday luncheon program, and at several Thursday TEA sessions. The committee will meet on Thursday late afternoon to incorporate the feedback from the membership. A revised draft of the document will be presented to TEA participants on Friday morning. The Board will vote electronically on the committee’s recommended draft of the document.

   A motion to allow the president to work with the committee to forward electronically a final document for Board approval as soon as possible and after membership input is considered and, where appropriate, incorporated, was approved unanimously.
   Motion – John Butzow
   Second – Jay Hertzog

5. Nominations and Elections
   Nominations and Elections Chair Kathy Ruthkosky presented the slate of candiates for Board positions. She reported that absentee ballots were distributed via mail before the conference and returned to her. Voting will occur tomorrow at the TEA at the registration desk. Votes will be counted after the polls close on Thursday afternoon and the incoming Board members announced at the Friday morning general session. Volunteers are needed to staff the polls on Thursday from 2:45 – 4:00 p.m.

6. Awards
   Award Committee Chair Kathy Ruthkosky reported that the Teacher Educator of the Year Award to Christine Royce of Shippensburg University will be announced at the Wednesday, October 27 banquet general session. The Friend of Education Award will be presented to John Johnson.

   [The Board broke at noon for lunch with the focus group facilitators and for the TEA First General Session, then reconvened at 2:00 p.m.]

7. TEA 2010 Report
   TEA 2010 Chair Sally Winterton reported that 254 individuals are registered for the TEA. Assistance is needed at the registration desk on Thursday afternoon. Meeting packets include a copy of the session evaluation form, a new feature this year. She also shared the agenda, working guidelines and a description of PAC-TE Focus Groups, which will meet for the first time on Wednesday afternoon at the TEA. The focus group facilitators met with the Executive Director this morning. Sally reviewed the logistics for the banquet program and other details for the conference. She shared that there will be a PAC-TE trivia quiz administered at the post-banquet hospitality session, where prizes will be awarded, and asked for help in distributing the quizzes as the evening program adjourned.

   Sally reported that the TEA 2011 Planning Committee will be discussing a move to electronic review of proposals.

   A motion that the TEA 2011 Planning Committee develop a system and parameters for electronic review of TEA proposals, for full Board review and approval at the January 2011 Board meeting, was approved unanimously.
   Motion – John Butzow
   Second – Tammy Feil

   Discussion included a recommendation that we think closely about all that such a process will entail, that training for reviewers be included, and recognition that with a proposal submission of mid-March time is available for system development and Board discussion and final decision in January.

   Sally provided and Board members discussed the agenda and responsibilities for the TEA Friday morning Institution-Alike Sessions.

8. Annual General Business Meeting
   President Savitz reported that the only item requiring a vote at the Annual General Business Meeting will be approval of minutes from last year’s business meeting. A motion to approve the Annual General Business meeting agenda as presented was approved unanimously.
   Motion – Jay Hertzog
   Second – Jim Nolan

9. Spring Conference 2011 Committee
   Spring Conference 2011 Committee Chair Jay Hertzog reported that the conference date is April 14. At this morning’s planning meeting the committee examined the ATE standards, honing in on the advocacy standard and discussed how PA programs are being innovative within rigid requirements. Keynote speakers discussed were Diane Ravitch, Linda Darling Hammond, and Tony Danza. The theme of “Teacher Preparation as a Subversive Activity” was discussed. Jay will check with ATE and AACTE for other speaker options. He asked Board members to share ideas for speakers with the committee. The new PA Secretary of Education or his/her designee is also a possibility.

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New Business

1. ATE Delegate Volunteers
   President Savitz asked Board members to consider volunteering to represent PAC-TE as a delegate at the February 12-16 ATE Conference in Orlando. Delegates receive $500 from PAC-TE to put toward conference travel expenses.

 

Adjournment

Respectfully submitted,
Linda S. Cook
Executive Director