LASMTA MEETING

Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Official Meeting Time:

In Person: 6:00 PM -8:00 PM

Virtual 6:30 PM -8:00 PM

Meeting ID: 839 7447 3907

Dan Gruber’s Home

1. Called to Order at 6:39 PM
2. Attendance: Juan Rodriguez, Andres Villanueva, Amy Lui, Julie West, Mark Johnsen, Kelly Anthony, David Lee, Ashlie Neilson, Dan Gruber, Michael Turner

1. Online attendees: Scott Peters, Brian McGaffey, Dan Taguchi, Clemente Sanchez, James Rozsa
2. In-person attendees: Ashley Andrade, Tina Curtis, Noah Henriksson, Alex Waggoner, Carlos Kuhlmann, Louis Rabado, Tyler Kimball, Natalia Ramos, Jose Fausto

3. Introductions

1. Executive Committee Introduction

1.  Juan Rodriguez-President
2. Andres Villanueva-Vice President
3. Amy Lui-Secretary
4. David W. Lee-Treasurer
5. Mark Johnsen-Past President
6.  Julie West-President Emeritus
7. Ashlie Neilson-UTLA Liaison
8. Area Representatives: Kelly Anthony, Dan Gruber, Michael Turner

4. Approval of May 2021 Minutes - minutes were not taken during that meeting
5. Reports

1. Secretary’s Report

1. Website - updated with new graphics and information
2. Membership - taking registrations online

2. Treasurer’s Report

1. Amount for scholarship amount dropped by ~$100 this past year compared to year before - urge people to donate

3. Vice President’s Report

1. Mentor-Mentee Program - as a collaborative effort, especially for those who are the only music teacher at their school site
2. Best Practice - encourage people to sign up to run a best practice session, learning from one another

4. UTLA Liaison Report

1. Ashlie as the expanded bargaining representative and making sure music is mentioned in those meetings; many non-music teachers have been championing music needs - highly recommends more people be involved

1. Terry, Ginger Fox, James Rozsa and Ashlie as the only music people representing music teachers at UTLA

2. Proposals for district got rejected but UTLA continues fighting

1. $300/enrolled music student to be decided by each credentialed music teacher at their school site
2. Secondary arts differential activities should be equal to athletic differentials

3. Guest Speaker: Julie Van Winkle - lead bargaining member of UTLA

1. Part of UTLA, background includes being in UCLA marching band
2. State is giving the district $3 billion dollars
3. District rejects first proposals all the time
4. Ashlie started UTLA Music Standing Committee to put forth proposals and representation - didn’t have a music sub committee until this year
5. Online ratification vote on Sunday 10/2 and will have until 10/4 - encourage to vote YES to have optional acceleration days during winter break and spring break
6. Oct 19 - instead of boycotting, will go to school and pass informational leaflets before the bell

4. Discussion

1. Ashlie - what is needed to make us want to become more involved with the union?

1. Amy - would like to see more transparency and understanding the work that is needed

2. Kelly - need to find more ways to reach out to more music teachers throughout the district and more people to step up and do outreach as well
3. James - wants district to change the way PDs are run, proposing for next bargaining to take some department time and align it districtwide to meet regionally for best practices - so like-subject teachers together

1. Julie - might not have to wait until next bargaining, can start conversation now

5. President’s Report

1. Why LASMTA?

1. Membership: Strength in numbers. LAUSD has recognized our group as a voice to be heard.
2. Schoology Group: Access Code: SZB3-FJSG-NDSRG

1. As vehicle to provide updates and information pertinent to district and union business specific to music educators
2. Code to be emailed to members

3. Monthly Meetings: The purpose is to support each other and to share experiences with one another.
4. Annual Events: everything going back to being in person, logistics to be worked out soon

1. Solo Ensemble Festival in the spring. All members are encouraged to have students participate. Adjudicators provide feedback
2. Soloist Scholarship for private lessons. A broad spectrum of eligible participants to be shared in detail at a later opportunity
3. Stuart Rupp Scholarship is a memorial scholarship for a senior student interested in majoring in music. Determined via an essay entry

6. New Business

1. Meeting format for the new year: Zoom vs Live vs Hybrid
2. Election year: March/April meeting will be asking for people to nominate new officers for critical positions to fill, President, VP, Secretary, and Treasurer. Area reps are also up for election

7. Arts Education Branch Updates

1. Dr. McCarthy retired.

1. Amy Lui - reached Dr Yune last week, said his vacant position is currently frozen by the district and not going forward with hiring yet
2. James Rozsa - affects itinerant and secondary arts teachers, UTLA music committee will keep pushing for the importance and to unfreeze the hire of this position

2. From Dr. Joseph Yune

1. Has officially taken over for Chris Rodriguez
2. AEB Schoology Group: Access Code: 5N4T-WFDF-4RNMR
3. Smart Music Subscription renewal has been submitted and is pending approval
4. Arts Branch Money: TSP-ARTS at the Core-School

1. SACS Fund: 010
2. Program Code: 10423
3. Allocated in budget item # 40268
4. David Lee - IMA (instructional materials account) is different from arts allocation funds
5. Kelly Anthony - recommend asking school to get method books and music paid through materials and not the arts allocation funds

3. Other information

1. Juan - district repair shop is open and can send instruments for repairs

4. Sign up for the November 5, Secondary Arts PD

1. Schoology arts education branch - Dr Yune posted a request for topics and people to present for next year

8. Best Practice

1. Suzanne B Gindin, Orchestra for Band Directors - was not able to attend

9. Adjournment Meeting adjourned

1. Motion made by Juan, seconded by Dan Gruber at 8:15 PM.
2. Next meeting with be Oct 26, 2022at Griffith MS.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Amy Lui.