CSTA BOARD MINUTES
March 6, 2010
CSTA Office, Sacramento
Attendance and Quorum
The following board members were present: Jeff Bradbury, Deb
Farkas, Michelle
French, Dean Gilbert, Rick Pomeroy, Sue Pritchard, Donna Ross,
Greg Schultz, Marian Murphy-Shaw, Tim Williamson, Valerie
Joyner, Karen Withey-Smith, and Heather Marshall. A quorum
was present. Also in attendance was executive director Christine
Bertrand. Tim Williamson served as chair, and Marian Murphy-Shaw
served as secretary.
Notice
The chair called the meeting to order at 9:47 a.m. and announced
that the meeting was
held pursuant to written notice to all members of the Board
of Directors of the corporation. A copy of the notice was
ordered entered into the minutes book following the minutes
of the meeting.
Approval of Agenda
The agenda was amended and approved as amended
Approval of Minutes
Rick Pomeroy moved to approve the minutes of the December
5, 2009 board meeting; seconded by Dean Gilbert. Motion carried.
Programs
2010 Science Education Conference
Rick Pomeroy reported that the change in the conference schedule
to a Friday through Sunday schedule approved by the board
at its December meeting has been implemented. He reported
that there are still plenty of sponsorship opportunities open
and that previous years’ sponsors will be contacted for contributions
for this year.
Rick noted the need for a speaker for the Friday general session
and suggested that the board consider having a business meeting
that engages and informs the full membership. He suggested
that the Payne Scholars could be required to attend so they
could interact with the CSTA leadership. The board discussed
potential speakers, combining a speaker with more meeting
time, having leaders in education, and national standards.
Rick reminded the board that timing is an issue, with the
registration brochure publication deadline next week. The
board indicated its preference that the committee continue
to find a speaker for the general session.
Rick reported that the committee still needs a presenter for
the 6-hour mini-university on evolution for elementary teachers
and asked board members to send recommendations for a presenter
to him. He reported that the committee has received interest
from several organizations to hold meetings on the Thursday
prior to the conference, including the California Science
Project, Cornell Bird Lab, and the American Chemical Society.
Policy and Organizational Issues
Chair Tim Williamson declared a closed session at 10:17
a.m. for discussion of personnel and related budget issues.
Chair Tim Williamson resumed open session at 1:39 p.m.
Deb Farkas moved that staff research new office space for
$1.25/sq ft. or less. Seconded by Heather Marshall. Greg Schultz
moved to amend the motion to cap the rent at $13,000 per year.
Seconded by Jeff Bradbury; amendment passed. Original motion
failed.
Christine Bertrand clarified that the current lease is in
place until September. The board can direct staff to research
new office space and revisit this following research by staff
to find cost savings. Sue Pritchard moved that the executive
director and president or president’s designee negotiate a
reduction in office space rent and bring options to the next
board meeting. Seconded by Heather Marshall; motion carried
with one abstention.
Discussion and Approval of Revised Budget, FY 2009-2010
Sue Pritchard moved to accept the revised fiscal year 2009-2010
budget as submitted, including publishing only electronic
issues of the May CCS and spring journal. Seconded by Rick
Pomeroy. Motion carried.
Discussion and Approval of Proposed Budget, FY 2010-2011
Sue Pritchard moved to approve the fiscal year 2010-11 budget
as submitted; seconded by Rick Pomeroy. Greg Schultz moved
to amend the motion to include holding the board retreat in
conjunction with the conference, on Thursday, October 21;
seconded by Heather Marshall. Amendment carried; main motion
carried, 12-0-1.
Nominations Committee Report and Approval of Slate
of Candidates
Sue Pritchard moved to accept the recommendations of the nominations
committee and submit the following slate of candidates for
member election to the board of directors:
for Treasurer: Karen Withey-Smith
for High School Director: Heather Marshall
for Intermediate Director: David Budai
for Region 2 Director: Eric Lewis
for Region 4 Director: Peter A’Hearn
Seconded by Jeff Bradbury; motion carried.
The board inquired about the vacancy in the 4-year college
director position. Christine Bertrand explained that, as no
one submitted a nomination for that position within the required
timeline, the current director remains in that position, although
the board could consider appointing someone to that position.
Sue Pritchard moved to maintain Donna Ross in the 4-year college
director position for the 2010-2012 term. Heather Marshall
seconded. Christine reminded the board that a motion is not
needed as the CSTA bylaws and the California Corporations
Code state that a director holds office “until the expiration
of the term for which elected and until a successor has been
elected and qualified.” Sue Pritchard withdrew the motion
and stated that Donna Ross will continue in the position of
4-year college director with the gratitude of the board.
Resolution on Electronic Communications
Christine Bertrand indicated that, in order to communicate
electronically with members, the board needs to formalize
the process with a resolution and notice of consent to members.
Sue Pritchard moved that the board approve the following resolution:
WHEREAS, in accordance with California Corporations Code
§§ 20 and 5079, the California Science Teachers Association
desires to authorize electronic transmission of corporate
information including election information and ballots,
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the California Science Teachers
Association may communicate with members electronically,
at the email address, facsimile number, social network address,
or other electronic address provided by the member and that
the Notice of Consent to Electronic Communications, below,
shall be made available to members.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in accordance with California
Corporations Code § 20, members will be apprised if the
communication is available to them in non-electronic format
and how to revoke their consent to be communicated with
electronically.
Notice of Consent to Electronic Communications
I consent to receive electronic communications from the
California Science Teachers Association (CSTA) through email,
facsimile, social network address, or other electronic address
I’ve provided the Association and understand that my consent
may be revoked at my discretion by notifying CSTA at 3800
Watt Ave., Ste. 100, Sacramento, CA 95821.
Dean Gilbert seconded; motion carried.
Membership Committee Recommendations
Dean Gilbert thanked the members of the membership committee
and reported that the membership incentives approved at the
last board meeting have been implemented. Dean presented recommendations
to the board and moved that the board:
establish an e-mentoring program to provide personal assistance
to new teachers and/or new members, whereby board members
would volunteer to mentor colleagues on questions they pose,
using whatever electronic format is most accessible to the
mentor (email, Facebook, Twitter, telephone, etc.). Board
members may sign up for areas of expertise (e.g., classroom
management, inquiry, assertive discipline, high school biology,
etc.), and the list of board member mentors, their email
or contact information, and areas of expertise would be
posted on the new teacher portal on the CSTA website.
Seconded by Jeff Bradbury. It was clarified that board involvement
was voluntary. Greg Schultz moved to amend the motion to include
wording that designees of board members may volunteer as mentors.
Amendment accepted by Dean and Jeff; motion carried.
Dean Gilbert moved that the board
establish a new teacher portal on the CSTA website that
would host a variety of resources supporting beginning science
teachers. These resources will be obtained through two different
means: (i) Publishers/vendors would be invited to provide
a specific number of beginning science teacher support resources
that adhere to selection screening criteria developed by
the publications committee, approved by the board, and published
on the CSTA website; and (ii) board members voluntarily
submit exemplary activities that support beginning science
teachers and which also adhere to the same selection screening
criteria for publishers and vendors. Resources will be organized
into overarching themes (i.e. classroom management, inquiry,
first-week lesson planning, etc.).
Seconded by Valerie Joyner. Sue Pritchard moved to amend
the motion to include that resources be evaluated by the publications
committee using its existing criteria, and that designees
of board members be allowed to submit resources. Seconded
by Deb Farkas; motion and amendment carried.
Legislative Update
Christine Bertrand referred to her written report in the board
packet and added that California had been eliminated from
the running for the first round of Race to the Top money.
She reported that legislation had just been introduced that
would reinstate the science framework development, to be approved
in 2011, and that would reinstate the textbook adoption schedule
beginning in 2011, with science materials scheduled to be
adopted in 2016.
Document Retention Policy
Christine Bertrand indicated that the IRS had instituted new
reporting requirements for tax-exempt organizations, and it
is recommended that the association adopt a document retention
policy. Sue Pritchard moved to approve the document retention
policy as proposed; seconded by Rick Pomeroy. Motion carried.
Resolution Regarding 401(k) Plan
Christine Bertrand reported that changes had been made to
the guidelines covering retirement plans and that plan administrators
were required to pass a resolution stating that they will
adhere to the new requirements. Sue Pritchard moved to accept
the Organization Resolution
Authorizing Amendment to the Company-Sponsored Retirement
Plan as presented; seconded by Jeff Bradbury. Motion carried.
CalESTA Petition
Christine Bertrand reported that the newly-formed California
Earth Science Teachers Association is circulating a petition
to the University of California urging that earth science
be included as a course fulfilling the “d” lab science requirement
for UC admissions; CalESTA would like CSTA to sign onto the
petition. Discussion that CSTA has a long-term commitment
to this issue and that we have support for this in our existing
policy, but that we decline to sign onto this petition. It
was noted that individual board members can sign but that
they may sign only as individuals, not as a representative
of CSTA.
State Parks Initiative
Christine Bertrand presented a request to endorse a ballot
initiative that would increase vehicle registration fees to
go to state parks. The board declined to endorse the initiative,
stating that, in this budget climate, there are many critical
causes that need more funding.
International Science and Engineering Fair
Dean Gilbert reported that Los Angeles will host the 2011
International Science Fair, underwritten by Intel. He indicated
that this would be an opportunity for CSTA to have a presence,
involve members and higher ed partners, and promote California
science. He indicated that he will compile and share with
Christine how he thinks California educators and volunteers
can participate. Dean asked for suggestions for what CSTA
can do to be highly visible. Suggestions included: Invite
participating schools’ teachers and students to present at
the conference in a Saturday poster session; relate to STEM,
including science teaching; relate to membership, that it
is more than a project, it is a career path; have Intel t-shirts
printed with “STEM Starts in Kindergarten.” Dean will pursue
an option to request funds from Intel.
Online Banking
Christine Bertrand presented a proposal that office staff
begin using online banking for payment of bills to alleviate
sending checks for signature to the treasurer. She indicated
that internal control issues need to be addressed. Greg Schultz
recommended that staff work with our bank directly to set
up an internal control mechanism.
NSTA Donation Request
Tim Williamson presented a request from NSTA to donate money
to support the John Glenn Science Center. Dean Gilbert moved
that
CSTA donate $250 to NSTA to support the John Glenn Science
Center.
Seconded by Donna Ross; motion carried.
Marketing/Online Workshops
Dean Gilbert presented a proposal from a company that produces
virtual events from real-time conferences and meeting, video
taping sessions and exhibitors and streaming them online for
people who were either unable to attend the event or who would
like to revisit a session or vendor they saw at the event.
Dean indicated that the base price for such a service is $19,500
for a fixed number of sessions. The board indicated they would
be interested in learning more but that outside funding would
need to be obtained to do this. Dean indicated he will contact
the company and have someone make a presentation to the board
at the June meeting.
Reports
Treasurer’s Report
Greg Schultz reported that the cash reserve is at its lowest
level since 1997.
Directors’ Reports
Valerie Joyner reported that she is just getting to know region
1.
Dean Gilbert suggested that for the next fiscal year, the
board consider a marketing sub-committee for outreach. Heather
Marshall expressed interest in doing this.
Jeff Bradbury reported on his attendance at the Association
for Science Teacher Education conference, which was very well
done.
Marian Murphy-Shaw reported on her Career-Technical Education
contacts at JSPAC (joint Special Population Advisory Committee)
and is looking forward to working with CSTA.
Other Business
Format/Location of June 5 Board Meeting
Tim Williamson indicated that the June meeting has traditionally
been the opportunity to say thanks to outgoing board members
and welcome new board members, but with costs a concern, it
might be prudent to hold the meeting via teleconference. Consensus
was that the June meeting be held in person as the face-to-face
meeting was helpful for new members. It was suggested that,
as the board retreat will be in October, the September meeting
be held via teleconference or video conference on September
11.
Next Board of Directors Meetings:
June 5, 2010 location TBD
September 11, 2010 via tele- or video conference
October 21, 2010 board retreat in Sacramento
Meeting adjourned at 3:12 p.m. | 
