CSTA BOARD MINUTES
June 2, 2007
Aquarium of the Pacific Administrative Offices
Long Beach
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the California
Science Teachers Association, a California non-profit corporation
was called to order at 9:58 a.m.
Attendance and Quorum
The following board members were present: Jeff Bradbury, Karen
Carroll, Amy Rosenberg, Deborah Farkas, Susan Garcia, Dean
Gilbert, Laura Henriques, Sharon Janulaw, Jim Jones, Greg
Potter, Susan Pritchard, Greg Schultz, Jenny Wade, Tim Williamson,
and Karen Withey-Smith. A quorum was present. Also in attendance
were newly elected board members, Meg Burke, Don Whisman,
Rick Pomeroy, and Jennifer Halls, executive director Christine
Bertrand, and CTA liaison Lisa Marroquin. Dean Gilbert served
as Chair, and Jenny Wade served as Secretary.
Notice
The chair called the meeting to order 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. Newly elected board members were
welcomed and all board members were asked to provide an introduction.
Approval of Agenda
Chair Dean Gilbert asked for approval of the agenda. The agenda
was amended to include a proposal from Apple Computer and
discussion of the survey. Sue Pritchard moved to approve the
agenda as amended, seconded by Tim Williamson; the agenda
was approved as amended.
Approval of Minutes
Corrections were made to the minutes of the March 17, 2007
board meeting. Sharon Janulaw moved to approve the minutes
as amended, seconded by Sue Pritchard; minutes approved as
amended.
Old Business
Student Chapters
Laura Henriques reported on the proposal to establish a student
chapter program as a way to connect preservice teachers to
CSTA. She indicated that the proposal mirrors closely the
NSTA student chapter program. Under the proposal, a campus
would have a CSTA student chapter or club with a faculty advisor
or sponsor, and after one year, student members would receive
$5 off their student membership the following year. The faculty
advisor would receive a box of CCS for distribution to their
student members. Laura indicated that a student could potentially
be a CSTA student member for five years prior to graduation.
Deb Farkas moved to establish student chapters as recommended
by the committee, seconded by Sue Pritchard. Meg Burke suggested
that there be an incentive for the faculty sponsor; Sharon
Janulaw offered a friendly amendment to allow for modification
of the student chapter proposal upon a review by staff of
any fiscal impact before proposal is promoted and suggested
that the executive committee discuss it so that the proposal
can be submitted in July for the September CCS.
Amendment accepted; motion carried.
Programs
2007 Science Education Conference
Tim Williamson reported that the planning for the 2007 conference
is proceeding and all elements are in place, but that we still
have sponsorship needs. He reported that there will be an
administrator strand for the first time this year. He indicated
that we need a large turnout for the dance at the Aquarium
on Saturday. Amy Rosenberg mentioned that the Aquarium should
be listed as a sponsor. Tim praised Jessica Lewis for the
phenomenal job she’s done in organizing workshops and conference
elements. He urged board members to send information about
the conference to all their contacts, encouraging attendance.
Awards Committee Recommendations
Dean Gilbert presented the recommendations of the awards committee
for the 2007 awards. The committee is recommending:
for the Margaret Nicholson Distinguished Service Award:
Dr. Mike Klentschy
for the Future Science Teacher Awards: William M. Berkstresser
and Padma Haldar
Sue Pritchard moved that the board accept the recommendations
as presented, Jim Jones seconded; motion carried.
Field Experience Grant Program
Jim Jones presented the recommendation of the grants committee
that Savannah Africa be approved as the first field experience
to be offered by CSTA. Jim indicated that they have met our
protocol and that we now need to approve it and follow up
with an announcement and application timeline. Jim Jones moved
that Savannah Africa be approved as a field experience provider
and that we proceed to market the program for 2008.
Seconded by Tim Williamson; motion carried.
Policy and Organizational Issues
Committee Appointments
Dean Gilbert and Sue Pritchard presented the recommendations
for the 2007-2008 committees, as included in the board packet.
Sue added Deb Farkas, Meg Burke, Mark Palmerston, and Jim
Jones to the 2008 conference committee, and Jim Jones as 2009
conference committee chair. Sue indicated that all have been
contacted and have agreed to serve.
Sue Pritchard moved to accept the committee appointments,
seconded by Tim Williamson; motion carried.
Legislative and Political Issues
Christine Bertrand updated the information included in the
board packet. She indicated that most of the bills in the
report have passed their respective committees and that she
testified on most of these bills. Christine also reported
on developments with the adoption process and the Curriculum
Commission. She indicated that the state board is under a
court order to revise the process, and this week the Legislative
Analyst’s Office issued a report on the cost of materials
and the process itself. Christine mentioned that CSTA had
written a letter regarding the process and was mentioned by
name in the report. She reported that the LAO has recommended
that the Curriculum Commission be eliminated from adoption
process altogether; she indicated that the report is not flattering
to the current process and commission
Sharon Janulaw reported that she represented CSTA at a press
conference with Jack O’Connell and the State Department of
Education in support of SB 960. She indicated that Jack O’Connell
had praised her comments.
Environmental Education Funding
CSTA member Dave Ficke was invited to address the board regarding
funding for environmental education. Dave, chair of an environmental
education committee for CDE and CREEC representative, reported
that the CREEC budget is about $400,000 and that environmental
education is not receiving the funds it is supposed to from
the EE license plate funds. Dave expressed concern about getting
additional funding for EE, particularly as CREEC may be asked
to provide professional development on the environmental education
principles and concepts. Dave asked for help from CSTA to
get this done.
Dave was thanked for his passion for the subject. The board
directed Christine Bertrand to send him a letter expressing
the board’s appreciation of his position and inviting his
participation with a workshop at the 2008 conference.
COPUS Membership
Christine Bertrand reported on the Coalition on the Public
Understanding of Science, as requested by Judy Scotchmoor.
The coalition is forming to bring information about the nature
of science to the general public and is sponsoring activities
for the 2009 Year of Science. Christine reported that there
is no fiscal impact to CSTA; CSTA would be added to a list
of participants and would publicize our events on the COPUS
website.
Sue Pritchard moved that CSTA support COPUS and become a member,
seconded by Susan Garcia; motion carried.
Community Colleges Connections
Jeff Bradbury presented his concerns regarding participation
of 2-year college level instructors and the number of sessions
for this group at the Science Education Conference. He mentioned
that he had set some personal goals for addressing the needs
of 2-year college faculty and would like to challenge the
CSTA leadership to broaden the program offerings to become
inclusive toward college faculty. Jeff asked the board to
consider whether CSTA is a K-16 organization or a K-12 organization
with support from 2-year and 4-year college staff. Jeff stated
that pedagogy and focus speakers can address the needs of
all levels and that we can address the teaching of science
no matter the level.
Proposal from ETA Cuisenaire
Tim Williamson presented a proposal from ETA Cuisenaire to
provide $100 worth of products to the first 100 conference
speakers who apply, to be used in their conference workshops.
ETA requests only that the winners acknowledge ETA Cuisenaire
at their workshop and they can use the products only for their
presentation. Concern was voiced that this is an implicit
endorsement of their products and that they would not be considered
a sponsor since the funding goes to the presenters and not
to CSTA. Concern was voiced that this is another way to have
a commercial workshop.
Tim Williamson moved to accept the ETA proposal, Jim Jones
seconded; motion failed.
The board asked Tim to renegotiate the ETA proposal to ask
for their sponsorship of the conference. The revised proposal,
if there is one, will be presented to the executive committee
after Tim’s conversation with the ETA representative.
Proposal from Texas Instruments
Dean Gilbert reported on a proposal for a partnership
with Texas Instruments. They would like to sponsor teacher
workshops around the state on using Texas Instruments technology.
Dean indicated that this would be a venue for long-term professional
development but voiced concern that this would be an implicit
endorsement of Texas Instruments. It is also not clear what
CSTA would get from this. The board directed Christine Bertrand
to write to thank them and decline their offer.
Apple Proposal
Dean Gilbert reported on a proposal for Apple to offer podcasting
workshops at the conference. Dean stated that LACOE teachers
are learning how to develop podcast lessons and asked if there
is a way for Apple to sponsor a project podcast at the conference.
He indicated that Apple would provide the hardware and CSTA
will have to provide the WiFi. Dean indicated that there may
be several workshop presenters at the conference who would
like to take advantage of a technology center, but that it
might be too late to put this together for the 2007 conference.
It was suggested that Jessica Lewis be asked to follow up
to see if Apple would like to exhibit this year and then work
on sponsorship and a technology room for the 2008 conference.
Survey Monkey
Jeff Bradbury reported that the membership committee started
working on a survey on members’ attitudes about CSTA. Jeff
indicated that he started writing questions and put these
on Survey Monkey, which offers free surveys for up to 100
responses. He reported that we can upgrade to get more questions
and up to a thousand responders for about $20/month. Jeff
proposed that a committee wordsmith the survey and then do
the upgrade. Suggestions were made to make the survey available
at the conference. Jeff Bradbury moved
that CSTA conduct an online survey and allocate up to $400
for that purpose.
Seconded by Sue Pritchard; motion carried.
It was suggested that other survey instruments be investigated
and that any recommendations for questions be sent to Dean,
Christine, or Sue.
Reports
President
Dean Gilbert reported that he was invited to a California
Space Authority meeting in L.A. The organization is establishing
an online resource database for teachers to teach quality
science. Dean spoke at the meeting, indicating that administrators
are telling teachers not to teach science at the elementary
level and that real change will need to come by amending the
Ed. Code to add mandated time for teaching science. Dean indicated
that the participants at the meeting were shocked that science
is not being taught.
Treasurer
Greg Schultz referenced his report in the board packet and
indicated that the bottom line is that we are ahead of budget
in income and lower in expenses.
Executive Director
Christine Bertrand referenced her report in the board packet.
Directors’ Reports
Sharon Janulaw reported on a press conference she attended,
and stated how much she has enjoyed being on the board.
Greg Potter also stated how much he’s enjoyed being on the
board and that he’s glad he has a great replacement.
Karen Carroll reported that she has been recruiting L.A. people
to attend the conference.
Laura Henriques reported on the application process for preservice
volunteer/attendees and indicated that students cannot apply
until September. She reported on her work on the CSTA student
chapter program, and reported that she wrote grant to pay
for 16 teachers at a partner school to become CSTA members.
Deb Farkas reported that she attended a Bay Area consortium
being brought together to collaborate on ways to get more
science taught. She reported that science is being taught
10 minutes per day in K-3 classes and 15 minutes per day in
grades 4-6.
Amy Rosenberg thanked everyone for allowing her to be a part
of such a great organization and stated that her replacement
will contribute a lot. She reported that she has and will
continue to promote CSTA. Amy thanked Christine for her contributions.
Sue Pritchard reported that she has participated on a middle
school council. She thanked Amy and the Aquarium for hosting
the meeting, and made presentations to outgoing board members.
Adjournament
Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.
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