Vermont Science Teachers
Association
Board of Directors Meeting
3/7/03
Montpelier, Vermont
Members Present: David White, Claudia Vanderborght, Pam Quinn, Gail
Hall, Roni Donnenfeld, Gay Craig, Cassie Major, Russ Agne, and guest Maureen
Maidrand.
Item: February minutes Gay
Discussion: Corrections have been made.
Action: Minutes were accepted as corrected.
Item: Pathways Conference Finances Pam Quinn
Discussion: Pam Quinn from Vermont Institutes explained that we
do not need to send in a check of $800.00 for the conference speaker, Michael
Klentschy, as this money was included in the conference fees. Pam also put
together a budget and a list of conference tasks so that the board could
determine where expenses could be reduced. Pam recommended a two-day conference
next year; day one would showcase standards-based programs from around the
state and day two would be a series of professional development workshops
similar to the format used this year. The board has handled vendor invitations
and registrations in the past and will consider how we might accomplish this in
the future if need be. The board also brainstormed possible locations around
the state and how online registration might be handled. The board discussed
getting a contract from Arthur Eisencraft for the 2003 conference. We will
devote our April meeting to designing the conference.
Action: Gail asked board members to investigate possible
locations and to think about how they would like the conference to look in
December; for example, one day or two, theme, schedule of events, brochure,
presenters, etc. Gail will contact Arthur Eisencraft about a contract and
contact the VT Math Teachers Assoc. about joining our conference. Gay will
check past minutes for a conference task timeline from Aimee Stephenson. Dave
will investigate online conference registration.
Item: Treasurerıs Report Gail
Discussion: Gail presented Judyıs report. The board is very
appreciative of the excellent work that Judy does in creating clear, concise
and accurate reports thank you Judy.
Action: the treasurerıs report was accepted as presented.
Item: Newsletter Update Cassie
Discussion: The next newsletter will go out in the end of April.
Cassie will be attending the editors meeting at the NSTA Conference.
Action: All submissions need to be sent to Cassie by April
15.
Item: Membership: Gay
Discussion: Gay reported that we currently have 108 yearly
members and 15 lifetime members, which is an increase over the last two years.
We will continue to encourage science teachers to join in our efforts to
improve science education in Vermont. Gay is planning to send a thank you note
to all registered members and the board suggested adding the following: District
I & II will have a hospitality gathering at the NSTA conference at the
Courtyard by Marriott March 27, 4 5:30 and Presidential Award nominations are due in May; a nomination form may
be printed from http://www.her.nsf.gov/pres_awards.
Action: Gay
will send an e-mail thank you to the membership.
Item: DOE & PAESMT - Dave
Discussion: There will most likely be an interim commissioner of
education appointed until a new one can be selected. There are nominees for the
Presidential Award but more are needed.
We felt it would be helpful to inform the selection committee of our
work with science education and about the type of commissioner we need to
continue to foster inquiry-based science education and assessment.
Action: Russ will create a draft of a letter that the board
could send to the selection committee of the new commissioner.
Directorıs Comments:
Congratulations was given to
board members Gail Hall, winner of this years Presidential Award and David
White, new NSTA District II Director way to go team Vermont!
Next Meeting: April 11 at 5PM Montpelier in the VT Institutes
offices. Future meetings will be May 9 Montpelier and June 20-all day planning
meeting at Cassieıs in Waterbury.
Submitted by Gay Craig -
secretary