Massachusetts School Library Association
            MEMBER PORTAL                
​Join or Renew     Member Directory​
  • Home
  • About Us
    • MSLA Leadership 2022-23
    • Executive Board Meetings
    • Joint Statements: MLA, MassCUE
    • Spotlight Archive
    • Strategic Plan 2016-22
    • MSLA Constitution
  • Membership
    • Member Portal
    • Join or Renew Your Membership
    • Members Map
    • Email List
    • Regions >
      • Boston
      • Northeast
      • Metrowest
      • Southeast
      • Central
      • West
  • Conference
    • MSLA and PDPs
  • Resources
    • DESE Rubric
    • Certification & Licensure
    • Program Standards & Rubrics
    • Job Description: School Librarian
    • Job Listings
    • MLS Strategic Planning
    • Intellectual Freedom
  • Advocacy
    • MA School Library Study for Equity & Access
    • Everyday Advocacy
    • ESSA
    • Exemplary Programs
  • Newsletter
    • 2022 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2022
      • May 2022
      • October 2022
    • 2021 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2021
      • May 2021
      • October 2021
    • 2020 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2020
      • May 2020
      • October 2020
    • 2019 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2019
      • May 2019
      • October 2019
    • 2018 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2018
      • May 2018
      • October 2018
    • 2017 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2017
      • May 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
    • 2016 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2016
      • May 2016
      • October 2016
    • 2015 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • April 2015
      • November 2015
    • MSLA Forum 2002-2013
  • Awards
    • Judi Paradis Memorial Grant
    • Archive: History of Awards
    • 2019 Awards Pictures
    • 2018 Awards Pictures
    • 2017 Awards Pictures
    • 2016 Awards Pictures
    • 2015 Awards Pictures
  • Bookmark Contest
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 and 2018 Winners
    • 2016 and 2017 Winners
    • 2012 to 2015 Winners
    • 2009 to 2011 Winners
    • 2004 to 2008 Winners
    • Bookmark Judges

October 2016

11/17/2016

 
Massachusetts School Library Association
October 1, 2016
Retreat Meeting, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, Westborough High School
​View Full Minutes 



Executive Summary
The Executive Board met on Saturday, October 1, for a retreat style meeting. Board members listened to guest speakers, discussed old business, new policy language,  legislative day, awards, MassCUE, website updates, and action plans. After large group discussion, the Board broke into small groups to work on reports and other action items.

Heifer International
Speakers Laurie Wodin and Kate Sheehan opened the retreat with an informational presentation about the Heifer International Read to Feed Program. Laurie Wodin is a retired librarian from Hopedale Memorial Elementary and discussed the successful program she ran in her library. Kate Sheehan, Community Volunteer Coordinator for Heifer International (Boston), spoke about the local Heifer farm in Rutland and provided additional information about finding sponsors and the benefits of visiting the farm. While the MSLA Executive Board acknowledges the global impact of the initiative and supports individual schools and districts becoming involved in the Read to Feed Program, the Executive Board decided not to make Heifer International an organizational mission after thoughtful consideration of the economic challenges that may prohibit some schools from participating.
Vote - Policy Language Change for Travel
The Board discussed and voted on a proposed policy language change regarding MSLA national conference reimbursements.
Current policy:
National Conference Reimbursement: Reimbursable expenses include conference registration fees and associated travel costs up to $5000 for a maximum of 5 attendees. Each attendee will be responsible for any overage. Reimbursements will be provided upon presentation of receipts. Members will reimburse MSLA if they must cancel registrations and/or reservations that are not 100% refundable and previously paid by the organization.

Proposed policy:

National Conference Reimbursement: Reimbursable expenses include conference registration fees, associated travel costs, and hotel at the double occupancy rate up to $1000 per attendee for a maximum of 5 attendees. Each attendee will be responsible for any overage. Qualifying expenses may be paid in advance on the MSLA credit card with permission of the Executive Director or reimbursements will be provided upon presentation of receipts. Members will reimburse MSLA if they must cancel registrations and/or reservations that are not 100% refundable and previously paid by the organization.

The Board approved the language change, and will vote a second time at the November meeting to complete the approval process to adopt the policy language change.


MSLA/MassCUE
Even though several MSLA librarians had presentations scheduled for MassCUE, which was held October 19 & 20, 2016, there was still one slot open for an MSLA presentation. Board members suggested including in the presentation information on database usage in our libraries, overview of ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act), technology related learning goals of our library programs.

Miscellaneous
Board members worked in groups to complete action plans to submit to Anita for inclusion in one document that will align with the Strategic Plan. During the afternoon, board members worked in small groups to update their website pages, as well as plan future activities and projects. The next meeting will be November 16, 2016.











September 2016

11/17/2016

 
Massachusetts School Library Association
September 14, 2016
Virtual Meeting
View Full Minutes

Executive Summary
The MSLA Executive Board met virtually on September 14 to review and vote on the new strategic plan, to discuss a language change in the reimbursement policy regarding travel, to learn about implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and to talk about upcoming Professional Learning Committee offerings.

Strategic Plan
Members voted a second time to approve the updated Strategic Plan, which linked here and is now posted on the MSLA website.

Policy Language Change
The Board discussed changing the current language on the travel reimbursement policy to be more specific and to encourage members to use economy in securing hotel and flight accommodations when events are going to be reimbursed by MSLA.
ESSA
The committee is working with Rosen Publishing and Every Library to write policy and be included as stakeholders in the state’s implementation plans. Currently members are working in subcommittees to identify priorities for DESE, and need a few more people, ideally from the Board, to help on this committee.
PLC
Better Together was a big success. The next event is MSLA EdCamp on November 5 in Western Mass at the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion School. Registration for this event is at http://bit.ly/edccampmsla16 and opens on October 1 and is open to all members of the learning community. There are two courses led by MSLA members that are offered through EDCO this fall: ELL and SPED. The ELL course will be led by Judi Paradis and a colleague, who are substituting while Karen Sekiguchi is ill, and the SPED course will be led by Barbara Fecteau. MSLA members pay the EDCO member fee for these MSLA led courses.

​All 3 keynote speakers have been confirmed for the May 2017 Conference: Mitali Perkins, Pernille Ripp, and Kristina Holzweiss. The Conference Subcommittee has put out a call on the listserv for sessions.


    Emma Kwon

    MSLA Secretary
    School Librarian at
    Weston Elementary Schools: Field, Country, Woodland

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

The Massachusetts School Library Association  works to ensure every school has a school library program that is fully integrated at all grade levels across the curriculum and has a significant and measurable impact on student achievement….Read more…..and Learn more about MSLA

Contact MSLA:
Emily Kristofek, Office Manager/Event Planner
P.O. Box 336. Wayland, MA 01778
ekristofek@maschoolibraries.org
​
508-276-1697 

Massachusetts School Library Association. All Rights Reserved.  Copyright 2023.