Executive Summary Minutes Board Meeting 12-16-2020

Massachusetts School Library Association
Executive Board meeting 
December 16, 2020 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Virtual Meeting

Attending: Rachel Barrett, Co-Director Southeast Region
Michael Caligiuri, Co-Director Central Region
Morgan Keohane, Co-Director Boston Region
Jennifer Dimmick, Secretary
Patsy Divver, Co-Director Metrowest Region
Maria D’Orsi, Co-Director Metrowest Region
Deeth Ellis, Co-Director Boston Region
Barb Fecteau, Co-Director Northeast Region
Pat Fontes, Awards
Michelle Fontaine, Treasurer
Wendy Garland, Awards
Alida Hanson, Professional Learning
Laura Harrington, Co-Director Northeast Region
Morgan Koehane, Co-Director Boston Region
Emily Kristofek, Office Manager
Laura Luker, President
Ingrid Mayyasi, Awards
Claudia Palframan, Co-Director Western Region
Greg Pronevitz, Director of Outreach
Katherine Steiger, Forum Co-Editor
Carrie Tucker, Co-Director Southeast Region
Georgina Trebbe, Advocacy
Pamela Vallee, Co-Director Central Region
Jen Varney, President Elect Alix Waznick, Professional Learning

Christi Farrar, MLS
April Mazza, MLS

Welcome, call to order --- Laura Luker
Deeth Ellis motioned to approve reports and minutes of November meeting, Georgina Trebbe seconded, all in favor.

Every Library proposal - Proposal to Partner with MLA Legislative Committee and EveryLibrary - Greg Pronevitz 

The board of MLA agreed to embark on a 4 stage advocacy project with Everylibrary. If MSLA joins onto the project, the fourth stage of the project would be a retreat with Everylibrary, MLA and MSLA to plan ongoing advocacy work for MA libraries. MSLA could voice opinions on what they want from the state in next 3-5 years.

Deeth Ellis motioned to accept the proposal to partner with MLA Legislative Committee and EveryLibrary and add a budget line item of up to $1,000 to support this, Katherine Steiger seconded, all approved.

AASL letter - just an FYI - Laura Luker “We wanted to inform our AASL Chapters that the American Association of School Librarians is working with the American Library Association Office of Public Policy and Advocacy to draft a letter to be sent to the President-elect Joe Biden's transition team. The letter will address transition and opportunities for the new administration to support school libraries. With AASL president Kathy Carroll's signature, we would like to show strength and unity of AASL by also having each of the AASL Chapters presidents sign the letter along with our AACT leadership. “ Laura Luker completed the initial form and is waiting for the draft letter from AASL for all state associations to sign onto.

Bookmark contest - Laura Gardner is not able to manage this initiative this year. Options are to not offer this year, find another leader, or re-imagine and redesign for our current environment. No board members were willing to take it on this year. Carrie Tucker suggested asking the membership. Deeth Ellis suggested recruiting from the list of librarians who participate annually. Discussion about reimagining it for more digital environments. Maybe a book cover vs. book mark? Poster? Cross-curricular connections with the Art Departments?

Awards update - Wendy Garland and Ingrid Mayyasi

Advocacy --- Greg Pronevitz and Georgina Trebbe
Georgina has been a very vocal member of the MBLC PR committee. 

Emphasis is on building public library patrons. Looking at early literacy after COVID, since we anticipate a slide in early literacy due to COVID. 

Debbie Froggett and Georgina want to petition the DESE to review the Evaluation Standards for Librarians and consider adding AASL standards to a new draft. 

The committee discussed leveraging the MSLA listserv to encourage the membership to practice everyday advocacy. 

The committee is looking at ways to rearrange the website to increase use of advocacy materials. 

Another issue the committee is concerned about with respect to advocacy is that we are not recognized as teachers. 

Georgina attended the MLS database review, where there were a lot of school librarians in attendance and the conversation was very productive. 

The AASL standards committee is working on creating new standards web pages to make them more accessible, since they recognize the standards books as being too expensive for most school librarians. 

Deeth Ellis attended AASL Town Hall last month and observed many librarians who have been using the standards in their schools and how they were leading the charge on things like curriculum mapping.

Greg was invited to attend the MBLC monthly meeting to give input on the library legislative agenda for next year and he spoke in favor of databases for schools. He suggested sharing information about the value and activities of school librarians/libraries and identifying commonalities among all libraries.

Conference --- Alida Hanson and Alix Woznick
Gholdy Muhammad is confirmed as a speaker and presenter, as is Kathy Carroll. We have enough sessions between new proposals and carry-overs from last year’s canceled event. 

Project Ready cohorts are continuing.

Identified a session proposal about evaluation that we’d like to turn into a stand-alone PD opportunity in the fall.

Office manager report --- Emily Kristofek
Still evaluating systems like Tradewing to integrate our different software like a conference platform, email groups, documents, membership database, etc., however Tradewing specifically would not eliminate the need for CVENT, which we are dissatisfied with, so we are still looking at others. Club Express is another option -- please let Emily know if you have any experience with it.

MLS - April Mazza April is on a newly formed membership committee at MLS. Just FYI they’re not doing their typical school survey to update membership information as they will not revoke membership from anyone during this unsettled time. Christi Farrar - reminder that MLS offers PDPs and their sessions are free! They are planning a session on educational equity for spring that will be conducted after school hours. Even webinars can count towards PDPs. There was discussion about working with Georgina Trebbe on an early literacy training. There was also discussion of the evaluation session proposed for the conference as working better as a PDP-eligible independent PD. 

Staffing changes for the remainder of the year - Laura Luker Greg Pronevitz is proposing to continue his work for MSLA vs. ending his commitment in December. Budget discussions ensued. Jen Varney feels good about this because advocacy is so critical this year and we’re too busy with pandemic teaching to give it the attention it deserves. Georgina Trebbe motioned to extend Greg Pronevitz’s contract through the end of the fiscal year with a cap equivalent, Morgan Keohane seconded, all in favor.

​Georgina Trebbe motioned to adjourn, Deeth Ellis seconded, all in favor.

Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Dimmick