TSMSS All Faculty-Administrative Staff Meeting Minutes

̶̶̶̶ALL FACULTY &ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MEETINGMEETING MINUTESWednesday, February 22, 20126:00 – 8:00 P.M.Anna‐Maria Kellen AuditoriumThird Street Music School SettlementFaculty: Alicia Barillas, Sean Berry, Yvonne Curry, EiLeen Doster, Anna Elashvili, Lee Feldman, Susan Friedlander,Rebekah Griffin‐Greene, Sibylle Johner, Esther Lee Kaplan, Marcia Lewis, Ina Litera, David Moreno, JoshuaAndino Nieto, Nnenna Ogwo, Angela Pistilli, Edmundo Ramirez, Hugh Sam, Tatyana Sirota, Curtis SydnorStaff:Ivan Antonov, Steve Aronson, Joanne Coco, Kerry Greene, Selima Harleston Lust, Lee Koonce, Andrea Long,Loyi Malu, Nancy Morgan, Blair Pack, Shalisa Kline Ugaz, Barbara Weiss and Risa YoungWelcome & Introduction: Lee Koonce, Executive DirectorLee Koonce welcomed the group and reminded everyone that the meeting was the result of suggestions made atthe September 2011 All Faculty & Staff meeting. This is the first meeting to be scheduled of this type and, hopefully,more will be planned for the future.Update: Strategic Planning Initiatives – Lee Koonce Program Review & Visioning Study (2010):In 2010, Third Street conducted a Program Review & Visioning Study to examine the School’s current programs,learn what we do well, learn what we could do better and learn more about our constituency. Over 500 people(students, faculty, parents, donors, board members, alumni, etc.) participated in the Study by completingsurveys and participating in focus groups. (The complete findings and results from the Study are located on TheSounding Board.)Based on the results of the Program Review & Visioning Study, a vision statement was adopted and a programplan (with enhancements to current programs and new programs designed to meet the needs of targetconstituencies) was developed. To achieve this vision, it was estimated that the School needs an additional22,000‐25,000 square feet of space to add to the current building’s approximately 30,000 square feet.In order to accommodate the needed space, the School has three options: build a new building; move andrenovate an existing building; or acquire an annex to augment the existing building. It is estimated that the totalcost of acquiring additional space will be between $40‐70 million. A Capital Campaign Feasibility Study followedthe Program Review & Visioning Study and determined that, after contributions from the Board and othercurrent donors, the School would still have a $10‐30 million funding gap.The Program Review & Visioning Study was prompted by an offer of a donated building that wouldaccommodate all of the School’s space needs. The donor’s acquisition of the building and the School’s ability toraise enough money to renovate it are the two primary obstacles.

̶̶̶̶̶̶̶̶THIRD STREET MUSIC SCHOOL SETTLEMENTALL FACULTY & ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MEETING MINUTESFEBRUARY 22, 2012 PAGE 2 OF 4Right now, the School is involved in a Real Estate Study that will provide further specificity to the Program Plan.This information will also be helpful to prospective donors.While decisions are being made about additional space for the School, the Board is committed to ensuring thatthe current building is maintained and certain improvements made. For example, an automated elevator andsound proofing in some rooms.One of the most important accomplishments achieved by the various studies in which the School has beeninvolved is that the Board of Directors has a very good sense of the dire need for additional space.Update: Union Election – Lee KoonceAll faculty members should have received an e‐mail from Steve Aronson outlining next steps and the unionelection process.• The ballots will be mailed by the National Labor Relations Board on March 16, 2012. They will include a selfaddressedreturn envelope. The ballots are due to the National Labor Relations Board by March 30, 2012.On April 2, 2012 the votes will be counted and the results announced.It is important that all faculty members vote. The Administrative Staff does not vote.Department Chairpersons will receive ballots; but he NLRB is going to clarify whether they are eligible tovote.The Achievement Program – Shalisa Kline Ugaz, Director of ProgramsCarnegie Hall, in partnership with the Royal Conservatory of Music, is developing a national course of musicstudy in the United States.Third Street has been approved to become a founding member and Assessment Center of The AchievementProgram. The program provides a set of curricula to help guide students along their own “Pathway toExcellence.”Shalisa Kline Ugaz and Matthew Barnson, Chair, Theory & Composition, have created ten levels of theory.• Third Street would become the “Center for Theory” and Carnegie Hall has agreed to help promote theprogram.• Third Street has already expanded theory study by offering classes throughout the week and loweringthe price.• A system of exams has been developed to know where students are in their note reading.The Piano Certificate Program is already based on the Achievement Program’s syllabus and some syllabihave been updated.• Many of the parents of our students are not musicians and The Achievement Program will provide themwith a pathway for their children to follow.• Because of myriad questions from faculty members of the Piano Department, it was concluded that aseparate meeting will be held for this group.

̶̶̶̶̶̶̶THIRD STREET MUSIC SCHOOL SETTLEMENTALL FACULTY & ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MEETING MINUTESFEBRUARY 22, 2012 PAGE 3 OF 4Who Does What – Steve Aronson, Director of Administration and FinanceThere have been changes in the structure of the Programs Department.• Nancy Morgan, Director, School & Community Partnerships, previously reported to Lee Koonce. Now shereports to Shalisa Kline Ugaz.• Patrick Pierre, Director of Operations, had been reporting to Lee Koonce. Now Patrick and Loyi Malu,Manager, Student Support Services, report to Steve Aronson.• Ivan Antonov, Assistant Director of Programs, and Department Chairs report to Shalisa Kline Ugaz.Faculty Job Description – Lee KoonceLast year, various staff and faculty worked on and developed a job description. It was done because manyfaculty members have asked for clarity on what their jobs entail.The job description is important because it clarifies the duties and responsibilities for faculty at Third Street.Job Descriptions will help everyone, but especially new faculty.The job description will also become the basis for a faculty performance evaluation process in the future.Open Forum/Q&ADiscussion about Faculty Union Organizing:• Sibylle Johner noted that a union would clarify how Third Street faculty want to be paid based onlongevity, education, experience, etc. Lee Koonce said that the faculty salary system should be openand transparent and based on experience and educational levels. He also believes in a meritcomponent.• Sibylle Johner will find out if all faculty members would be forced to join the union. If a faculty memberopted out because of religious reasons, for example, rather than pay union dues these faculty would berequired to pay another type of fee, and become ineligible to vote on union matters.• Lee Feldman noted that Third Street faculty would vote on the amount of dues to be paid. Dues arebased on a percentage of salary. He added that the Musicians United‐Strength In Community at ThirdStreet (MU‐SIC)/New York State United Teachers/AFT/NEA/AFL‐CIO would be a small group incomparison to Union 802. A bargaining team would negotiate for Third Street’s faculty. The negotiatingcommittee members are voted in by union members. Instead of a one‐year contract, the team wouldpropose a three‐year contract with annual, built‐in raises. The two main issues of a union are wages andtransparency; i.e. decision making for the School including the minimum number of hours needed forhealth insurance.A question was asked about Freelancers Union’s insurance benefits. Steve Aronson researched benefitsthrough the Freelancers Union and reported that such an approach had too many challenges to be workableat Third Street.A discussion was had about the fairness of student assignments. One former department chair said thatfavoritism was a factor.

̶̶THIRD STREET MUSIC SCHOOL SETTLEMENTALL FACULTY & ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MEETING MINUTESFEBRUARY 22, 2012 PAGE 4 OF 4Manager for Student Support Services, Loyi Malu, said that the most important determinant in studentassignments was scheduling. Most students and their families come to the School with a certain day andtime in mind. Teachers with openings during those times are given those students.Lee Koonce added that retention rates have decreased and that poses a challenge for keeping facultystudios full. Director of Development & Communication Kerry Greene, who reports on various Third Streetstatistics for grant applications and reports, noted that the school’s data indicates, historically, the averageretention rate was 70%. It has dropped to 57%.Other – Lee KoonceThe School’s administration believes that some of the decline has to do with the downturn in the economy.Third Street has been able to retain enrollment by the addition of new students. Also, the number ofstudents studying through high school has doubled.Lee Koonce added that it would be beneficial for the School to make studio changes easier and less painfulfor students. Some students and their families chose to leave the School completely instead of asking for astudio change to avoid hurting their teacher’s feelings.A question was asked about teaching off‐site and that one person was known to be allowed to do this. Lee Koonceresponded by saying that this arrangement predated his arrival and there is only one faculty member that teachesoff‐site. All future faculty hires will be required to teach on‐site.A statement was made about student retention and that the Chamber Music Program used to be a great way forstudents to develop lasting friendships and stay at the School. At one time, there had been over 100 studentsenrolled in chamber music, according to one long‐time faculty member. Many on the faculty perceive that theChamber Music Program is too exclusive and too difficult to participate in. They added that the audition processneeds to be more open and transparent.Minutes taken by Joanne Coco.