PES First Executive Board Meeting

March 26, 1999

The meeting was called to order at 8:40 AM.

Present: Emily Robertson, Wendy Kohli, Bob Floden, Nick Burbules, Kal Alston, Jim Garrison, Lynda Stone, Randall Curren, Deborah Kerdeman, Michael Katz, Paul Farber, Ann Diller

Welcome -- Robertson

President Robertson welcomed the group to the meeting suggested that the group acknowledge the contributions of Curren and Kohli in putting together an excellent program.

Executive Secretary's Report -- Floden

Floden reported that paid membership is up about 20 from last year, for a current 98-9 total of 472. Unfortunately, the gains in membership have not been enough to overcome the Society's negative cash flow. Conference costs and income vary widely from year to year, but seem to be roughly centered at a break-even point. For the other work of the Society, however, he estimated that costs will exceed revenues by about $10,000 -- roughly the same amount as last year. Strong investment performance has kept the change in net worth small, but that can't be expected to continue.

Floden suggested three ways the Society might work toward a balanced budget. First, he suggested raising dues, with increases of $5-15 according to membership category. Second, he suggested that the Society move toward electronic distribution of the Update and PEN. Third, he recommended reconsidering the Society's contributions to CLSE.

As an alternative, Diller suggested charging for the Yearbook, with a check-off box and space for payment on the dues form. Burbules pointed out that demand for the Yearbook might be reduced if it was also available on-line. After some discussion, group agreed that access to past Yearbooks would remain free, but more recent Yearbooks would only be available through password, which would be given to those purchasing a Yearbook.

Robertson moved that, rather than raise dues, PES should charge members $25 for the yearbook and free on-line access to web site. The web site would be password protected for a moving 3-year window of recent Yearbooks. Garrison seconded the motion. It passed without objection.

As part of the discussion about moving the Update and PES to electronic distribution, Farber reported that he and McCarthy recommended a temporary halt to publication of PEN. The halt would give time to reconsider to format and role of PEN. One possibily would be to move articles that might have appeared in PEN to the PES web site, with COPA taking an active role in soliciting articles. The Committee agreed that this was worth pursuing.

Regarding paper mailings for the Update, the Floden noted that an all-electronic form might make it more difficult to collect dues. Others agreed. The group encouraged the Executive Secretary to continue sending information on the conference, dues notices, and calls for papers in electronic form, but to do other business by e-mail.

The Board discussed the CLSE payment. Garrison and Diller both spoke passionately about importance of a foundations presence in NCATE. The Board agreed to continue the current arrangements for CLSE payments.

Review of program and conference arrangements -- Curren and Kohli

The move to larger meeting participation has created some problems. This year there will be 133 people on the program, in 148 program slots. Curren has created a manual for program chairs, which should be of great help to future program chairs. Kohli noted that the presidential lunch will be less expensive this year, in an attempt to make it more accessible to all PES members.

Ed Theory and Yearbook -- Burbules

Education Theory figures remain stable. The number of submissions is consistent. About 25% of submissions are accepted. The 60-day goal for average turn around time was met again this year, with a 51 day average. The pattern of subscribers is shifting more towards domestic. The total is fairly constant. Wanda Pillow is new book review editor. Thanks to Kal Alston for her service in that role.

Burburles brought up two topics for discussion:: Puting the journal on line and thinking about the content of the 50^th Anniversary issues.

For on-line access, Burbules would like to make information available, but is concerned that free electronic access would erode subscriptions. He plans to recommend to the Ed Theory Editorial Board that all articles be put up on the web, but that there be a five year window that requires a password, which would be given to paid subscribers. The PES Executive Board has no objection to these ideas.

Summer 2001 is 50^th year of the journal. Burbules is considering either a retrospective analysis or a look to the future. Stone suggested that the issue might accommodate both. The Board suggested that Burbules consider special marketing for this issue.

Burbules noted to Ed Theory production costs have risen to almost $11, which the PES per-issue payment remains at $10 In a year or two, the journal will have to talk about raising charge to PES for members.

Costs for the Yearbook have gone down because cut in production run. The Board agreed to reduce the production run down another 100 more next year, bringing it to 750 copies.

Starting this year, the Yearbook team changed from hiring a full-year 25% GA to hiring a summer 50%-time assistant. Additional work beyond the fall was done by hiring a GA on and hourly basis.

Curren has done a terrific job as Program Chair/Yearbook Editor this year. Has resusitated the guide for Yearbook editor. That will help keep the project on schedule, reducing costs to the Society..

Burbules presented a suggestion for moving the PES data base to Ed Theory. The Board felt that it was important to keep the data base with the Executive Secretary, but encouraged the Executive Secretary and Education Theory to work toward better coordination.

COPA -- Alston

Alston suggested that the program shift back to having a COPA session that did not overlap with other sessions.

Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession

Megan Boler could not attend this Executive Board meeting. Robertson said that Boler had noted that COSW had not been assigned a room for their business meeting, and hoped that that could be corrected for the next meeting. Someone suggested that, for this year, the group might get a large table in the hotel restaurant.

Jobs for Philosophers of Education Committee -- Stone

Now that information about jobs is more readily available on the Web, the committee is reconsidering its role. The committee would like to do more. They will meet Saturday morning to discuss possibilities. Possibilities include a survey of faculty and sessions at PES aimed at helping junior members get jobs and succeed in them.

Membership Committee - Kerdeman

Last year the committee worked on outreach, placing ads in various journals, leading to 49 new applications for membership. This year the commitee will focus on in-reach, making face to face contact with newer members, welcoming them to the Society. The committee plans to coordinate people who want to go to dinner, so that new members can be more easily included.

Election Committee -- Katz

Nick Burbules will be the next president-elect. Barbara Stengel has agreed to serve as Executive Secretary. Susan Laird has been elected to COPA and Frank Margonis to the Executive Board.

Katz noted the need for a manual for the elections committee. Robertson suggested that it include looking over time at who was nominated as new nominees are chosen.

Other business:

Robertson expressed regret for George Kneller's recent. passing. He had a long and productive career in philosophy of education and was a loyal and generous supported of the Society. In that spirit of generousity, Kneller has bequeated approximately $100,000 to endow the George Kneller lectureship in philosophy of education. Details on the bequest will be available at a later time.

Thanks to Wendy Kohli for her service on the Executive Board

Michael Katz asked for one more year to work on an ethics special interest group. No objections were raised.

The meeting adjourned at 10:25 AM.