When Teachers are Taught I knew this day would come.

Benjie Montano, a respected colleague by his peers and one of the schools pioneers, formally handed his letter of retirement. We have long known that Benjies departure would precipitate a downturn of support from the faculty regarding their formation programs. After all, enthusiasm for these sessions had started to wane in light of increasingly demanding requirements for ensuring academic standards of the school, which, in turn competes with holding of formation sessions. On the other hand, I wasnt too concerned. There are a number of senior faculty members who could be requested to facilitate these formation sessions. After all, they themselves have attended various formation programs. In fact, Mr. Montano counted on them to act as volunteers when he conducted his sessions in the past. I decided to convene a stakeholders meeting to discuss how best to handle the absence of an adult formator to shepherd the burgeoning number of probationary teachers in our school in addition to the regular or so called old-timers. Ms. Hernandez, says my young looking Grade School principal , I think the new head of adult formation should be more creative in designing formation programs. Sir Benjies style of holding it in plenary sessions doesnt really provide a venue for gestation of Lasallian values, much less for basic spirituality among our teachers. I couldnt agree more. Plenary sessions for formation might have worked when our school was just starting, but several decades later, hundreds of additional faculties and innovations in technology, plenary sessions are like shooting a single ball to multiple hoops in an entire court. Creative formation programs is one, but the more important issue to look into is scheduling sessions so that teachers are not burdened by deadlines nor by other tasks such as preparing teaching modules or checking exam papers, said Marlon, the seasoned High School principal. I heaved a deep sigh and silently recalled what the general sentiment of the faculty had been in the last years of Benjies stint as head of formation. Informal discussions in the canteen and faculty lounges zeroed in how formation programs have been perceived as additional work by teachers, most especially the younger ones, often seen as competing with their time allotted for fulfilling academic requirements. The personnel officer meanwhile echoed what the two principals said. Ms.

Hernandez, I agree that we need to redesign our formation programs, more so to schedule it in order to give our teachers room for focusing on matters other than their work. This is especially crucial in light of the growing number of teachers leaving our school in search of greener pastures abroad. Just as Id hoped he would, Brother Jomar Valderrama, a new member to our Board of Trustees and an old friend, volunteered to help draft new modules of formation designed to address the issues raised by my peers. Ms. Hernandez, he said, why not select from among your faculty and staff a representative or two to collaborate with me in designing and implementing new modules of formation. Perhaps in this manner we can better respond to their needs. Glad that I can rely on existing personnel in dealing with the situation. I decided to restructure our schools organization chart by devolving some of the functions left behind by Mr. Montano to my two principals. Both will now oversee the formation sessions for teachers. Their job will now include scheduling formation sessions and identifying from among their teachers able facilitators. Using the newly designed module, the first batch underwent a session on Prayer. Delivered by senior faculty members and attended by both probationary and regular teachers, we had our very first level-specific formation session. Totally different from the usual plenary modes, this time each level met as a separate group and was assigned a facilitator. I had feedback forms circulated. Many facilitators noted that quite a number of teachers took the opportunity to air out their personal struggles and family concerns. Some used the sessions as venues for discussing some of the tensions they felt in school. I became determined that formation sessions are scheduled on a regular basis. I requested the principals to ensure that a follow-up module is calendared the soonest time possible. Both got back to report that they were finding it difficult to find a schedule amenable to the teachers. Even more disturbing was the decision of the identified facilitators - senior faculty members - to back out from their commitment in delivering the new modules. It turned out, most of them felt they were not ready for the task neither do they feel competent in carrying out duties of a facilitator and formator. It was then that I started thinking, maybe we do need to hire a replacement

for Mr. Montano after all.

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF LA SALLE HILLSVIEW Board Room 24 June 2006, 9:00 12:00NN PRESENT: BR. EDDIE FERRER FSC (Chairman) head) BR. ARTHUR LIM FSC Officer) BR. DAN ARENAS FSC BR. JOMAR VALDERRAMA FSC Secretary) BR. NOEL ELORDE FSC BR. MARTIN VICENTE FSC DR. CORA QUIZON DR. ALBERT BONOAN MR. DIEGO ANG MR. LUIS VIRAY 1. ALSO PRESENT MS. RHEENA HERNANDEZ (School MR. GINO LLAMAS (Personnel

MR. LITO CRUZ (Controller) MS. IZZA TAN (Corporate

Call to Order and Certification of Notice and Determination of Quorum

After a brief prayer, the Chairman, Br. Eddie Ferrer FSC, called the meeting to order and presided over the same. The Corporate Secretary, Ms. Izza Tan certified the existence of a quorum and proceeded to record the minutes. 2. 3. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meetings Business Arising from the Minutes 4.1 Salary Negotiations

Ms. Hernandez reported that consultations with the faculty have elicited varying reactions regarding the proposed salary scale. Generally though, the sentiment veers toward animosity against the school. In fact, the recently concluded formation session on Prayer became a venue to air these grievances. Mr. Llamas likewise reported that a rival faction seem to be evolving from among the ranks, senior versus junior, and both sides are actively courting those on probation. Br. Eddie remarked that this prolonged discussion is not doing the school any good, in fact he relates how the parents have already started to

complain in his office. Ms. Tan cautioned though that the labor code strongly indicates the need for such a protracted process in light of fair and just compensation policies.