Middleton teachers union files grievance against school board - Idaho EdNews

gomotar.blogspot.com

The Middleton Education Association filed a grievance against Middleton School District trustees Wednesday, saying the district violated an agreement that said the teachers union would be included in any reopening plan revisions.

Trustees approved a reopening plan revision Monday, to allow kindergarten through fifth-grade students to return to school full-time on Oct. 26. The MEA said in its grievance that the board failed to include members in the process that led up to the decision to revise the reopening plan.

In its grievance, association President Dave Stacy said the negotiated agreement between the MEA, the district and the board of trustees includes a section that requires frequent communication between the district and association during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Communication may include periodic financial updates, and the district and association shall work together to provide a safe and effective learning environment for students and staff,” the agreement said.

In the grievance, Stacy said the board violated that section Monday, when it modified the plan without discussing the move with the union.

“We are just asking to be respected, valued and to be heard, and no one is willing to talk to us,” Stacy told Idaho Education News Friday.

The association is asking that it be included in all future meetings and work sessions regarding COVID-19. It is asking for a special board meeting to discuss the concerns of MEA members when it comes to reopening school. The association is also asking that the board follow the timeline and recommendations from Superintendent Kristin Beck. On Monday, Beck recommended a slower reopening timeline than the one trustees approved.

The association was included in the original reopening plan discussions, but Stacy said he was unable to ask any questions or express any concerns to trustees before they decided to start moving into full reopening. 

“We are all at our breaking point for this year, we are doing it because we love our kids, but we are at our breaking point,” Stacy said.

In its grievance, the MEA also said trustees were seen carrying gift baskets from the board room Monday. The MEA wrote that the baskets have been reported as being called “bribe baskets” by the people dropping them off.

Stacy was unable to attend the Monday board meeting in person and was waiting outside, hoping to be called in to ask his questions about the reopening plan on behalf of MEA members. He said he was never let into the meeting and when board members walked out of the district office building, they were carrying gift baskets.

“This creates the perception of impropriety and that the decision was bought and paid for and not at all considered in good faith, the trustees clearly surrender your judgment to individuals or special interest groups by accepting such ‘bribes,’” wrote Stacy in the grievance. 

“It did not look right,” Stacy said. 

The district’s code of ethics for school board members says, “As a member of my local Board of Trustees I will strive to improve public education and to that end I will make all decisions are based on the available facts and my independent judgement and refuse to surrender that judgment to individuals or special interest groups.” 

The Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators identifies as unethical conduct, “acceptance of gifts from vendors or potential vendors for personal use or gain where there may be the appearance of a conflict of interest.”

Beck declined to comment on the grievance. Board chairman Kirk Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon. 

The West Ada School District’s teachers union has promised a “sickout” Monday, in which 728 teachers agreed not to attend work. Trustees Thursday voted to continue in a hybrid model through Oct. 27 after the Central District Health department moved Ada County into the “red” risk category.

Stacy said the MEA does not have substantial plans for a walkout, but did say members brought up and discussed the topic. 

Republish this article on your website

You may also be interested in

Online instruction is “killing” some high schoolers, one recall organizer told EdNews.

It’s not clear how the district will respond Monday if hundreds of teachers call in sick to protest.

The rising number of coronavirus cases in K-12 are a concern, but the rates vary widely, Gov. Brad Little said Thursday. “It’s almost a building-by-building issue.”

The state is looking at a budget windfall exceeding a half a billion dollars. That’s ample money to launch a debate about competing priorities — such as teacher pay raises vs. tax cuts.

Trustees went over details of the plan on Thursday, but were still confused about where the teachers union stands.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"board" - Google News
October 17, 2020 at 03:31AM
https://ift.tt/2FEMMaW

Middleton teachers union files grievance against school board - Idaho EdNews
"board" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2KWL1EQ
https://ift.tt/2YrjQdq

Bagikan Berita Ini