Triton Reacts To Teachers' Grievance
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
BOURBON - The Triton School Board responded Monday to a grievance filed by the Triton Teachers' Association on behalf of four elementary schoolteachers against the Triton School Corp.
Board president Kevin Boyer said the board had decided, in favor of the school corporation, not to provide substitutes to cover the four teachers' classes while they met twice a month for a 35-minute collaborative book study.
In a special meeting Dec. 6, Indiana State Teachers Association UniServ Director Kent Kimpel told the board the four teachers believe their contract with the school corporation was violated when they were required to meet after school hours twice each month for a book study, because their teaching schedules would not allow them to meet during school hours.
TTA President Steve McBride asked the board if substitutes could be found to cover the teachers' classes for about 35 minutes twice each month while they met for the book study. McBride said the teachers thought it was a breach of contract for the school to require the teachers to work time beyond regular school hours. He told the board that most teachers already put in extra time for grading papers and preparing lessons.
Boyer said Monday the board found the appeal "without merit." At the Dec. 6 meeting, Kimpel told the board if they rule in favor of the school corporation, he would advise the TTA to file a suit claiming unfair labor practices.
"My personal opinion is that that is not very good advice," said Boyer Monday.
McBride said Monday he believes the grievance procedure was not carried out correctly. McBride told the board he thinks the meeting to discuss the grievance should have been held in executive session instead of a public meeting. "I think the teachers' association has been unprofessional and the school board has been unprofessional," McBride said. "I'll take as much responsibility as anyone else."
McBride said he believes the teachers for whom the grievance was filed were discouraged during the process because of what he called "the consequences" of taking action publicly.
"These are not bad people," McBride said. "It's their legal right to file this grievance. It bothers me that we had four names in the paper."
Boyer said according to state statute, the grievance did not qualify as a personnel issue nor any other category that would have allowed it to be discussed in executive session. "The grievance had to be held in a public meeting," Boyer said.
"As far as I know, this grievance is over," said McBride, "unless we file for unfair labor practices."
In other news, the board approved the purchase of two new school buses for a total cost of $110,652. The buses, one 48-passenger bus specially suited for students with special physical needs and one 66-passenger bus, will be purchased from Kerlin-Thomas-Freightliner, the low bidder during the school corporation's search for buses.
Triton transportation director Kris Berger told the board the special needs bus was priced higher than expected at around $61,000. Berger said the last time the school corporation bought a special needs bus, it cost around $49,000. Berger said the bus was purchased with options for air-ride suspension and track seating, but he said those options were not the major factors in the price increase. Berger said instead he thinks rising material costs affected the bus prices. Berger said the school corporation will receive the new buses in June or July 2005.
Monday's meeting was the last meeting for 2004 and Boyer and board member Steve Feldman's last meeting on the board. Boyer and Feldman were defeated in November's election by challengers Kris Glingle and Richard Trowbridge. Both board members received plaques from the school corporation Monday in honor of their service to the community.
In parting comments, Boyer said he viewed his service on the board as repayment to the school corporation for his education. "The foundation for my education was right here in Triton School Corporation," Boyer said. "Each month on the board was like a monthly installment paying that back."
Boyer, an accountant, said he doesn't plan to end his involvement in education.
"My passion for education doesn't end here," said Boyer. "Beginning next year, I will be teaching managerial accounting at Ivy Tech."
Feldman also offered some parting words. "I'd like to thank the community for the opportunity in the last 12 years to serve as a board member," he said.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2005. [[In-content Ad]]
BOURBON - The Triton School Board responded Monday to a grievance filed by the Triton Teachers' Association on behalf of four elementary schoolteachers against the Triton School Corp.
Board president Kevin Boyer said the board had decided, in favor of the school corporation, not to provide substitutes to cover the four teachers' classes while they met twice a month for a 35-minute collaborative book study.
In a special meeting Dec. 6, Indiana State Teachers Association UniServ Director Kent Kimpel told the board the four teachers believe their contract with the school corporation was violated when they were required to meet after school hours twice each month for a book study, because their teaching schedules would not allow them to meet during school hours.
TTA President Steve McBride asked the board if substitutes could be found to cover the teachers' classes for about 35 minutes twice each month while they met for the book study. McBride said the teachers thought it was a breach of contract for the school to require the teachers to work time beyond regular school hours. He told the board that most teachers already put in extra time for grading papers and preparing lessons.
Boyer said Monday the board found the appeal "without merit." At the Dec. 6 meeting, Kimpel told the board if they rule in favor of the school corporation, he would advise the TTA to file a suit claiming unfair labor practices.
"My personal opinion is that that is not very good advice," said Boyer Monday.
McBride said Monday he believes the grievance procedure was not carried out correctly. McBride told the board he thinks the meeting to discuss the grievance should have been held in executive session instead of a public meeting. "I think the teachers' association has been unprofessional and the school board has been unprofessional," McBride said. "I'll take as much responsibility as anyone else."
McBride said he believes the teachers for whom the grievance was filed were discouraged during the process because of what he called "the consequences" of taking action publicly.
"These are not bad people," McBride said. "It's their legal right to file this grievance. It bothers me that we had four names in the paper."
Boyer said according to state statute, the grievance did not qualify as a personnel issue nor any other category that would have allowed it to be discussed in executive session. "The grievance had to be held in a public meeting," Boyer said.
"As far as I know, this grievance is over," said McBride, "unless we file for unfair labor practices."
In other news, the board approved the purchase of two new school buses for a total cost of $110,652. The buses, one 48-passenger bus specially suited for students with special physical needs and one 66-passenger bus, will be purchased from Kerlin-Thomas-Freightliner, the low bidder during the school corporation's search for buses.
Triton transportation director Kris Berger told the board the special needs bus was priced higher than expected at around $61,000. Berger said the last time the school corporation bought a special needs bus, it cost around $49,000. Berger said the bus was purchased with options for air-ride suspension and track seating, but he said those options were not the major factors in the price increase. Berger said instead he thinks rising material costs affected the bus prices. Berger said the school corporation will receive the new buses in June or July 2005.
Monday's meeting was the last meeting for 2004 and Boyer and board member Steve Feldman's last meeting on the board. Boyer and Feldman were defeated in November's election by challengers Kris Glingle and Richard Trowbridge. Both board members received plaques from the school corporation Monday in honor of their service to the community.
In parting comments, Boyer said he viewed his service on the board as repayment to the school corporation for his education. "The foundation for my education was right here in Triton School Corporation," Boyer said. "Each month on the board was like a monthly installment paying that back."
Boyer, an accountant, said he doesn't plan to end his involvement in education.
"My passion for education doesn't end here," said Boyer. "Beginning next year, I will be teaching managerial accounting at Ivy Tech."
Feldman also offered some parting words. "I'd like to thank the community for the opportunity in the last 12 years to serve as a board member," he said.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2005. [[In-content Ad]]