Dear Colleagues,
Tomorrow is our last Executive Board meeting of this challenging school year. It will be at our office located in the Coventry Peace Campus beginning at 4:00. Our entire membership is invited to attend. Please read through our committee reports and fact finding/grievance updates.
In Solidarity,
Karen Rego
CHTU President
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ARC (Appraisal Review Committee): We are concerned about reports that OTES ratings are lowered due to student test results. This is not how HQSD works. We brought this concern up as a brushfire at Summit, and will be discussing this at the next ARC meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23.
ER&D: We were able to sign up enough members to run 4 classes this summer. If you signed up for a class and have not submitted payment yet, you must do so ASAP.
DISCIPLINE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT (SCOC): The next Discipline Task Force meeting is scheduled for Jun
e 7, 2023.
Heights Coalition for Public Education: No new events scheduled as of right now.
INSURANCE: The Insurance Committee met on Monday, March 13. We will meet one more time before summer recess with the meeting date TBD.
MOBILIZATION: CHTU President Rego sent a publication to members on May 16 regarding summer training. Please read the publication and complete the Google Form.
OFT (Ohio Federation of Teachers): The Ohio Teacher Leadership Summit will be held June 14, 2023 at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus. The goal of the summit is to build a statewide network of teacher leaders and administrators to promote and strengthen teacher leadership in Ohio.
President Rego, Vice President Underhile, 5th Vice President Reynolds, Financial Secretary Shelton-Townes, and CHTU Political Director Tucker attended the AFL-CIO Lobby Day in Columbus on May 9, 2023. At the Lobby Day we each met with Ohio Representatives and/or Senators to discuss bills that impact educators and union members. We also attended committee hearings.
Reaching Heights: Unfortunately we did not have enough spellers to have a team this year. We did; however, make a contribution for a team so that we could be a part of the fundraising efforts of this organization that supports our members and our schools. We hope to have a team next year.
STRS News: Pat Davidson, from the Berea Federation of Teachers, was elected to the active seat on the STRS Board because OFT members voted!
SUMMIT: Summit was held on Friday, May 12 at the Board of Education. We discussed training for the new ELA curriculum, OTES 2.0, Elementary School Report Cards, and the safety presentation that was presented at the Board of Education Meeting on May 2. The next Summit meeting is scheduled for June 9.
Fact-Findings/Discipline
A member was called to a fact-finding for alleged “Inappropriate Abusive or Offensive Conduct (Non-Criminal),” “Lack of Teamwork,” “Inadequate Preparation for Employee Job Responsibilities,” “Breach of Chain of Command Protocol,” and “Board Policy 3210 - Staff Ethics” based on an investigation conducted by an independent third party. The fact-finding was held on Thursday, March 9. The disposition resulted in a 3-day suspension. A grievance was filed, and the hearing was held on Friday, April 28. The grievance was denied, and we will be moving to Step III Mediation.
A member was called to a fact-finding for alleged “Inadequate Supervision of Students” and “Board Policies 4213 Student Supervision and Welfare” for leaving a student unsupervised while assisting with other students. The fact-finding was held on February 10. The district offered a last chance agreement and a 10-day suspension. The member did not sign the agreement, so the district is moving towards termination. A hearing with the Superintendent is being scheduled to allow the member to rebut the allegations.
A member was placed on paid-administrative leave for alleged inappropriate actions and judgment regarding interaction with students. There has been no fact-finding scheduled. We are awaiting the results of an investigation from a third-party.
A member was placed on paid-administrative leave for alleged “Inappropriate, Abusive, or Offensive Conduct (Non-Criminal),” “Inadequate Preparation for Employee Job Responsibilities,” “Inadequate Supervision of Students,” and “Board Policies 4213 Student Supervision and Welfare and 5630 Corporal Punishment.” A fact-finding was conducted on March 16. The Board issued a 5-day suspension and a separation agreement which was uncontested by the member.
A member was placed on paid-administrative leave for allegedly failing to intervene during student altercations in class on more than one occasion. A fact-finding was held on March 21. The Board was going to move to termination, but due to our call-to-action, they agreed to a 10-day suspension with a last-chance agreement. We are awaiting a signature from the member.
A member was placed on paid-administrative leave for alleged “Inappropriate, Abusive, or Offensive Conduct (Non-Criminal),” “Inadequate Preparation for Employee Job Responsibilities,” “Inadequate Supervision of Students,” and “Board Policies 4213 Student Supervision and Welfare and 5630 Corporal Punishment.” A fact-finding was held on March 20. A disposition resulted in a two-day suspension. We filed a Step II Grievance, which was held on May 10. We are awaiting a response.
A member was called to a fact-finding on February 21 for alleged “Inadequate Preparation of Employee Job Responsibilities.” The member received a disposition of official reprimand. We filed a Step II grievance, and the meeting was held on May 10. We are awaiting a response.
A member was called to a fact-finding for alleged “Inadequate Preparation for Employee Job Responsibilities” and allegedly violating Board Policy 3210 “Staff Ethics” on March 13. The member received a disposition of official reprimand. We are determining next steps.
A member was placed on paid administrative leave and called to a fact-finding on May 3 for alleged “Inappropriate Abusive or Offensive Conduct (Non-Criminal),” “Inadequate Preparation for Employee Job Responsibilities,” “Board Policy 3210 - Staff Ethics,” “Inadequate Supervision of Students,” and “Student Supervision and Welfare.” The fact-finding was canceled due to the member submitting a resignation. The member will remain on paid administrative leave with remote work duties for the remainder of the year.
A member was called to a fact-finding on May 18 for alleged “Breach of Confidentiality” and “Inadequate Preparation for Employee Job Responsibilities.”