COMMITTEE REPORTS
ARC (Appraisal Review Committee): The first ARC meeting was held September 24. The new OTES 2.0 was discussed that will be implemented statewide next year. We are gathering as much information on the changes as it becomes available. The November 12 was cancelled since nothing new has come out about the pilots running this year throughout the state. Next meeting January 14, 2020.
CALENDAR COMMITTEE: Recommendations were sent to the board for the 2020-2022 calendars. No major shifts except that both years include Easter Monday as a day off.
COMMUNITY IN SCHOOLS TASK FORCE: nothing new
CCES (Cuyahoga County Educators Summit) –First meeting in January.
DISCIPLINE: Meeting scheduled for December 4. No one showed up.
ER&D: Registration is currently going on for our Managing Anti-Social Behavior class being offered Wednesdays from February to April. (link to registration)
INSURANCE: Two changes in our plan will be in effect January 1; ER copay for non-emergency use and a higher co-pay for brand prescriptions when generic is available.
MAKE-A-WISH: nothing new
MASTER TEACHER: Last met December 11, 2019. 12 teachers submitted letters of intent to participate in the Master Teacher Program this year. Next meeting April 23, 2020.
MOBILIZATION: We are in the process of drawing names at random from our new and increased COPE contributors to give away Red T-Shirts. Thanks to everyone for helping make the COPE drive a success.
OFT (Ohio Federation of Teachers): We have been working with OFT to contact and create messaging for our members to contact members of the state legislature on our voucher crisis.
POLICY TASK FORCE: Next policy review meeting is December 17. President Klein went directly to Board members concerning a proposed Library Policy submitted by our high school librarians. We will be discussing the proposal at the next policy review meeting.
PTA: PTA council met November 26. Next meeting Thursday, December 19.
RETIREMENT: The pension continues to grow, but the cost of living increases are 0. STRS is in the beginning stages of searching for a new director as Mr. Nehf will retire in June 2020.
SOCIAL: Looking into arranging a social for January 31. Spring Social – DATE CHANGE to April 24.
SUMMIT: At the November 22 meeting we discussed secondary conference nights but did not have any new information. We discussed windows for grade reports – Bob Swaggard will send out revisions for us to review. We voiced our concern over the substitute vacancies being three times higher this year in the past three years. There is a need for better recruitment and treatment of subs. President Klein passed out an FAQ that union leadership had developed around Sub Duties and Extra Assignment to see if there were comments. We were updated on the High School Scheduling Committee and the Middle School Scheduling discussions that are happening at Rox MS. We met on December 13 for a holiday lunch. Our next meeting is January 24.
1. Grievances and Unfair Labor Practices
a) Unfair Labor Practice – the Union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the District on July 22, 2019 over the District’s refusal to bargain over changes in terms and conditions of a member’s job. A mediation in Columbus was held September 6 where it was not resolved. On October 31, 2019 the SERB Board dismissed the case after their investigation found no probable cause. We disagreed with the dismissal and on November 11 filed a Motion for Reconsideration laying out the flaws with the findings. On December 13 we received notice our motion for reconsideration was denied.
b) Assault Leave – Administration is trying to apply the new assault leave language limit of 2 years to a member who has been on partial assault leave. We have asked our legal counsel to investigate whether this application of new language is legal to try to reverse this unjust decision. A grievance was filed on October 29, 2019 for assault leave denied. A step 2 hearing was held on November 12 and was denied on November 19, 2019. A step 3 Grievance mediation is scheduled for January 6, 2020.
A second related grievance was filed November 12, 2019 based on Article 1B, the unlawful discrimination of the member based on the hours the member is able to work for a supplemental contract. A Step 2 hearing was held December 3 and denied December 13. We moved this grievance to Step 3 which will be mediated on January 6, 2020.
c) High School Duties – two grievances were filed October 4, 2019 concerning high school duties. The first was based on administration’s belief that teachers filling out a preference form constituted assigning duties. The second because the preference form stated that TAP would assign duties for those who did not make a preference, which is not TAPs function, and that there was a duty choice that was not agreed upon in TAP. Step 2 hearings took place on October 15. Both were denied on October 22. A Step 3 Grievance Mediation on November 26 was unsuccessful. Administration refused to agree to any deviation from contract language, even to include requiring high school administration to send an email letting teachers with duties know what their assignments.
d) A member received an official reprimand on Friday, October 25 for several alleged offenses. The Union filed a grievance on November 7, 2019 because the teacher was disciplined without just cause. A letter was written that was attached to the reprimand. A step 2 hearing was held December 4, 2019. We discussed possible resolutions to the grievance and are considering options.
e) Administration Union Concern – Monticello Special Education – An AU concern was filed October 17, 2019 over issues that are occurring at Monticello. Caseload sizes for Intervention Specialists, serving 2 grade levels with no common planning time, large co-taught classes with a high percentage of identified students, Non-IS teachers assigned to do interventions with students, and more. A meeting was held with the superintendent and many central office administrators on November 7, 2019. The Superintendent prepared a response that was received November 26. Our team will need to get together to discuss the response after winter break.
f) Administration Union Concern – Oxford – an AU concern was filed October 29, 2019. There are a myriad of issues that brought the Oxford Union leadership and the whole TAP team to file. A meeting took place on December 9 where the TAP team presented the issues in a professional, non-confrontational manner. We are awaiting the Superintendent’s response.
g) Right to representation grievance – A teacher filed a grievance November 15, 2019 based on requesting union representation at a meeting with the supervisor, having the meeting delayed a month, then while meeting over another matter without representation having the supervisor bring up the content of the original meeting. There was no opportunity to get union representation at that point. A step 2 hearing was held December 4. The grievance was denied on December 13. We are investigating our alternatives.
2. Fact-Findings/Discipline
a) A member is still on paid administrative leave since August 29, 2019 pending an investigation over concerns that we thought had been resolved last year. President Klein represented our member at the Department of Children and Family Services on September 25. All charges were found to be “unsubstantiated” on October 9. The private investigator hired by the district is scheduling meetings with our members on a voluntary basis. The private company interviewed our member on October 30 and stated they are close to the end of the investigation and will submit a report with recommendations to the Superintendent. We expect closure before winter break.
b) A member was called to a fact-finding for October 21, 2019 for alleged misconduct based on complaints from two students who believe that even though they were in the wrong place at the wrong time that our member should not be able to ask them questions nor give them answers that they do not like. An official reprimand was issued on November 15, 2019. A letter was written to be attached to the reprimand.
d) A member was called to a fact-finding on October 21, 2019 over concerns about testing irregularities for students eligible for Read Aloud accommodations. A disposition meeting was to be held November 12 but was rescheduled. An official reprimand was issued November 19, 2019. A letter was written to be attached to the reprimand.
e) A member was called to a fact-finding on October 23, 2019 over alleged falsification, attendance, and dishonesty. The member was asked about how FMLA paperwork was filled out and turned in among other attendance concerns. A non-disciplinary counseling meeting took place on November 20, 2019.
f) A member was placed on administrative leave on October 15, 2019 over concerns about how a situation was handled with students who were playing with a football in a school lunchroom. The fact-finding was held on October 23, 2019. The Department of Children and Family Services interviewed the member on October 31. On November 19, 2019 a disposition meeting was held where the member was issued a 3-day suspension. The member resigned.
g) Three members were called for a fact-finding on November 1 and 4, 2019 – all accused of inadequate supervision of a student. Two disposition meetings are scheduled for December 19 (the third member is currently on leave).
h) A member was called to a fact-finding November 26, 2019 over concerns around alleged misconduct around supervision of students. Awaiting a disposition.
i) A member was called to a fact-finding on November 26, 2019 over concerns regarding attendance at a 504 meeting and accompanying parent relations. A December 10 non-disciplinary counseling meeting ended the matter.
3. Heights Coalition For Public Education –A Steering Meeting was held December 2, 2019. There will be train the trainer sessions held on January 7, 2020 at 1:00 PM and then again at 7:00 PM for anyone interested in presenting the voucher funding slideshow to groups.