Dear Colleagues,
See our monthly committee reports below. You might notice that there is an exorbitant amount of fact-findings, paid administrative leaves and grievances. On a happier note our Union Social is planned at the CLE Urban Winery on Friday, April 21 from 4-6:30. More information will be available soon. Tomorrow we have an in person Executive Board Meeting at 4:00 at the Union Office. Executive Board meetings are open to all CHTU members.
In Solidarity,
Karen Rego
CHTU President
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ARC (Appraisal Review Committee): No updates at this time. The next ARC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 23.
Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus Events:
ER&D: The deadline to sign up for summer ER&D courses is May 5. ER&D courses earn 2 credit hours each and are offered at a rate of $155 per course. Course offerings and information can be found here. Each course needs a minimum of 10 participants to run. Please sign up as soon as possible if you intend to take a course.
DISCIPLINE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT (SCOC): The discipline task meetings continue to be canceled. We have yet to have one this year despite making the request to meet. Our first meeting is scheduled on April 12.
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.
Members who sign up for Weight Watchers between March 1st through April 30th will receive a Free WW Mystery Box. Members receive discounted WW memberships too! Visit WW.com/us/mmomembers to learn more.
MOBILIZATION: CHTU asked for an emergency solidarity action on Friday, March 10 to show support for our colleagues who have unnecessarily been placed on administrative leave and/or have received excessive discipline. Members were asked to wear union shirts and work-to-rule on Friday. If you did not receive communication from your building steward, please make sure they have your contact information for our communication tree.
President Rego and Vice President Underhile met with Intervention Specialists on February 23. We discussed concerns spanning grades Preschool - 12 as well as ideas for how to improve working conditions. A presentation was prepared and presented to Summit at the March meeting (see Summit notes).
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.
Reaching Heights: The annual Reaching Heights Spelling Bee is scheduled for May 10, 2023. CHTU will sponsor a team. Please contact President Rego if you would like to be on the CHTU team.
STRS News: There will be an STRS election this spring for an ACTIVE [contributing] seat for the STRS Board. Arthur Lard is the incumbent. He rarely speaks at Board meetings and is chair of the Health Committee. He has been challenged by another Board member to call a meeting of the Health Committee but stated that health plans at STRS are fine and there is no reason to have his committee meet. OFT and ORTA have endorsed Pat Davidson, an active teacher from the Berea City School District. The Berea Federation of Teachers is an OFT affiliate
SUMMIT: Summit was held on Friday, March 10. We discussed Intervention Specialist concerns and the discipline task force. We will continue to discuss Elementary Report Cards and PPS surveys between now and the next Summit meeting.
Grievances and Unfair Labor Practices:
A Step 2 grievance was filed on Tuesday, December 20 by a member who received excessive discipline (suspension) for alleged “Inappropriate Abusive or Offensive Conduct (non-criminal),” “Inadequate Supervision of Students,” and “Inadequate Preparation for Employee Job Responsibilities.” The grievance meeting was held on Tuesday, January 10. The grievance was denied. Step 3 mediation was held on February 1. We were unable to reach a settlement. The CHTU Executive Board approved taking this grievance to arbitration at the February meeting. We are awaiting an arbitration date.
A Step 2 grievance was filed on Tuesday, January 10 by a member who was denied assault leave. A meeting was held on Monday, January 23. The grievance was denied. The member has waived the right to Step 3 Mediation. The CHTU Executive Board approved going to arbitration at the February meeting. We are awaiting an arbitration date.
A Step 2 grievance was filed by a member on Wednesday March 1 for being denied union representation during an interview that led to a fact-finding. We believe this is not only a violation of Article 2.A. of the negotiated agreement, but also a violation of the member’s Weingarten Rights. The grievance meeting was held on Wednesday, March 8. The grievance was denied. We will work with the member to determine next steps.
A Step 2 class-grievance was filed on Thursday, March 2 by President Rego for violation of Article 6.E.1.a.i of the collective bargaining agreement for PD held in less than half-day increments exceeding the allowed 4 hours specified in the contract. The grievance meeting was held on Friday, March 10. The grievance was resolved, and members who attended the PD session will be receiving information from President Rego and Dr. Lombardo soon.
A Step 1 grievance was filed on Friday, March 3 by a member who received excessive discipline (written warning” for alleged “Inadequate Supervision of Students” and “Inadequate Preparation for Employee Job Responsibilities”). We are awaiting a meeting date for the grievance.
A Step 2 grievance was filed on Friday, March 3 by President Rego (class grievant) and a member for excessive and unwarranted discipline (official reprimand) for alleged “unauthorized absences.” A grievance meeting was held on Thursday, March 9. We are awaiting a response.
A Step 2 grievance was filed on Friday, March 3 by a member who received excessive discipline (official reprimand) for alleged “Inappropriate, Abusive, and Offensive Conduct (Non-Criminal).” A grievance meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 24.
Fact-Findings/Discipline
A member was called to a fact-finding for alleged “Misconduct: District Policy Violations: Inadequate Supervision of Students” and “Misconduct: District Policy Violations: Inadequate Preparation for Employee Job Responsibilities” because the member did not write a referral after a student fight occurred in the member’s classroom. Administration was present and wrote a referral for the fight. The fact-finding was held on February 6. A disposition was held, and the member received a written warning. A grievance was filed on March 3.
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 done by an independent third party. The fact-finding was held on Thursday, March 9. We are awaiting disposition.
A member was called to a fact-finding for alleged “Inappropriate, Abusive, or Offensive Conduct (Non-Criminal)” and “Off-Duty Misconduct” for cursing at an unidentified individual who called his personal cell phone during work hours. The caller was a representative of a company that is hired by the Board. . The fact-finding was held on February 2. A disposition was held, and the member received an official reprimand. A grievance was filed on March 3.
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. We are awaiting disposition.
A member was placed on paid-administrative leave for alleged inappropriate actions and judgment regarding interaction with students. We are awaiting a fact-finding notice.
Another member was placed on paid-administrative leave for alleged inappropriate actions and judgment regarding interaction with students. A fact-finding has been scheduled 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.” The fact-finding was held on Tuesday, February 21. A disposition was held, and the member received an official reprimand. We are working with the member to determine next steps.
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 has been scheduled for Thursday, March 16.
A member was placed on paid-administrative leave for allegedly failing to intervene during student altercations in class on more than one occasion. We are awaiting a fact-finding notice.
A member was placed on paid-administrative leave for allegedly having a physical altercation with a student. We are awaiting a fact-finding notice.