Progress made in school dispute

The Cottonwood School District Board and the teachers association were able to settle some of the unfair practice complaints filed with the Public Employment Relations Board.

Out of five total complaints filed with PERB, the parties were able to come to an agreement to resolve a complaint filed because of the failure to move a teacher who has the required units to move to a higher pay bracket and adverse action against two union leaders. The school board and teachers also reached an agreement concerning the negotiation of the school calendar and resolved a discrepancy in laptop policy.

Glenda White is a Cottonwood teacher and executive board member of the teachers association who was not moved up to the proper pay bracket, although she had the required college units to do so.

“The superintendent was angry because I was representing the teachers and he would retaliate in certain ways,” White said.

White is relieved by the recent negotiations between the teachers association, the board and new interim superintendent Charlie Menoher.

“I think having the superintendent leave there has definitely been a change,“ White said. “I don’t think its huge but it is definitely been a step in the right direction.“

Board member Fred Lucero said the progress between the teachers, board and new interim superintendent doesn’t necessarily reflect a change in mindset, but a continued effort to move beyond disagreements.

“We are trying to get past some of these issues and get them resolved,“ Lucero said.

The resolution at the heart of the dispute between the school district and the Teachers Association, involving the second year of a contract for the 2005-2007 school years, is yet to be seen. That complaint has gone through Public Employment Relations Board, and teachers said they hope the results of that hearing will be available by September.

One more PERB hearing is scheduled for Aug. 20 and 21 to wrap up the remainder of unfair practice complaints.

Meanwhile, the board has started the interview process for a new interim superintendent to take Menoher’s place in late August.

“We’re looking for someone who can run the district and develop a relationship with the staff and the community,“ Lucero said.

“We are checking our options and weighing them,“ the board member said. “We’ve talked to one and have a few more we are trying to contact.”

White sees the board and administrations’ interview process as a positive step.

“It seems to me that instead of just choosing one name, or someone they already know, they are making an effort to interview more candidates,“ she said.