Goodrich- A school board decision to reduce the number of school days in 2005 could now prove costly to the district.
Dianne Bregenzer, Michigan Education Association UniServ Director, representing about 100 district teachers, reported that a Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) judge said last week that the school district illegally removed 12 days from the school calendar without collective bargaining.
The decision stems from an April 2005 proposal to the Goodrich Education Association by the board of education, promising no layoffs of certified teachers if they agreed to work 14 fewer days. The calendar reduction would save the district as much as $50,000 for each day school is not in session, said school officials.
Schools are required to be in session for students 180 days per year. In 2005, Goodrich teachers had worked 198 days; with student sessions held 188 days. The board reduced teacher days to 184, and reduced student days to 181.
‘While there’s much yet to be discussed, the district is now ordered to pay back those 12 days on a ‘per diem? basis,? said Bregenzer. ‘The teachers did not get to work those days. They can’t do it without bargaining.?
In the end, two days were added back to the teachers and students making the reduction 12 days. In addition, 10 minutes of school time at Oaktree Elementary and five minutes at Reid Elementary School were returned.
Although Bregenzer did not comment on the exact cost in back wages to the district, she did say it could exceed $1.5 million.
Acting District Superintendent Larry Allen said the recommendation came out of the blue, and school attorneys will file an exception with the MERC regarding the decision.
‘If we disagree, we have time to appeal’that will be filed by June 13,? said Allen. ‘Right now our attorneys are interpreting the MERC recommendation.?
School Board Trustee Michael Thorp responded to the decision.
‘I am stunned,? said Thorp. ‘Three years after the issue, two years after the district prevailed in arbitration, and a full year after we settled a new three-year contract with the teachers that gave them a significant raise, and settled the calend-dar issues, we get this out of the blue.?
‘I guess arbitration is a useless effort that we wasted our time and money on. When we settle a contract with any group, and there are outstanding issues, like claims of unfair labor practices, we always include language that says both sides will withdraw all claims. The district kept its word. The board will be meeting with its attorney soon to look over the ruling, our options and see why this issue was not withdrawn when we settled the contract with the GEA last year.?.
‘Of course the district has the right to appeal the decision,? said Bregenzer. ‘The question is where do we go from here? We are not aware of all the ramifications yet. The district should not have done that.?