By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff writer
Goodrich – It may not be a crime for a school superintendent to meet with students, but the Goodrich teachers? union is crying foul.
Although paperwork has not been officially filed, Michigan Education Association representative Dianne Bregenzer says she’s meeting with an attorney to check into filing an unfair labor practice.
At students? request, Goodrich schools superintendent Kim Hart met with approximately 140 students May 19 regarding concerns over the fine arts program.
Some students and a parent present at the meeting reported Hart told students to ask teachers about the music program’s future, said Bregenzer, although others present did not hear the alleged violation, Hart says.
Teachers discussing negotiated issues are subject to disciplinary action, said Bregenzer, who feels the discussion violates a code of ethics.
‘I did not tell students to talk to teachers with the exception of a few specific questions about how the band instructor would run her class,? Hart said.
Questions regarding teachers? classroom procedure, not relating to the present negotiating situation are what Hart was referring to during the meeting, she says.
‘That is different than telling students to go back and discuss the situation about the days, layoffs, etc. I certainly didn’t tell them to do that.?
School officials are required to act as parents, says Bregenzer, and should remember that minors do not have the same constitutional rights as adults.
‘Administration could have talked to them and reassured them in a general way without being specific. Kids should be reassured. They should not be used.?
Teachers called and e-mailed Bregenzer to inform her of the situation.
If charges are formally filed, notice will be served on both Hart and board of education president Michael Thorp, and a date set for a hearing before the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, said Bregenzer.
Despite the situation, the union-administration relationship is not completely grim, Bregenzer says, relating the instance of a new local union official who was impressed that other bargaining talks weren’t as disagreeable as expected.
‘We’re all just kind of feeling our way in the dark,? she said.