Teacher contracts discussed in Decatur
Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/64082/
DECATUR — In the worst-case scenario, teachers in Decatur could get paid to stay home next year if Decatur’s schools are annexed into another district.
That’s what Arkansas Education Association officials told teachers at a meeting Tuesday night. The AEA is an organization that represents the 50, 000 Arkansas public-school employees.
The meeting was called to answer teachers’ questions and concerns about how the possible annexation of the Decatur School District will affect their jobs, and to let them know what their rights are in case of an annexation or a state takeover.
The Arkansas State School Board will meet July 31 to decide the district’s fate, just 11 days before teachers are scheduled to report back to school. There will be little time for teachers to find other jobs if their contracts are not honored.
Peggy Nabors, AEA director of legal services, told the teachers it is the AEA’s belief that the contracts are considered a part of the school’s debt and would be transferred to the annexing district.
Nabors has seen a number of districts go through the annexation process. “ In all instances, the contracts have been honored. That’s the least issue you have to worry about, ” she said.
Interim Decatur Superintendent Bobby King said he has not been able to get a straight answer on how teacher contracts will be handled, either from the Arkansas Department of Education or from the Arkansas School Board Association. “ One says one thing; the other says something else, ” he said.
There have been concerns that teachers won’t be let out of their contracts if they find a job in another district this fall and the school stays open; however, the school board voted to accept the resignations of three teachers at Monday night’s meeting.
Nabors noted the only problem is that classified employees, such as cafeteria staff, bus drivers and clerical staff, can be dismissed for just cause, and the current financial situation might be considered just cause.
In the case of the Helena West School District, most of the classified jobs were kept, she explained, even though the schools were overstaffed. Decatur’s annual statistical report shows the district is not overstaffed, Nabors said.
“ The likelihood the state will annex you two weeks before school starts is pretty small. The logistics of it creates some real issues, ” said Bob Gettino, regional AEA director.
Even though the things that have occurred in Decatur are very serious in nature, the district has several factors in its favor, he explained.
One is that Decatur is growing in student population instead of declining. Another is that heading off to a strange school this fall with only two weeks’ notice would disrupt the children’s educational process.
“ Making a decision on this quickly would harm children, ” Nabors said.
“ In all likelihood, you’ll be teaching in the same buildings and settings you expected this fall, whether it’s under the control of the state board, another school board or your local school board, ” Gettino said.
Teacher Dawn Schoeller commented: “ I feel so comforted talking with people who have been through the process and had the experience. ”