A grievance was filed on behalf of our paraprofessionals at the BancroftElementary School.Building Principal Mrs. Gwen Domiano assigned the two Learning Support paraprofessionals to perform clerical duties in the office.Principal Domiano reassigned the two Learning Support Paraprofessionals to report daily to the Emotional Support class.This reassignment took the paraprofessionals from their learning support students.Mr. William King, Interim superintendent, denied the grievance.Mr. King stated that the paraprofessionals were hired as aides according to the January 16, 1985 job description he enclosed.The Federation appealed Mr. King’s ruling to the Board.The Federation presented its case to the Labor Relations Committee members Director Todd Hartman, Chairman, Director Brian Jeffers, and Director Frank Brazill on Tuesday, November 18th.Mrs. Domiano told the Directors that she needed the school secretary input data into the e-school, so she reassigned the paras to the office.She also affirmed that she has the Learning Support paras spending time in the ES class where there is a full time teacher and full time paraprofessional.Mrs. Domiano further told the Directors that there were fifteen (15) students in the ES class and there was a need for the reassignment of the Learning Support paras.
The Federation’s position regarding the use of paras to perform clerical office duties is that this is a violation of the principle termed bargaining unit work.The 1201 Union’s members include clerks and secretaries.The Federation does not allow its members to infringe upon the rights of other union members.We do not perform the duties that by contract rightfully belong to another union.Secondly, the Federation reminded the District that the job description included by Mr. King in his denial is twenty-four (24) years old.Today the tenets of the NCLB and IDEA and Chapter 14.105a, b, and c specifically address the educational requirements for paraprofessionals and the caseload of the various categories of the special education classroom.The full time ES class can have up to twelve (12) students.
Our Learning Support Paraprofessionals deserve the recognition due them as highly qualified and certified by the Department of Education.They must be allowed to provide the needed assistance to our learning support students for which they have been trained and certified.The Federation awaits the decision of the Board of directors.
The second grievance involved a teacher at WestScrantonHigh School who received a letter of reprimand from building principal Mrs. Rose Sember.Interim Superintendent King denied the grievance, and the Federation moved the grievance to Step 2 at the Board level.The Federation’s position related to Article 21, section 5 Personnel File Procedures and Article 37 Right to Federation Representation at Conferences.A student made an accusation against a teacher to the building principal.The principal directed the Vice Principal Mr. Coleman to conduct an investigation into the matter.Over the course of one school day, Mr. Coleman interviewed twenty-seven (27) students from the class.Two (2) of the students who were friends of the accuser told a story similar to the accuser’s story.Four (4) other students also told a story that supported the accusers.The remaining twenty-one (21) students did not corroborate the accuser’s story.It was further presented that the student had refused to follow class procedures and refused to take a test in class.Given the timeline of the “investigation” of students by Vice Principal Coleman and the testimony of the students in the class, there was more than enough evidence to cast doubt on the student’s accusation.The Federation’s remedy is to have the letter of reprimand removed from the personnel file of the teacher.The Federation awaits the decision of the Board.
ARBITRATION UPDATE
December 9, 2008 is the date set for an arbitration hearing involving the use of specialist teachers to cover the first grade class at ArmstrongSchool.
Arbitration was filed for the District’s failure to pay appropriate wages to our Paraprofessionals.No hearing date has been received by the Federation.
SAVE THE DATE-Wednesday, February 18, 2009
SFT General Membership Meeting
ScrantonHigh School at 3:45 P.M.
(After School EAP Cancelled)
Nomination of Officers and Delegates to AFT PA Convention
From the Desk of the President
I am a teacher.I spent four (4) years of my life at an institution of higher learning.I graduated with a degree in education.After passing the national teachers’ examination (i.e. PRAXIS), I sat before an interview panel consisting of administrators, university professors, and teachers where I was questioned about national and state standards, best practices, educational theories, and my philosophy of education.I came with my e-portfolio and my letters of recommendation in-hand.I was appointed by the Scranton School Board at a public meeting as a professional educator, i.e. teacher.I was assigned to a school and began my duties and responsibilities as a classroom teacher.I enrolled in graduate school to pursue a master’s degree and attain my Instructional II certification.Following three (3) years of successful teaching, I was granted tenure and I signed my contract.
Why is it that I think so often now about my career choice?I look to my colleagues who day in and day out work diligently and tirelessly on behalf of their students – why are they so determined to continue?The pressures are tremendous.My time, in and out of my classroom, is spent on correcting assignments or preparing lesson plans or both.Mine is not a nine-to-five job.
Today more than ever, I know the stress and pressure exacerbated by high stakes testing that causes many to leave the teaching profession.But, there is more to it than the aforementioned.Without seeming to be naïve, is there any understanding for me as a human being?I trust in and turn to my peers for their support just as they turn to me for mine.We are our own nucleus.We sustain each other through good times and tough times, not always agreeing or seeing eye-to-eye, but toughing it out – together.We are a unique group held together by a commonality of purpose.
I have much to be thankful for this year.I am a forty (40) year veteran teacher, referred to by some as dead wood.Well, dead wood starts great fires.I have taken on a new classroom and a unique set of responsibilities.I am a Union President.I salute each one of you for your steadfastness and perseverance.I wish each of you whether at the beginning, middle, or end of your career, the same idealism and sense of purpose that sustains every one of us.Thank you.
My sincerest wishes for a peace filled and joy filled holiday season.
