Dispute at C-L-K schools continues
Dispute at C-L-K schools continues
Union claims all teachers may be laid off, administration denies it
By KURT HAUGLIE, DMG Writer
CALUMET — Although the superintendent of the Public Schools of Calumet, Laurium and Keweenaw has denied that such a thing is planned, the head of the C-L-K teachers’ union said the school board is intending to send out letters to all teachers notifying them that they will be laid off.
Johnnie DeBernard, president of the Calumet Education Association, said CEA members learned about the possibility of layoffs after a June 23 meeting she and other teacher representatives had with Superintendent Darryl Pierce concerning grievances the union has filed for three teachers.
“It is supposed to be all of the teachers are to be laid off,” she said.
Although she doesn’t know for certain why all C-L-K teachers might be laid off, DeBernard said she thinks it has to do with the objection the CEA made regarding the action taken by the school board in connection to the three teachers in May.
“The association is challenging the layoffs of two teachers and the involuntary (re)assignment of another teacher,” DeBernard said.
If the layoffs happen, DeBernard said she expects some teachers won’t be rehired.
“We were told (by Pierce) the teachers would be called back one by one and their backgrounds would be researched,” she said. “The (school) board would decide if they’re qualified.”
DeBernard declined to name the teachers who filed the grievances, citing privacy concerns.
Pierce said the discussion of the possibility of sending layoff letters was part of the process for working out a resolution to the situation.
“The meeting on June 23 dealt strictly with how the district and the CEA could settle pending grievances,” Pierce said. “The board has no intention of not having a teaching staff that is certified and qualified to teach our children. It’s quite ludicrous to think we would not have our staff in place for next year.”
Karen Johnson, C-L-K school board president, said she has been out of town until recently and doesn’t feel confident to comment on the situation.
None of the approximately 100 CEA members had received letters notifying them they had been laid off as of Monday afternoon, DeBernard said. But if letters are sent out, she expects the association’s next step would be in court.
“I’m pretty sure all of our alternatives would be legal (in nature),” DeBernard said. “It’s a matter of time.”
DeBernard said she’s been a teacher and involved in unions since 1964, and this is the first occasion she’s been in a situation where the possible layoffs of an entire teaching staff has been discussed.
“I’ve never experienced this before,” she said.
Denis Skoglund, Michigan Education Association Copper Country Uniserv representative, said he doesn’t have enough information about the possibility that letters of layoffs may be sent to all C-L-K teachers.
“I won’t comment on something that may or may not happen,” he said.
Skoglund said he is involved with the grievances of the two laid-off teachers and the teacher who was reassigned.
“We’re processing these grievances,” he said. “We’re going through the process the contract proscribes.”
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie@mininggazette.com
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