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Teachers’ petition on reduction-in-force policy prompts board discussion; superintendent to clarify limits of existing policy
Summary
Jenny Noble Kuchera, president of the Monroe County Education Association, presented nearly 500 petition signatures asking MCCSC trustees to use the district’s discussion process to develop and adopt a policy governing reductions in force.
Jenny Noble Kuchera, president of the Monroe County Education Association, presented the board with what she said were nearly 500 original signatures and asked trustees to "honor using our discussion policy to then develop and adopt a policy that will look at potential reductions in force." Her prepared remarks said the district currently lacks a reduction-in-force policy and asked the board to adopt one that would "meet the needs of our students and schools and honor our teachers' expertise and work experience."
The board had already added the petition as new business earlier in the meeting. President Hennessy opened discussion, saying the item was for information and that no vote was planned that night. Several trustees asked whether the petition asked merely that the board use the existing discussion process or whether it requested a new, separate board policy specifically addressing transfers and reductions in force.
MCCSC counsel Tom Banger explained there is statutory authority governing reduction-in-force actions in Indiana and said the petition appears to ask the board to use the discussion framework established in a recently adopted board policy to consider factors and possible procedures. "What I believe this petition is is to within the framework of the policy ... have discussion concerning this," Banger said.
Board members sought clarification about whether anything in the petition required immediate action beyond the existing discussion practice. After questions from trustees, President Hennessy asked Superintendent Dr. Marquet Winston to follow up. Dr. Winston agreed to review the existing discussion policy, determine "what issue or issues cannot be handled through our current discussion policy as it relates to changes in staffing," and report back to the board.
No new policy was adopted at the meeting. The earlier motion to amend the agenda to add the petition (item 6.04) was approved before the public comment period and the petition was discussed under that agenda item; the board did not take a vote on adoption of a reduction-in-force policy that night.
