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Debate over regulation that would let superintendent call staff in on snow days draws union concern
Summary
Superintendent Doctor Fraley proposed revising Regulation 4220 to permit job‑class‑based discretion about reporting during inclement weather. NEA president Josh Hivesoff and several teachers raised concerns about broad, perpetual discretionary authority and urged clearer limits.
The board heard a sustained discussion during the March 3 meeting about a proposed revision to Regulation 4220, which currently says teachers are not expected to report for work on inclement‑weather school closures. Superintendent Doctor Fraley told the board he sought legal counsel to draft language giving the superintendent discretion to require staff to report by job classification in “rare” circumstances when district operations require staff presence.
Fraley said the change is intended to allow targeted, common‑sense decisions after extended shutdowns. “I did that, and somebody called me out on the found regulation 4 2 2 0 on snow emergency days,” he said. “... it's changing regulation to give me the discretion, to have different job based on job classifier pard on me, and district need, job classification, district need, or other criteria that is in the best interest of the district.” (verbatim excerpt from meeting transcript)
NEA president Josh Hivesoff, speaking for the union, thanked the district for prior decisions but said the proposed phrasing gives an overly broad, perpetual authority to future superintendents. He urged a middle ground: require staff to come on AMI (remote instruction) days but retain clearer protection for traditional “snow days.” “I feel like there should be more specific wording. I feel like there is a middle ground compromise where when it's an AMI day, if roads are drivable, teachers should come,” Hivesoff said. “Snow days are still the verbiage stays the same.”
Other public commenters on the record urged respectful, direct engagement instead of airing disputes primarily on social media.
Why it matters: The regulation touches staff working conditions and collective expectations for unexpected closures. Teachers view occasional snow days as valuable unpaid downtime; administrators say limited, targeted staff reporting can be necessary to prepare facilities and meal operations after prolonged shutdowns.
Outcome: The item was presented under information/discussion; no board vote was taken on the revised regulation on March 3. The administration said it will work with legal counsel and continue conversations with staff and the union before bringing a final recommendation back to the board.
Next steps: Administration and legal counsel will refine proposed language and return for further discussion; union requested clearer limits and distinctions between AMI and traditional snow days.
