School board accepts Grand Forks Education Association petition recognizing negotiating unit after public comment

The Grand Forks School Board voted to accept a petition from the Grand Forks Education Association (GFEA) seeking recognition of an appropriate negotiating unit, following public comment from several educators and a closed executive-session review of legal advice. The motion to accept the proposed negotiating unit, moved by Mr. Cleven and seconded by Mr. Manley, passed on a roll-call vote with eight board members voting yes and one voting no.

Members of the GFEA and district educators urged the board to accept the petition as written during the public-comment period. Kayla Christiansen, identified in the meeting as a GFEA negotiator and membership chair, told the board the GFEA petition used the same definition of “teacher” that appears in the district’s negotiated agreement and argued that changes to that definition should be negotiated…