Union and teachers urge clearer response to student assaults; cite conflict with DOJ settlement and collective bargaining language

Teachers and union representatives urged the Volusia County School Board on Feb. 11 to strengthen how the district handles student assaults against staff and to reconcile apparent conflicts the union sees between a Department of Justice settlement and the district’s collective bargaining agreement.

Elizabeth Albert, speaking for union members and representing concerns raised by classroom staff, read Article 18, section e of the district collective bargaining agreement on the record and said it requires administrators to report assaults and support employees who choose to press charges. She argued that in recent incidents district responders have labeled student violent acts by students with disabilities as manifestations of disability and have stopped short of further disciplinary or criminal reporting. Albert asked the board to ensure staff are protected and that the contract language is upheld.

Board members and staff noted the district is working with law enforcement and said changes to procedures were under review; however the union representative said more immediate steps were needed because springtime behavior often escalates. The board did not take a formal vote on policy changes at the meeting but asked staff to continue seeking solutions that balance student rights, legal requirements and staff safety.

Board and district staff indicated the district had been participating in compliance work with the Department of Justice; the union said it is not a party to that settlement and therefore expects collective bargaining language to be followed. The board asked staff to follow up and report back on possible procedural changes and how incident reporting and employee protections will be handled in the near term.