Board refers level‑3 custodial grievance to arbitration after union requests single proceeding

The Robbinsdale Area School Board voted to forego holding a board hearing and to refer a level‑3 custodial grievance — a suspension without pay — to arbitration after the union requested the district arbitrate two related grievances for the same employee together.

Executive Director O'Hearn explained the grievance presented to the board is separate from an earlier grievance concerning a written reprimand for the same employee. The union asked the district to "strike for arbitration" — a process of eliminating potential arbitrators from a list — so both grievances could be heard in a single arbitration proceeding rather than twice.

The board motion was to forego a board hearing and send the suspension grievance to arbitration. The motion to move the matter to arbitration was made and seconded; the board then voted and approved moving the grievance to arbitration. No roll-call tally was announced in open session.

During discussion, several directors asked for additional transparency about grievances, patterns in the custodial program and whether an audit or broader review of the department’s operations would be provided to the board. Administration said some items had already been addressed in confidential memos the board received and that data‑practice constraints limit what can be publicly discussed about individual employee matters. The administration indicated it would provide additional, non‑confidential information in response to specific board requests.

The board’s action applies to the specific grievance before it; the administration noted it is coordinating with legal counsel about whether arbitration can be consolidated for both grievances.