Board conditionally recognizes TESSPA as classified‑staff representative, asks administration to write formal policy

The Thompson School District Board of Education on April 14 voted 4–3 to recognize the Thompson Education Support Professionals Association (TESSPA) as the exclusive representative for the district’s classified employees — but only after amending the motion to make recognition contingent on TESSPA meeting the requirements of a revised district policy (policy HH) that the superintendent will draft for board review.

The action followed more than two hours of public comment by classified staff, union leaders and community supporters urging the board to approve recognition and allow the group to bargain for pay and working conditions. “Please let the classified voices be heard. Recognize TESSPA,” said Sue Timer, president of the Thompson Education Association, during public comment.

Board members debated competing process options: some urged immediate recognition based on petitions and petition signatures submitted last year; others urged that the district first adopt a clear, durable policy that sets thresholds and procedures for recognition, election mechanics, and membership maintenance. “The conversation we need to be having is how we want to handle the decision around employee representation groups going forward,” Superintendent Dr. Heler told the board, adding that a formal, comprehensive policy would “provide a transparent roadmap that any group, including TESSPA, could use.”

Board member Alexandra Lesam proposed — and the board approved — an amendment making recognition contingent on TESSPA meeting the conditions of that revised policy. The amended motion passed 4–3. Board members Denise Chapman, Don Kirk, Alexander Lesam and Mike Schaw voted in favor; Stu Boyd, Lori Goel and Nancy Rumfelt opposed.

Public testimony and board discussion repeatedly referenced practical implementation questions: what petition or petition‑verification threshold should trigger an employee election, whether a 30% petition is a reasonable starting point, and how to verify and maintain paid membership once a group is recognized. Dr. Heler told the board he had reviewed policies from other Colorado districts and the National Labor Relations Board guidance and said he could produce proposed language for policy HH for board consideration by June.

Supporters of TESSPA said the organization has collected significant support and needs recognition to bargain for wages and working conditions that would help retain low‑paid classified staff. Speakers described barriers in prior district processes that they say kept classified staff from gaining access to sites and information needed to build membership; supporters asked the board to set an accessible path forward rather than raise new procedural hurdles.

Opponents — including one member of the public who urged caution about process details — said the board should approve a written policy first so that recognition is governed by a consistent, districtwide standard rather than ad hoc decisions.

Next steps: the board directed the superintendent and staff to draft a revised policy HH outlining petition verification steps, election mechanics, and membership‑maintenance provisions. The board indicated it would consider the policy at upcoming meetings; if the policy is adopted, TESSPA will need to satisfy the policy’s conditions to obtain final, formal recognition.

Ending: The motion leaves recognition tied to an administrator‑drafted policy, and the superintendent said administration would return with proposed HH language for board review in coming weeks.