Board denies grievance from paraprofessionals, directs staff and union to draft MOU

The Cheboygan Area Schools Board of Education voted to deny a formal grievance filed on behalf of hourly paraprofessionals who sought retroactive pay for eight school days the governor forgave after severe weather closures. Board members instead directed district and union representatives to draft a memorandum of understanding for the board to review at a future meeting.

Union leaders and staff said the decision to deny pay left the district’s lowest‑paid employees with an unfair burden during an unprecedented 43‑day disruption to the school calendar. “As the union president, I now ask the district to invest in our teachers, schools and children,” a speaker identified as the union president told the board during public comment. Another resident said paying aides for the eight waived days “would be a simple way to show that we stand behind the people who stand behind our students every day.”

District attorneys and administrators told the board the grievance procedure applies to contract language and that a letter or memorandum of understanding would be the appropriate route to address pay disparities tied to extraordinary closures. The board moved to deny the grievance and separately passed a motion instructing administrators and a union representative to draft an MOU to return to the board in August.

The action leaves open a procedural path for the aides’ request while closing the grievance channel the complainants had filed. Board members said they will report back with the drafted MOU and any cost estimates before the next public vote.