The union plans to fight the policy through the grievance process and the courts.
May 18, 2007 - Three, count em, three teacher and school employee unions plan to challenge an employee attendance policy just approved by the Kanawha County school board.
Board members unanimously approved the new attendance rules, citing rising substitute costs as the reason to push for teachers to reduce their number of missed school days. The school system currently has budgeted $4.9 million to pay substitutes to cover classes next year.
While board members voted Thursday, teachers stood in protest, wearing black and holding signs saying "R.I.P. Employee Morale" and "The State Giveth... The County Taketh Away."
[TT - isn't that utterly charming?]
THE COMPLAINT
State law gives teachers 15 sick days each year, with three of those labeled as "no cause" days, meaning employees don't have to give a reason for using them.
According to the county's new policy, employees are allowed five unauthorized absences. Six or more unauthorized absences within a school year could result in corrective action by a principal or supervisor. After two consecutive sick days, a doctor's note is required.
---------------------------------------------------
TT - The thug talk in the news story is enough to make Tony Soprano smile.
Visit the Kanawha County School Board website. They have a motto at the top. "Where ALL Students Come First" And these are their objectives:
- Increasing African American achievement and reducing the achievement gap
- Increasing the achievement of low socio-economically disadvantaged students and reducing the achievement gap
- Increasing the achievement of Special Education students
- All students perform at mastery or greater on statewide assessments
- Reducing the number of students required to take remedial classes entering college
- Decreasing the dropout rate
- increasing attendance rates of all students
- Creating an environment for students to develop a healthier life style
- Providing a quality preschool program
- Providing a safe and nurturing environment.
