©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| School District And Union Spar Over Columbus Day |
They don't like it, but they'll be there anyway.
That's the message of the Galesburg Education Association, in saying Wednesday through a press release that they'll be in class Monday, Columbus Day, because the Galesburg School Board has decided that students will be in class that day.
The board held a public hearing a few months ago on the change, which the school board and the Illinois State Board of Education approved. School districts can hold class on certain state holidays as long as they assure the public they will hold specialized lessons on the reason for the day - in this case, Christopher Columbus.
Problem is, the G-E-A says they're working off the most previous district contract which expired at the start of the school year. That's still a day off for district students and teachers technically.
The union claims the district didn't properly anyone of the hearing, and that's violated the rights of teachers and staff.
But they'll still show up to work Monday under protest.
District-205 Superintendent Gene Denisar, however, tells WGIL the district followed the law when notifying the public of the hearing.
Denisar says what's more, G-E-A president Russ Ullrich and other teachers were on the committee that came up with the calendar to begin with. However, Ullrich is denying this, saying that his calendar planning committee was never allowed to vote on the issue like they were supposed to last week.
Denisar says the district is sending word home to parents that there will still be class on Columbus Day, including on the district's website.
The district and the union have been trying to negotiate a new contract through a mediator. |
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| 10 05 11 by Newsroom |
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