LSC board to teachers: Response to schedule, pay questions coming in 2 weeks
Lafayette teachers march on school board for fourth time this summer, saying they’re waiting for answers on longer days without additional pay. Plus, CityBus, Purdue still negotiating off-campus rides
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LSC BOARD TO TEACHERS: RESPONSE TO SCHEDULE CHANGES COMING IN 2 WEEKS
Lafayette teachers, marching to a school board meeting for the fourth time since summer break started, didn’t get answers they were looking for Monday night about a new start/dismissal times about to kick in when classes resume in August and what that schedule does to the length of teachers’ days without an adjustment in their pay.
A statement from the board, about four dozen teachers clad in red were told, would come in two weeks when the school board meets next.
During one exchange Monday, Michele Hamilton, a Miller Elementary teacher, said teachers had been consistent with their questions to the school board since the end of May. She said they wanted to know how board members justified a three-tiered transportation option they picked to solve a bus driver shortage.
Hamilton said teachers had asked during board meetings and via email only to be greeted by school board silence.
“That’s where our frustration comes,” Hamilton said. “We’re still not getting answers.”
Bob Stwalley, LSC school board president, said board members appreciated the teachers’ position and that the board “will do our best to craft a response for the next board meeting.”
“So, we’ll need to wait two more weeks to hear a response, is that correct?” Hamilton asked. “We have less than a month of summer, so …”
Stwalley responded: “I think if you’re planning that we’re going to do something different than we already have on the board right now, that’s probably not a good plan.”
“Something should change, I still believe that could be done,” Hamilton said.
“We’ll respond to you in two weeks,” Stwalley said.
After the meeting, Stwalley elaborated a bit more about the decision.
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