The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA), has filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) against the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District. Sorry about all the acronyms, but its all part of the story.
HSEA alleges HSE created a toxic work environment, and submitted copies of documents, transcripts and audio recordings as part of the ULP paperwork. In response, the school district says the teachers’ union “mischaracterized” the nature of the evidence provided.
Becky Slayton, with the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) state organization, posted on social media that the assertion by HSE Schools of a “mischaracterization” is “not a correct response.” ISTA & HSEA have filed a motion for HSE to answer the “ULP allegations correctly,” according to Slayton.
Slayton also posted that the teachers union has filed what she describes as “another lawsuit” against HSE Schools HR Director Brian Murphy, over what the union asserts was a “disregard of Indiana law on due process.”
Top HSE officials have been arguing that all this is just a personal disagreement among a handful of people. I disagree.
What we have in this situation is a case where two very important local institutions are at loggerheads over some key issues. HSE is asserting its rights as a school corporation and HSEA is asserting the district is creating a toxic work environment for teachers and others.
These are two institutions with their own interests. Yes, each institution has leaders and people authorized to speak and act on behalf of each institution, but I do not see this as just a personal conflict.
Another looming date is September 15, when formal bargaining over a new contract between HSE Schools and HSEA will begin, per state law. There will also be a public hearing held by the school board prior to the first formal bargaining session, per the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.
Everyone residing in the HSE School District has an interest in this bargaining going smoothly with an agreement acceptable to the school board and HSEA. It will say a lot about the relationship among the board, administration and the teachers in the classrooms.
I have written previously that the ULP and other actions are not a good look for Fishers or the wider HSE District. As the fourth-largest school district in Indiana by student count, we receive a lot of attention around the state when something goes wrong.
I would ask everyone in a position to make a difference, and every resident of the HSE District, do what you can to encourage the parties to resolve the ULP and related issues. Even more importantly, let’s urge the parties involved to reach a fair contract for the school district and teachers in the upcoming bargaining.
The reputation of Fishers and the HSE District are both on the line.
This is very disheartening. As a parent of kids in the HSE district, I too have wondered, is this a handful of people or do the majority of the teachers feel this way. I did ask an elementary teacher this question and while she said she feels supported at her elementary and thinks the majority of the teachers at her elementary feel the same. She knows that other teachers in the upper grades do not feel supported by the administration and that they do not consider the teachers as professionals. That is NOT something I want to hear as a parent. I purposely make an effort to tell my children’s teachers that I greatly appreciate them and support them! Administration and the school board should take this seriously. This is NOT a good look for HSE.
We need to remember all of the chaos of the last year or so and reverse course at the voting booth in November. These new board members who were elected have hijacked our school system and created one mess after another. Including the mass exodus of a lot of talented people at HSE. We should not be surprised though. These elected board members had no valid relative experience to serve on a school board the size of HSE’s. Do your research into each candidate running – and exercise your power this November. If a candidate has the support of the Fishers One organization – they will not get my vote.
My question is, specifically, what is a toxic work environment? This term is too general for anyone to form an opinion. Also, who, by name, made this accusation?
union rep did- against herself.
Larry, as a journalist maybe someone could answer the question of who, what and when.
Is this union representatives or teachers.
Looks to me like the plaintiff are not will to stand up and be heard.
union reps. 2 massive egos. they also don’t poll their members before they take action
I wonder if a valid concern of those who would speak up could be a fear of retaliation or unpleasant consequences given the current climate of this new administration and this school board.
I agree, Registered Voter, but real news stories should not quote”anonymous sources.”
Nothing was quoted anonymously, Kathy. There are several sources (wfyi.org is one) offering at least some of the details you seek.
This is one more serious issue in a long line at this point. As a parent, it’s difficult to watch an excellent district like HSE be diminished by unprofessional Administration officials and too many deeply partisan school board members. A protracted battle with the HSEA isn’t good for anyone in our district. We’re already losing too many educators and other key staff to neighboring districts. It’s far past time to put the petty, personal politics aside and do what’s best for our students, teachers and community as a whole. If nothing else, it’s abundantly clear why school board positions are intended to be completely non-partisan and fair.
I’m sorry – I find all this super weird. who is Becky? it looks like she lives an hour away. why is she seeding dissent in fishers? every legal motion she has her lawyer file costs us, fishers and Hamilton County taxpayers, money. I’m not happy about this. take the drama somewhere else.