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DALLAS TWP. — The Dallas Education Association provided the school board with many opportunities for teachers to make up seven work days, union President Michael Cherinka said Tuesday.
Cherinka’s comments follow Monday’s board decision to deny a union grievance filed in response to docking teacher salaries for the unworked days. The move would recoup $500,000 for the district.
“We actually had three Saturdays scheduled for the seniors to come in,” Cherinka said, adding the dates were May 20, 27 and June 3.
Teachers were also willing to be in classrooms over the winter holiday break from Friday, Dec. 23, to Monday, Jan. 2, he noted.
The dates, however, were dismissed by the Dallas School Board and could cost the district a percentage of its state funding, said Cherinka.
Calls to Superintendent Thomas Duffy and district Business Manager Grant Palfey to confirm Cherinka’s claims were not returned by press time Tuesday.
A 22-day teachers strike combined with snow days prevented teachers from completing the required number of instructional days by June 30.
On Monday, Cherinka stormed out of the school board meeting after the union’s grievance was denied in a 6-1 vote.
“I was frustrated,” Cherinka said. “Recently, we gave them (the school board) a list of ways to work the seven days. But only one person got it.”
Cherinka was referring to school board member Kristin Pitarra, who voted against the grievance denial.
Board members Patrick Musto, Larry Schuler, James Gattuso, Catherine Wega, Sherri Newell and Jeff Thomas supported the resolution. Charles M. Preece and Gary Youngblood were absent.
The union will pursue an arbitration process to resolve the pay dispute, said Cherinka.
Arbitration requires a neutral, third party to hear both the union and district positions to determine if the teachers get paid.
“I think we have a good case,” Cherinka said. “It could take until next year at this time to receive a decision. Arbitration is a long process.”
Meanwhile, negotiations for a new teachers contract are occurring regularly, Cherinka said.
“We had a meeting right before the board meeting (Monday),” he said. “There are many more scheduled right up through August.”
Cherinka said there are no “tentative agreements signed yet.” The board’s negotiation committee and the union are “focusing on the little things,” he explained.
In the spring, the union filed an intent-to-strike notice for Sept. 5, the first day back to school. Cherinka could not say, at this time, if that strike would occur.