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Teachers Union Sues Pinellas School Board

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON

spthompson@tampatrib.com

Published: January 22, 2009

CLEARWATER - The Pinellas County Classroom Teachers Association filed suit against the school board Tuesday, saying the board reneged on a promise to go back to a maximum five teaching periods a day for middle school teachers.

The Pinellas County School Board implemented a schedule this school year calling for six periods of teaching in a seven-period workday. The union filed a grievance, saying the move violated the terms of its contract, and an independent arbitrator agreed with the union in a decision Nov. 26.

The lawsuit asks that the arbitrator's decision be upheld.

According to the lawsuit, the board was to restore the five-period maximum in middle schools as of Jan. 1.

In a letter Jan. 8 to union President Kim Black, schools Superintendent Julie M. Janssen said she could not make the switch because "the financial conditions in place at the time of the arbitrator's award have significantly eroded."

The new schedule shaved $2.2 million off the budget, the lawsuit states.

The teachers' contract expired June 30, but teachers were still operating under guidelines calling for a maximum five periods of teaching.
Union officials say six periods of teaching don't leave time for planning.

From Janssen's perspective, returning to the old schedule would force students to eliminate one of their electives, and some eighth-grade students might not meet the requirements of some magnet and interbaccalaureate programs, according to her letter to Black.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336.

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