DECATUR — The Decatur School Board voted to update teacher policies at the April 16 meeting, approving some personnel policy committee proposals and denying others.
The board voted to reject four proposed policies, including a $500 across-the-board pay increase for teachers, tighter specifications on when teacher evaluations can be done, a change to the school calendar to allow seven days of teacherinservice before school starts, and a change in parent-teacher conference dates.
The board approved a change in the professional development calendar so teachers can count classes taken in June towards the following school year.
The board also approved allowing Sept. 21 and Feb. 8 to be flex days, where teachers can take the day off if their required professional development is already complete.
The April 16 vote came after the board first approved a set of policychanges in March and sent them to the personnel policy committee for review. The personnel policy committee was then able to make their own policy proposals, which could be approved or rejected by the board.
Grievance Hearing
The school board went into an hour and a half executive session for a teacher grievance hearing.
Superintendent Larry Ben told the school board that the grievance had advanced through the firstand second level, according to policy, and that he had also given an answer on it. Now his answer was being appealed to the school board, he said.
Neither party involved or the nature of the grievance was mentioned in open session.
Board members returned and board president Ike Owens stated that the board had decided the current policy would control the situation and that, going forward, it will be important to make sure things are in place so it will continue to be resolved.
News, Pages 11 on 05/02/2012