Middletown Workers Want School Board To Hear Their Concerns

Middletown CT

26 October, 2021

5:12 PM

Description

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A coalition of unions representing more than 1,000 Middletown Public School employees is urging the Board of Education to hear their concerns about workplace harassment issues. Officials said the coalition hasn't received any formal acknowledgment or any follow-up from the school board and the acting superintendent to their complaints, despite multiple requests. Superintendent of Schools Michael T. Conner was granted a request for a leave of absence during a special Board of Education meeting last week. The request came just days after city officials called for an investigation into complaints from unions representing school employees that claimed workers have dealt with harassment, intimidation and retaliation by central office senior management, the Middletown Press previously reported. On Oct. 14, leaders of four unions representing teachers, paraeducators, school support staff, and supervisors presented their concerns to the common council and mayor. Their letter, read by UPSEU Local 6457 President Ann Gregg during public comment at the evening's regular council meeting, was also provided to the school board. "The accusations are real and significant," said Mark Fong, a physical education teacher at Beman Middle School. "The BOE needs to take this seriously and listen to the concerns from the unions. If the mistreatment of staff continues, more quality employees will leave the district. Randy McKiver, building superintendent at Lawrence Elementary School and an MPS parent, said they have important stories to share and "no one is listening," according to a news release. "The BOE has a responsibility to students and our entire school community to come to the table," McKiver said. "Let's have an honest and transparent conversation so we can continue to focus on what matters most – the education and services we provide for our students. The sooner all the facts are known, the sooner this investigation can be completed." On Oct. 21, coalition leaders sent a follow-up request for a meeting to the acting superintendent and school board chair to discuss current and former members' workplace harassment issues. They said the Board of Education hasn't responded to the request. "As a paraeducator, my job is to ensure a healthy and safe environment for our students," said Cindy Culp, a special education paraprofessional at Middletown High School and president of the Middletown Federation of Paraprofessionals, AFT Local 3161. "I would expect the BOE to have our backs when it comes to our working environments. If there are issues that could impact the kids, they should want to know about it." Detailed complaints in writing describing hostile working conditions in MPS facilities from current and former district employees have to date been received by coalition leaders, according to the news release. "The acting superintendent and members of the BOE have a responsibility to learn as much as possible about the nature of the incidents detailed in order to determine an appropriate course of action," the news release states. "District officials' failure to respond has impaired their ability to understand that no single member of the central office management team is solely responsible for current hostile working conditions. Union leaders are again renewing their call to place additional top officials on leave during their investigation of the issues raised."