×

RC teachers bring issues to board members

ROGERS CITY — Teachers brought concerns about Health Savings Account payments, delinquent supply bills and other issues to the Rogers City Area Schools Executive Committee special meeting Wednesday.

Teachers with the district talked about their issues with board President Ivy Cook, Vice President Deedra A. Haselhuhn and Secretary Devin Pommerenke. Superintendent David O’Bryant and Finance and Personnel Manager Robin Hughes also attended.

“I wasn’t actually going to speak today but we met this morning,” educational support professionals grievance Chair Mary Fairbanks said. “We have a multitude of — which I was understanding through Mr. O’Bryant — that you’ve been made aware of. We have two grievances that are at arbitration right now. One of them is tax related, ACA tax, which is the Affordable Care tax which has been ongoing for a year tomorrow, it’s still not resolved.”

The other, she said, is just the ESP staff and it covers a multitude of financial situations.

“One being 403(b)s (retirement savings plan) in our group that were coming out and not getting paid, HSA payments weren’t paid on time,” Fairbanks said. “They come out of our check and they don’t get into the HSA for several weeks. I’ve had several months.”

Industrial arts instructor Amanda Munger also discussed delinquent building supply bills.

“For the industrial art program I have to do a lot of purchasing supplies and I try to do that through local businesses,” Munger said. “For the past couple of years there’s been an issue with one of my companies I was ordering through. At the beginning of the year, for example, this fall when I went to go place my supply order they were like, ‘Oh we can’t send you that order because last year’s bill hasn’t been paid yet.'”

After the board listened to the teachers issues, they decided to look into each matter further.

“There’s been quite a few discussion items brought up. This meeting was more for us to be informed, than to make solutions. Obviously there is not going to be one main issue. We will be regrouping. We will try and tackle each one of them. I know it’s frustrating. I can’t give everyone a definite timeline. We’ll try to make sure we get a solution for them,” Cook said.

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today