Wave of green greets school board
WAYNESBURG – A sea of green flooded the room during Central Greene School Board’s meeting Tuesday until it was standing room only.
More than 20 members of the Central Greene Education Association attended the meeting wearing green shirts.
“We’re here as a show of solidarity,” said Melissa Wilson, president of the teachers’ union.
Their statement came almost one month after the school board rejected a tentative contract agreement by a 7-2 vote at its March 15 meeting.
The two votes in favor of the contract were from school directors John Jacobs and Sharon Bennett, both members of the district’s bargaining committee that helped craft the proposal. The union, whose 165 members have been working without a contract since June, had tentatively approved the agreement.
“We were definitely blindsided,” Wilson said.
The contract and negotiations were not discussed Tuesday, but Superintendent Brian Uplinger said Wednesday negotiations are expected to continue soon.
“We’re working on common dates that we can sit down and get back to the table,” he said.
“If not the end of this month, then at the beginning of next month.”
In other action Tuesday, the board discussed possible policy changes, including allowing students to eat and drink on buses and a pay-to-participate policy for extracurricular activities.
The district’s policy committee entertained the idea of letting students eat and drink on buses because some have hourlong commutes.
Board member Kevin Barnhart objected to the change, calling it a “huge mistake” and citing safety hazards such as choking, spills and students with food allergies.
“I don’t know if everybody understands the impact,” he said. “Did we really put any thought into this? I think it would be a disservice to the drivers, and the contractors and I don’t think it’s fair.”
The board decided to have the district’s transportation committee review the policy before any changes are made.
The tone of conversation changed when Rachael Shultz expressed frustration that band and chorus students have to pay $40 to participate, even though they receive a letter grade.
“I think the policy needs to be looked at,” she said. “If we can’t ask students to pay $35 to the boosters for activities because it’s a graded class, why should they be paying $40 to participate if it’s a graded class?”
Other board members and administrators said band members pay to participate only if they are performing at events, such as football games, and that band members who choose not to perform don’t have to pay and will still receive a grade.
Uplinger said the board will continue to discuss the pay-to-participate policy and whether to eliminate it.