Spring break in Rogers City school district remains in limbo

Until Monday, much of what has been going on regarding negotiations toward a new teacher contract in the Rogers City Area Community Schools has been discussed behind closed doors. That was until earlier this week. Both the Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education and representatives of the Rogers City Educators? Association aired some of their frustrations during the monthly public meeting at the Grambau Center, because after two sessions with a mediator, an agreement has failed to be reached. This has left the district without a scheduled calendar for March or April, and parents in limbo regarding their spring break plans. Calls for scheduling spring break have been put on hold during the labor-stalemate.

DURING THE public comment period at Monday?s meeting elementary teacher Paula Pietsch said the teachers believe they were close to a tentative agreement late last year. Pietsch said the union was asked to ?give up a piece of our insurance.? On November 30, after several hours of mediation, the teachers say they agreed to a compromise involving insurance changes requested by the mediator. ?The request was then to be presented to the Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education on December 11 by Mr. (Paul) Mancine, the school?s superintendent and the school?s hired negotiator George Johnson out of Lansing,? said Vicki Bruder, the RCEA?s chief negotiator .

Subject to the board?s approval, the teachers expected a tentative agreement, said Bruder. Union members believe the agreement was going to be announced and the calendar for the school year released prior to Christmas break. Pietsch said the teachers have done what the school board had asked and are puzzled that a TA has not been finalized. The teachers have been working without a contract since August.

MANCINE TOLD board members at Monday?s meeting that he continues to push to get something set for spring break, while trying to not end labor talks at an impasse. ?The calendar has to be something that has to be mutually agreed upon,? said Mancine. ?We could, legally, unilaterally set that (calendar) month-to-month without their input. We have not done that. We would like to keep the spirit of negotiations there,? added Mancine. ?We have been working with them on a month-to-month basis; however, I have been asking them for a number of communications for months now, that hey, why don?t we set the spring break for parents so they will know, and the staff as well. They are hesitant to do so.?

Mancine said both sides were hopeful that the last mediation session would be fruitful, but both sides misjudged the other party, said Mancine. During the board action items, some board members commented on the spring break scheduling stumbling block. Four parents wondering when spring break would be had contacted board member Scott McLennan. He said it is an important issue because families want to make vacation reservations. ?In the interest of families it would be wise to come up with a date,? said McLennan. Mancine insisted the board wait until the next negotiating session January 22 before making a decision.

?I UNDERSTAND your frustration,? said Mancine. Because of testing windows and the end of the third marking period in March, his guess is the break will be the first or second week of April, ?but I can?t guarantee anyone.? For those wanting to make plans, Mancine?s message to parents is to ?go? and work out the details of the schoolwork later. ?It is the teachers that dictate that (spring break), it is not us,? said board member Allan Smolinski. ?We want to get this settled and get it done.? While the schedule for spring break remains unsettled, the February calendar was set. The students will be released February 15 for parent/teacher conferences and have no school the next day. Monday, February 19 is President?s Day and there will be no school before resuming the regular schedule February 20.