Advertisement

An arbitrator decided in late July that the school board did not violate a collective bargaining agreement when it reduced the hours of some support staff employees. The reduction in hours resulted in the loss of health benefits for those employees.

The grievances to restore the health benefits were filed by the Boyne City Educational Support Personnel Association on behalf of eight paraprofessionals.

Subsequently, the Michigan Education Association filed a lawsuit on behalf of the paraprofessionals and that has also been withdrawn.

"I don't think anyone feels good about any of this, but the action by the board in June of 2006 is simply a reflection of the fiscal environment in education right now,"school district superintendent Bob Alger said.

Boyne City Educational Support Personnel Association representative, Dave Dipzinski, said the paraprofessional employees are looking to the future.

"I've talked with the support staff and they say they are ready to pick up and move on,"Dipzinski said. "The arbitrator made a decision and we have to live with the decision that was made."

The reason the grievances were filed in the first place was because of a promise made to the employees by a former superintendent that their hours would not be cut, Dipzinski said.

Superintendent Alger said the eight support staff employees who assist teachers in the classroom remained dedicated in their work.

"Through all of this, the members of the BCESPA, especially those individuals directly affected by the action, did not allow the Board's decision to affect their work one bit. During all of the last school year, they continued to be very dedicated to helping students learn.