District 15: Arbitration Looms for Late Start Early Release Decision

The recent decision by the District 15 school board to instate an early release on Fridays will now go to an arbitrator to determine if the contract with the Classroom Teachers' Council (CTC) has been violated, the Journal and Topics reports. 

District 15 Superintendent Scott Thompson said the date for the hearing with the American Arbitration Association has not yet been set, according to the Journal and Topics, and added that after the hearing occurs, it could take up to 90 days for a ruling on the issue. 

The idea of allowing for teacher development time during present school hours was first introduced in December of 2012.

District 15 parent Lisa Szczupaj said at the meeting, "Sixty-eight percent more respondents chose an early release Friday as their first choice than chose a late start Monday." 

The true definition of 'overwhelming opposition' - language used in the CTC contract with District 15, has not been defined by clear metrics on what that would actually mean to justify a change from what the CTC prefers, which was reportedly a late start, either on Mondays or Wednesdays. 

The potential of that decision caused pushback from working parents especially, who would have to adjust childcare in the mornings, or were concerned their children would have to lock the door behind them when parents were already off to work.  

The contract states, "Weekly release of students by means of late start except that the concept of late start may be amended to an early release in the event there is overwhelming opposition from parents in the District 15 community during the development and stages prior to implementation."

Once the , concerns by parents on whether the decision to instate an early release would be overturned were quelled by the newly elected School Board President, Peggy Babcock.

, despite the grievance being filed by the CTC.