PLAINVIEW, Minn. – Fed up being among the lowest paid teachers in the state, the Plainview-Elgin-Millville teachers union began withholding services. The union’s co-presidents, Michael Heppner and Jen Koehler, accused the School Board bad faith in contract negotiations and of harassment of high school softball coach Ben Peter. Teachers will perform contractual duties to the letter – but no more. This means teachers will not:
> Substitute for each others’ classrooms.
> Volunteer anything except normal classroom assignments.
The union said it was prepared to escalate pressure on the School Board every Friday. Teachers, however will complete all contractual duties, including coaching, the union leadership said. The union said the union expects its first wave of disruption will leave principals short-handed and force them to “place students in large group settings for supervision.”
Earlier: Plainview teachers press Board on pay, charge harassing
Union leadership
> Jen Koehler, co-president.
> Michael Heppner, co-president.
> Mike Matiash, membership chair.
> Jen Simon, secretary.
> Matt Cada, treasurer.
School Board members
> Julie LaBare, of Elgin.
> Stacy Fox, of Millville.
> Julie Hart, of Elgin.
> Roger Rahman, of Elgin.
> Rod Springer, of Millville.
> Jake Thompson, of Millville.
> Monica Sveen-Ziebell, of Elgin.