Trustees Uphold Findings During Grievance Hearing

By Bill Vander Weele

At the end of a grievance hearing regarding a Wolf Point teacher, trustees voted on a 4-2 margin to support superintendent of schools Loverty Erickson’s findings on Monday, May 9.

Erickson’s recommendation included a plan of improvement and a verbal reprimand for teacher Tressa Welch. The teacher, who waived her right of privacy and kept the meeting open, was accused of allegedly making unprofessional comments to another school employee and confronting another teacher in a classroom.

Maggie Copeland of the Montana Education Association and Montana Federation of Teachers said that the alleged comment was made on the final day for teachers of school last year.

“We can actually prove there were no students present,” Copeland said during the hearing.

She added that if that part of the testimony is wrong but else might be incorrect.

Copeland noted that a third witness to the incident hasn’t been interviewed. Copeland said that an interview request by the school district’s attorney was made on Jan. 5, but once that witness wanted union representation, the witness never heard back from the attorney.

Wolf Point Education Association co-president Patricia Toavs said that plans of improvement have to be gone by the school administrator not the superintendent. “For some reason, this has gotten lost,” Toavs said.

The school district’s attorney replied that the superintendent is still a school administrator and can do a plan of improvement.

Board chair Linda L. Han- sen noted that Welch’s behavior was unprofessional and in violation of her contract.

Trustee Mark Zilkoski said the hearing sought the quest for truth. He was disappointed that a witness talked to the school district’s attorney but didn’t speak in person to the school board.

“I need to hear it from the horse’s mouth,” he said.

Hansen said that trustees had two different informations but also the admittance of the teacher of being there.

The motion to support the superintendent’s finding passed by a 4-2 motion with trustees Zilkoski and Lawrence Hamilton Jr. voting against the motion.

Welch urged the school district to be more open with its dealings.

“We should let the public know everything we’re doing,” Welch said. “I want the whole community to see.”

Welch plans to appeal through arbitration.