Sunday, January 16, 2011

Jefferson County teachers union votes to ask that Sheldon Berman be retained

Board Members Express Doubt in a Revote
Wesslund Replaced as Chair

This from the Courier-Journal:

Jefferson County's influential teachers union has thrown its support behind ousted Superintendent Sheldon Berman, voting Thursday to ask the school board to extend Berman's contract, instead of letting it expire June 30.

The board of directors for the Jefferson County Teachers Association voted 18-9 Thursday afternoon to formally ask the school board to retain Berman, whose contract was not renewed last November.

Thursday's vote came after Linda Duncan, a school board member who represents District 5, and state Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, met with the teachers union and asked it to endorse Berman, JCTA President Brent McKim said...

“We've already discussed this — it's over,” said school board member Carol Haddad, who represents District 6. “We need to move forward — the community needs to know that we are moving forward.”

Joe Hardesty and Diane Porter, two other board members who voted against a contract extension for Berman, also said they did not favor revisiting their votes.

“A lot of thought went into my decision, so I would not be inclined to change my vote,” said Hardesty, who represents District 4...

[Steve] Imhoff, who represents District 2 and who was voted school board chairman by a 6-1 vote Monday night, said he has not talked to any board members about bringing the issue back up for consideration.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't care for Shelson Berman, but I do like the activism of the Louisville branch of the NEA.

Our FCEA branch in Lexington never questions Mr. Silberman or the Board of Education. They can do what they wish these days and do so unmolested. FCEA seems to be a moribund organization that quietly defends teachers accused of offenses both minor and major and sponsors Cat in the Hat read-ins and red t-shirt days. FCEA Membership has dropped dramatically. Teachers seeking and activist organization should look elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps they should call Ms. Allen, former General Counsel at her law firm in Frankfort. Even FCEA members are signing up for her to handle their cases. Who better to take them on and win? Hey Board and Stu, thanks for giving us a real champion to take you to task! Education pays!