NEWTON FALLS SCHOOLS Union threatens to sue over documents

The union wants the information to check on benefit packages of administrators.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NEWTON FALLS -- The union for this school district's classified employees is ready to ask a court to compel the district treasurer to turn over certain financial documents. School officials say they've already done it.
The Newton Falls Association of Classified Employees and its parent union, the Ohio Education Association, have asked Treasurer Susan Irving to give them information on the salaries and employment contracts of all district administrators.
Bill Hart, a communication consultant for the OEA, said the union made the original request in September but got no response. He said Irving was contacted again in the middle of October for the information and again about a week after that.
"Normally, when we request information like that from other districts, we have no problems getting it," Hart said.
Hart said the union is willing to file a lawsuit in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
"I expect we could file within the next week," he said.
Irving was out of the office Monday and could not be reached, but Superintendent Linda Clapp said the district has already turned over the documents requested.
"I spoke with her and she said she supplied them with that information," Clapp said. "To my knowledge, they have received it."
Reason for request
Hart said the union, which is negotiating a contract, wants the documents to check the benefit packages and other perks administrators may get that other employees don't.
"Insurance is one of the major issues," he said. "They want the classified employees to pay more and more, and we wonder if the administrators don't pay anything at all for their insurance."
The 52 members of NFACE -- which represents bus drivers, mechanics, secretaries and aides -- have worked under the terms of the contract that expired June 30.
The two sides held several talks in August, but an impasse was declared in September. Since then, a federal mediator has worked with both sides to try to settle before Nov. 11, the date union members have set to strike. Another round of talks was set for 5 p.m. today. If the union does strike, schools will remain open.
slshaulis@vindy.com