Austintown teachers asked again to OK proposal

AUSTINTOWN —Teachers’ refusal of extra duties is hurting the school district’s routine, so the school board has asked again that the teachers accept most of a contract proposal and go into arbitration on one issue.

The board met in another closed session Thursday to discuss tactics after the Austintown Education Association refused its request for an arbitrator to settle a sticking point over contract language. That language involves how much planning time teachers have and how much input they have over scheduling it.

Teachers began “work-to-rule” days last week, working only from their start times until they are supposed to quit for the day. They said they would prove that extra time they spend on activities before and after school would be missed.

Superintendent Doug Heuer said Thursday that has happened. He said holiday musicals at several schools had to be canceled this week.

“These are long-standing traditions,” Heuer said. “The kids look forward to them ... We want the district back to normal.”

For more, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com