Yesterday the Norwalk Teachers Union went to Federal court to present its case that the BOE acted improperly regarding the vote on Corda’s contract.
“What we’re asking the court to do is require the board to put a discussion of the contract (on the agenda) at a regular meeting,” lawyer Steven Frederick said. “Do it again.”
The one difference, Frederick told U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Smith, the Norwalk Federation of Teachers and residents this time will have had plenty of time to review the three-year contract so they can share their thoughts with the school board.The union in September sued the Board of Education, alleging members suppressed the public’s First Amendment rights by distributing copies of Corda’s proposed contract at the start of a hastily convened Aug. 28 meeting and approved the pact minutes later.
The first court hearing was held yesterday afternoon, lasted two hours and was continued to an undetermined date.
Union President Bruce LeVine Mellion was on the stand for much of the time, with Corda, school board President Jody Bishop-Pullan and outgoing board member Thomas Vetter in attendance.
Based on Mellion’s initial testimony, the union believes the school board was aware that teachers’ opinion of Corda had soured and the board members sought to ensure the superintendent’s contract was passed quickly with little opportunity for public opposition.Mellion testified that on Aug. 27, during a convocation celebrating the start of the school year, Corda’s address to the teachers and school board was interrupted by boos and hisses.
“That’s never occurred before at a convocation,” Mellion told the judge.
Later that day, Mellion said he received an e-mail notice that a special school board meeting had been called for the night of Aug. 28 to approve Corda’s contract. He said he did not understand why the board had not waited until its regular meeting Sept. 4.
“Special meetings tend to be very time-sensitive issues of great urgency,” Mellion said.
He testified that he was surprised the draft contract was not attached, telling the judge that Corda’s contracts have traditionally been available to the public on the Friday before a Tuesday meeting.
Mellion said he called Corda’s secretary to obtain a copy and was told none was available before the school board meeting.
Mellion said he could not speak about contract details during the public participation at the start of the meeting because he had had no time to review it.
“Did the Board of Education tell the public what the terms of the contract were (or) say anything whatsoever about that contract?” Frederick asked Mellion.No, Mellion replied. He also testified that he believes turnout at the Aug. 28 meeting was sparse because it had been scheduled for the night before the first day of school.
source: Teachers union wants another vote on Corda contract, By Brian Lockhart, November 8 2007
