Union grievances accuse Finley boss of harassment

Seek to have teacher’s reassignment overturned

By Jason Maholy

The union that represents teachers in Chicago Ridge School District 127½ has filed several grievances against an administrator it claims has targeted an educator for harassment.

The Chicago Ridge Education Association’s charges against Finley Junior High School Principal Laura Hamacher seek to have overturned the administration’s reassignment of former sixth- and eighth-grade teacher Sandi Spencer to the role of “full-time substitute,” according to the union. The union contends an “unfair reprimand” of Spencer and her later reassignment are the result of continuing tensions between teachers and administrators in District 127½.

The five grievances filed early this month accuse Hamacher of harassing Spencer, and allege the principal failed to follow the collective bargaining agreement between the district and union in regard to her discipline of of the teacher, according to Spencer.

Spencer taught eighth grade last year at Finley, 10835 Lombard Ave., but was reassigned this year to sixth grade. She was reassigned again, this time to full-time substitute, after being placed on a 12-day paid administrative leave Oct. 28, she explained. The reassignment does not affect Spencer’s pay, benefits or tenure, which are part of the collective bargaining agreement.

Spencer is the union’s co-president and spearheaded an unfair labor practice charge against the district in 2008, which Smith believes is leading to retribution from administrators.

“Mrs. Spencer was the one who initiated that,” said Chicago Ridge Education Association co-president Sue Smith. “In terms of retaliation, the primary retaliation is against her. She’s kind of a lightning rod as co-president. Every move she makes, every question she asks is met with resistance. We do believe she has been targeted for harassment.”

Nine junior high staff members have been either fired or asked to resign, and 10 junior high teachers have been involuntarily reassigned in the two years Hamacher has been principal there, Smith said.

“The overall climate at the junior high is very negative,” Smith alleged. “There’s a climate of fear that if you do something wrong you’re going to be the next one to go. Most of [the teachers] are terrified.”

District 127½ Superintendent Joyce Kleinaitis said she would not allow a “climate of fear” to exist at any of the district’s schools. The district comprises Finley and Ridge Lawn and Ridge Central elementary schools.

“I wouldn’t allow it for teachers or students, definitely not,” she said. “Our job is to provide a safe and nurturing environment for students.”

Kleinaitis said teachers are reassigned “all the time.” She declined to comment on Spencer’s reprimand or reassignment, citing personnel privacy policy, but was surprised at the union’s allegations that administrative decisions have contributed to “depressed staff morale and deepening problems” at Finley.

“I don’t have a comment about that,” she said. “I have no one at all who has come forward with any claims like that. No one has come to my office about that.”

Spencer believes the district’s actions against her are purely political and have nothing to do with her job performance. She has been falsely accused of not following the required curriculum, and was reassigned without just cause or a fair investigation, she said.

“In my position [as union co-president] I tend to ask questions for clarification for staff members or whatever, and it is not welcome,” she said.

As far as filing the grievances, Spencer simply hopes the decision to reassign her will be overturned, she said.

“I don’t want to leave my job, I love eighth grade,” she said. “I have never been under so much stress in my life. I just want my job back. I just want fair treatment.”

Hamacher did not return a phone call seeking comment for this story.

This is part of the November 26, 2009 online edition of The Reporter.

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