ED-WATCH: WV GRIEVANCE BOARD RULES AGAINST FIRED CALHOUN SCHOOL EMPLOYEES - Board Office Reorganization Saved $55,000-$60,000 With $1.8 Million Deficit

(07/30/2016)
The West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Board has ruled against three Calhoun Schools central office employees who claimed that their firing was arbitrary and capricious.

The grievance was filed by Carla Taylor, Kathryn Nichols and Bonnie Sands, the Calhoun Superintendent of Schools Tim Woodward said the board reorganization was to reduce a $1,800,000 deficit, and was approved by the school board and accepted by state education officials.

The reorganization, which included an upward adjustment in supplements for salaries for some staff, reduced the overall staffing by 1.5 positions, according to the ruling.

The grievance board decision says that the actual savings was "somewhere between $55,000-$60,000 from the $1.8 million deficit, although they indicated claims were made it would save $60,000-$90,000.

The decision said a 3-year deficit reduction plan presented by Woodward and approved by the board "contained no details about cost savings measures," referring to it as a list.

The grievance board decision, while ruling against the trio, makes numerous statements regarding procedural issues.

READ THE DECISION:

WV Public Employees Grievance Board Decision