Hearing to decide on unfair labor charges against Colfax school

President of the classified staff union of the Colfax school district testified in a public hearing Nov. 17 that school district officials intentionally demoted her because of her work as union president.

The goal of the hearing was to settle a dispute between Classified Education Support Personnel (CESP) president Barb Strevy and the district.

The hearing was conducted by the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC), a state-funded organization that mediates conflicts within public agencies.

The hearing came about after Strevy filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the district and Supt. Michael Morgan.

PERC hearing officer Karyl Elinski of Olympia is expected to issue a ruling on the charge within 90 days.

Strevy this year was switched from her 17-year position working in the high school attendance office to working as a teacher aide at the Colfax elementary school. She would have had the assignment this year, but has not been working because of a broken arm.

Strevy has been heavily involved with grievances against the district dealings as CESP president.

At the hearing, Strevy’s Washington Education Association attorney, Eric Hanson, made the case she was “demoted” to the position at the elementary school by the district as retaliation for those grievances against the district.

Morgan attended with attorney Greg Stevens from the district’s law firm, Stevens, Clay, and Manix of Spokane.

Strevy’s attorney contended there is substantial evidence pointing to a contentious relationship between Strevy and the district because of her many grievances issued against the district in her role as CESP president.

Stevens contended the district has had a difficult financial year, which caused it to let go of three classified staff members at the end of last school year.

The layoffs left the elementaty school, which has a higher student count, short-staffed, Stevens said.

To compensate for the staff loss, Morgan moved Strevy to the position at the elementary school, Steven said.

The district’s attorney also pointed out that Strevy has the same pay, benefits, schedule and hours that she did at her previous job at the high school. He also pointed out that although Strevy has worked in the office attendance role for 17 years, she has always been listed on the payroll as a teacher’s aide.

Morgan has maintained the district changed her job assignment because the district was financially struggling. With less staff at the elementary school, they had a legitimate need to move other staff there, Morgan said after the hearing.

“I think the district showed there were economic reasons for reducing staff,” Morgan said.

“The RIF (Reduction in Force) process and the transfer were followed within the constraints of the bargaining agreement,” he added.