By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Wearing red, Galion teachers showed solidarity ahead of negotiations between the Galion Board of Education and the district teachers’ union at Thursday’s board meeting.
While most of the teachers remained silent, union spokesperson and third grade teacher Kim Chandler spoke to the board saying that the teachers hope for respectful contract negotiations. Chandler explained that the teachers were showing unity and support for each other.
“Our contract expired August 15 of 2014, and negotiations have been slow this year. Approaching springtime our membership has shown support in unity through job actions such as wearing the red, black on Fridays,” Chandler said. “We also have been working to the rule of our contract in hopes to show unity and support, and to really get this settled again for the stability of our district and our community.”
The Galion Board of Education approved all personnel recommendations on the agenda including the resignation of Athletics Director Robert Putnam and the retirements of seventh grade science teacher Paula Iler, middle school intervention specialist Sheila Dyer, and library educational assistant Nancy Green.
Also approved by the board were donations in memory of Marilyn Winckelman. Included in the donation were a donation of books by Julia Thogmartin for the Galion Intermediate Library and a $125 donation to the school district’s Special Education Department.
The board held their second reading for the approval of the Middle School Science Book Science Fusion.
All other items on the agenda were also approved by the Galion BOE with the exception of the Treasurer’s Report and financial recommendations portion of the agenda. The report and recommendations were tabled until the next Board of Education meeting due to an excused absence for Treasurer Charlene Parkinson.