Peabody Teachers Won't Attend Superintendent's Retirement Party

PEABODY, MA -- A list of voluntary activities distributed by the union that represents Peabody teachers includes the June 21 retirement celebration for interim Superintendent Herb Levine. In other words, teachers participating in the "work-to-rule" protest of $6.2 million in budget cuts will not be attending the party.

Levine declined comment because the school district is in active negotiations with the union. Work-to-Rule is a voluntary, legally protected work action in which participating teachers refuse to work hours beyond the mandatory workday and decline to perform any functions outside the strict terms of their contract. Teacher contracts do require them to provide "adequate" time for extra help outside of normal class time, as well as participate in staff meetings, in-service training, events and programs that are scheduled during the school work day.

Mike Hawes, a teacher at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School, said the Peabody Federation of Teachers said teachers are undertaking the action to call public attention to the budget cuts. Last month the Peabody School Committee approved a $6.2 million budget cut for the 2018-19 school year, including 10 classroom positions, as well as $500,000 for supplies.

"We as teachers have made phone calls, been present at budget meetings (both inside and out) and have spoken up on our behalf at public hearings. But we still feel like we are not being heard," Hawes said in an email to Patch. "Work to Rule is our way to show the public and the school department that the proposed budget cuts are harmful to the long term vision of our schools."

Many parents and students didn't know about the action until they arrived at schools on Monday morning, where teachers gathered in parkings lots then marched into school buildings when opening bells rang.

"We as the teachers union are for Peabody Public Education and although people might question what we are doing, we felt that this was the time to show our unity in creating awareness for the what short and long term needs our schools have," Hawes said.

The budget cuts also eliminate five teachers aides, a custodian and a guidance counselor. At the time the budget was passed, Levine said the staff cuts are coming through retirements and non-renewal of contracts. The school system pays about $60 million to staff its 10 schools, which serve 5,900 students.

Although this is the first formal protest by teachers, one teacher told parents that there was a paper shortage days after the budget was passed and, as a result, she would not be assigning homework for the rest of the year. The claim ended up being false, and the first grade teacher apologized to school officials.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).