Union: School administrator proves diocese conspiracy
The following story appeared in the online Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, July 19, 2008:
Union: School administrator proves diocese conspiracy
WILKES-BARRE – Contending that statements by the vice principal of Holy Redeemer High School back him up, Scranton Diocese Association for Catholic Teachers President Michael Milz said the diocese conspired to have him ousted from his teaching job, and sacrificed a second teacher to make sure it looked like Milz was not targeted for his public push to unionize teachers.
Related Document7-18-08 statements on SDACT accusations
The diocese and Holy Redeemer Principal James Redington flatly denied any conspiracy, and in a statement the diocese said “the accusations are preposterous and have no merit.” The vice principal, Robert Beviglia, said he could not comment and referred all questions to Diocese Spokesman Bill Genello, who referred questions to Redington.
Milz insists – and two parents with children attending Holy Redeemer back him up – that Beviglia had numerous conversations with them in which the academic vice principal told of what he perceived as a deliberate decision to orchestrate Milz removal and cover the effort by laying off other people.
According to Milz and the two parents, Beviglia said that:
The original plan was to lay off the most junior teacher from each department at Holy Redeemer using the seniority system set up when the entire school system was restructured. That restructuring created four regional school boards that replaced numerous local boards, some of which had negotiated with the union. When the new boards were created, they rejected requests to unionize teachers, and Milz led a public campaign to reverse that decision.
When the original plan was rejected, another was proposed. Milz would be laid off along with Jim George, the social studies teacher with the next lowest seniority, thus still creating the appearance that Milz was not targeted because of his union efforts. But George would later be offered his job back, after any furor regarding the lay off of Milz died down. Money was kept in next year’s budget for the extra social studies position.
A religious sister was added to the social studies department as a teacher to further assure that Milz would have the least seniority. The sister had fewer years in the diocese system, but the diocese gives preference to religious sisters regardless of teaching time because of their history serving the diocese. That sister was added last school year, but did not teach because of health issues.
Beviglia, who is responsible at Holy Redeemer for calculating how many teachers will be in each department, realized at one point that the school would be short at least one teacher after the layoffs. He raised his concerns with Regional Director Susan Dennen and Diocesan School Superintendent Joseph Casciano but was rebuffed. At one point Beviglia was called to a meeting with Casciano expressly “to make sure he was on the same page” regarding Milz.
Beviglia also urged the diocese to find a way to keep Milz and George because they were both good teachers and taught higher level courses. George had created a course only he could teach because of his experience, and Milz had taught Advanced Placement history. At one point, Beviglia suggested Milz be kept on part-time to continue teaching the advanced placement class, but Casciano said “If he’s gone, he’s gone.”
The union issued a statement contending Milz had been targeted in 2007 when the diocese “created a ridiculous, one-of a kind method of determining seniority and placement” which put Milz “at the bottom” despite 33 years experience. “The rest of the scenario was put into play at the end of the last school year by increasing class size, reducing student electives and increasing teachers’ workloads in order to say that Milz’s job was eliminated in order to ‘run a leaner school.’”
The union contends the diocese “lied to the public” and “conspired to cover up” the plan to get rid of Milz, “Leading to the cavalier decision to terminate” George. The union calls for the resignation of Casciano, Dennen, Redington and Bishop Joseph Martino, but argues Beviglia “should be seen as a hero, the only administrator in this sordid affair with a shred of integrity.”
The union also contends this proves Catholic teachers need the legal protection afforded public school teachers through the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act. The state Supreme Court has ruled Catholic teachers do not fall under the law, but State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, has introduced a bill to amend the law and eliminate that exclusion.
Sharon Hourigan, one of the leading members of a group called Parents Supporting SDACT, echoed the union sentiments, and stressed that Beviglia only spoke after she had contacted him in May “because there were rumor’s going on about Milz termination.” Hourigan said Beviglia spoke to her several times and “was always on the up and up and never really wanted to get in the thick of it. I really believe he had the kid’s best interest at heart.” Hourigan said she felt Beviglia “pretty much confirmed that there was a plan” to get rid of Milz.
Parent Matthew Martin said that Hourigan had asked him to hear Beviglia’s story as well. Martin echoed much of what Milz claims Beviglia said. “I was appalled,” Martin said. “On the surface it looked as though (Milz) had been targeted, but you never really want to believe it until someone comes out and confirms it.”
Redington denied the charges. He confirmed that Beviglia does the scheduling of classes and teachers and makes recommendations to the principal, but “it’s up to the building principal, the system director and the superintendent to make a collective decision on staffing needs based on the numbers.” Whether the school needed seven or eight teachers in a given department isn’t the only issue. While eight teachers “might be the ideal,” Redington said, the administrators sometimes must consider “if we can make it work with seven, or seven and a half. That’s the way the process works.”
Redington also said “we’re dealing with layoffs and that’s a very cautious and delicate issue, and hopefully it’s done with respect and concern because you are affecting people’s lives.” When it is done, it’s base on four criteria set up last year: seniority within the regional system (without letting teachers cross between high and elementary schools), teaching certification, religious certification and a letter from a priest saying a teacher is a Catholic in good standing, or a comparable letter for a non-Catholic teacher.
Attorney William T. Finnegan, president of the regional school board that oversees Luzerne County schools, confirmed earlier this week that the board had suggested the diocese consider more criteria than those four when placing teachers, but Finnegan stressed those recommendations stemmed from suggestions by parents after the layoffs were announced earlier this summer. Finnegan said the suggestions were in no way related to Milz case or the union debate, and noted that teachers were involved in creating the seniority system currently in use.
Redington said bringing Milz back part-time to teach Advanced Placement would have required ignoring George’s higher seniority. He also said George was never promised he would get his job back, and that there is no way of knowing if another teacher would be needed until sometime in August when enrollment is firmer.
In fact, Redington said, “Mr. Casciano told (George) that the diocese would honor the early retirement package in his case.” George had missed a May deadline to apply for the package, but “because of his longevity” Casciano offered it to him.
Redington also said he had never heard of a plan to lay off one teacher form each department, or had heard any comments from Casciano insisting Milz was “out” for good. “There was no conspiracy,” Redington said.
Regarding the contention that the salary for an extra social studies teacher had been kept in the budget, Redington said “the budget is a work in progress,” and, like the staffing needs, can’t be finalized until sometime in August.
The diocese issued a statement repeating the criteria used for seniority in determining which teachers were laid off and calling the accusations “the latest salvo in SDACT’s misinformation campaign against the bishop and the diocese. &hellip The diocese stands by its actions and will continue to communicate the truth.”
The statement says “the number of teachers needed is based on enrollment and course selection,” and that “because of enrollment declines and course selections, eight teachers were laid off” at the end of the school year. Milz and another social studies teacher were laid off “because they had the least seniority in that department.”
The statement repeated the diocesan position that “if additional positions are needed due to attrition or enrollment increases,” teachers who had been laid off “will receive first consideration” for any openings.
Martin said the public needs to understand the larger significance of the ongoing dispute in the Catholic school system. “This is a major issue as far as I’m concerned which could affect the general taxpaying population.” Noting that Dallas and Crestwood School districts are facing costly construction projects to relieve crowding in their schools, Martin said that if the Catholic school system suffers too much it could collapse and “the public school system cannot handle the sudden influx” of students that would result.
“I don’t think people who don’t have kids in Catholic schools understand how much money is being saved by people like Sharon and me paying to send our children to Catholic schools.
“That’s why it’s so critical that this situation gets resolved.”
Union: School administrator proves diocese conspiracy
WILKES-BARRE – Contending that statements by the vice principal of Holy Redeemer High School back him up, Scranton Diocese Association for Catholic Teachers President Michael Milz said the diocese conspired to have him ousted from his teaching job, and sacrificed a second teacher to make sure it looked like Milz was not targeted for his public push to unionize teachers.
Related Document7-18-08 statements on SDACT accusations
The diocese and Holy Redeemer Principal James Redington flatly denied any conspiracy, and in a statement the diocese said “the accusations are preposterous and have no merit.” The vice principal, Robert Beviglia, said he could not comment and referred all questions to Diocese Spokesman Bill Genello, who referred questions to Redington.
Milz insists – and two parents with children attending Holy Redeemer back him up – that Beviglia had numerous conversations with them in which the academic vice principal told of what he perceived as a deliberate decision to orchestrate Milz removal and cover the effort by laying off other people.
According to Milz and the two parents, Beviglia said that:
The original plan was to lay off the most junior teacher from each department at Holy Redeemer using the seniority system set up when the entire school system was restructured. That restructuring created four regional school boards that replaced numerous local boards, some of which had negotiated with the union. When the new boards were created, they rejected requests to unionize teachers, and Milz led a public campaign to reverse that decision.
When the original plan was rejected, another was proposed. Milz would be laid off along with Jim George, the social studies teacher with the next lowest seniority, thus still creating the appearance that Milz was not targeted because of his union efforts. But George would later be offered his job back, after any furor regarding the lay off of Milz died down. Money was kept in next year’s budget for the extra social studies position.
A religious sister was added to the social studies department as a teacher to further assure that Milz would have the least seniority. The sister had fewer years in the diocese system, but the diocese gives preference to religious sisters regardless of teaching time because of their history serving the diocese. That sister was added last school year, but did not teach because of health issues.
Beviglia, who is responsible at Holy Redeemer for calculating how many teachers will be in each department, realized at one point that the school would be short at least one teacher after the layoffs. He raised his concerns with Regional Director Susan Dennen and Diocesan School Superintendent Joseph Casciano but was rebuffed. At one point Beviglia was called to a meeting with Casciano expressly “to make sure he was on the same page” regarding Milz.
Beviglia also urged the diocese to find a way to keep Milz and George because they were both good teachers and taught higher level courses. George had created a course only he could teach because of his experience, and Milz had taught Advanced Placement history. At one point, Beviglia suggested Milz be kept on part-time to continue teaching the advanced placement class, but Casciano said “If he’s gone, he’s gone.”
The union issued a statement contending Milz had been targeted in 2007 when the diocese “created a ridiculous, one-of a kind method of determining seniority and placement” which put Milz “at the bottom” despite 33 years experience. “The rest of the scenario was put into play at the end of the last school year by increasing class size, reducing student electives and increasing teachers’ workloads in order to say that Milz’s job was eliminated in order to ‘run a leaner school.’”
The union contends the diocese “lied to the public” and “conspired to cover up” the plan to get rid of Milz, “Leading to the cavalier decision to terminate” George. The union calls for the resignation of Casciano, Dennen, Redington and Bishop Joseph Martino, but argues Beviglia “should be seen as a hero, the only administrator in this sordid affair with a shred of integrity.”
The union also contends this proves Catholic teachers need the legal protection afforded public school teachers through the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act. The state Supreme Court has ruled Catholic teachers do not fall under the law, but State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, has introduced a bill to amend the law and eliminate that exclusion.
Sharon Hourigan, one of the leading members of a group called Parents Supporting SDACT, echoed the union sentiments, and stressed that Beviglia only spoke after she had contacted him in May “because there were rumor’s going on about Milz termination.” Hourigan said Beviglia spoke to her several times and “was always on the up and up and never really wanted to get in the thick of it. I really believe he had the kid’s best interest at heart.” Hourigan said she felt Beviglia “pretty much confirmed that there was a plan” to get rid of Milz.
Parent Matthew Martin said that Hourigan had asked him to hear Beviglia’s story as well. Martin echoed much of what Milz claims Beviglia said. “I was appalled,” Martin said. “On the surface it looked as though (Milz) had been targeted, but you never really want to believe it until someone comes out and confirms it.”
Redington denied the charges. He confirmed that Beviglia does the scheduling of classes and teachers and makes recommendations to the principal, but “it’s up to the building principal, the system director and the superintendent to make a collective decision on staffing needs based on the numbers.” Whether the school needed seven or eight teachers in a given department isn’t the only issue. While eight teachers “might be the ideal,” Redington said, the administrators sometimes must consider “if we can make it work with seven, or seven and a half. That’s the way the process works.”
Redington also said “we’re dealing with layoffs and that’s a very cautious and delicate issue, and hopefully it’s done with respect and concern because you are affecting people’s lives.” When it is done, it’s base on four criteria set up last year: seniority within the regional system (without letting teachers cross between high and elementary schools), teaching certification, religious certification and a letter from a priest saying a teacher is a Catholic in good standing, or a comparable letter for a non-Catholic teacher.
Attorney William T. Finnegan, president of the regional school board that oversees Luzerne County schools, confirmed earlier this week that the board had suggested the diocese consider more criteria than those four when placing teachers, but Finnegan stressed those recommendations stemmed from suggestions by parents after the layoffs were announced earlier this summer. Finnegan said the suggestions were in no way related to Milz case or the union debate, and noted that teachers were involved in creating the seniority system currently in use.
Redington said bringing Milz back part-time to teach Advanced Placement would have required ignoring George’s higher seniority. He also said George was never promised he would get his job back, and that there is no way of knowing if another teacher would be needed until sometime in August when enrollment is firmer.
In fact, Redington said, “Mr. Casciano told (George) that the diocese would honor the early retirement package in his case.” George had missed a May deadline to apply for the package, but “because of his longevity” Casciano offered it to him.
Redington also said he had never heard of a plan to lay off one teacher form each department, or had heard any comments from Casciano insisting Milz was “out” for good. “There was no conspiracy,” Redington said.
Regarding the contention that the salary for an extra social studies teacher had been kept in the budget, Redington said “the budget is a work in progress,” and, like the staffing needs, can’t be finalized until sometime in August.
The diocese issued a statement repeating the criteria used for seniority in determining which teachers were laid off and calling the accusations “the latest salvo in SDACT’s misinformation campaign against the bishop and the diocese. &hellip The diocese stands by its actions and will continue to communicate the truth.”
The statement says “the number of teachers needed is based on enrollment and course selection,” and that “because of enrollment declines and course selections, eight teachers were laid off” at the end of the school year. Milz and another social studies teacher were laid off “because they had the least seniority in that department.”
The statement repeated the diocesan position that “if additional positions are needed due to attrition or enrollment increases,” teachers who had been laid off “will receive first consideration” for any openings.
Martin said the public needs to understand the larger significance of the ongoing dispute in the Catholic school system. “This is a major issue as far as I’m concerned which could affect the general taxpaying population.” Noting that Dallas and Crestwood School districts are facing costly construction projects to relieve crowding in their schools, Martin said that if the Catholic school system suffers too much it could collapse and “the public school system cannot handle the sudden influx” of students that would result.
“I don’t think people who don’t have kids in Catholic schools understand how much money is being saved by people like Sharon and me paying to send our children to Catholic schools.
“That’s why it’s so critical that this situation gets resolved.”
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