Pine-Richland teachers union issues no confidence vote of school board majority

Members of the Pine-Richland Education Association issued a vote of no confidence in the school board majority Wednesday night.

Accoridng to a news release from the association, concerns have been growing among educators and community members since 2023 when they fielded attacks from the board on social emotional learning and guidance counselors.

“The work of our counselors at every level has become more difficult since covid, and they’ve worked tirelessly with students and families to support their evolving needs,” said PREA President Chris Vins in the statement. “At a time when counselors deserved recognition from our board, they were instead met with disrespect and efforts that added more challenges to their work.”

The release also cited the board’s recent push to ban books and “implement harsh library policies, despite pleas from the public urging the board not to pursue these actions.”

“It is telling that the first we have learned of this supposed action by the PREA is from media outlets. Our first priority, as always, is the education, safety and welfare of our students,” said school board President Phil Morrissette in a statement to TribLive. “This is what drives this board daily and will continue to do so. We will not be drawn into a public spat and argument over a press release that we learned of through the media. We will have no further comment.”

Association members hope the no confidence vote invokes movement toward a change of morale and culture in the district.

“The bottom line is we deserve support and respect from those elected to represent the best interests of the students, staff and our school district community. Unfortunately, actions over the last year taken by a majority of the board of directors does not reflect that support or respect,” Vins said.