Teachers union to file grievance over misconduct rules

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Providence Teachers Union has prepared a grievance on behalf of the teachers who have been or are being investigated for misconduct, under new reporting requirements of sexual abuse by schools, to the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families.

According to a memo sent last week by PTU President Maribeth Calabro, the grievance will be filed on "behalf of the wrongly accused requesting the disposition of the investigations include that the allegations were/are in fact false and that appropriate action will be taken with the students that have lied/falsified or made up said allegations."

Calabro called for an emergency meeting Monday with Mayor Jorge Elorza, Supt. Christopher N. Maher and others to discuss what she calls a climate of distrust in the schools, with teachers afraid to discipline students for fear of reprisals. Three teachers were placed on administrative leave from one middle school on Friday.

Roughly 50 teachers and administrators have been placed on paid leave during the fall, although the vast majority have been cleared of any wrongdoing, school officials say. 

The spike in allegations is the result of an incident last spring in which school officials did not report to DCYF an allegation of sexual abuse at Kizirian Elementary School. In 2016, the General Assembly added language to the mandatory-reporting law that requires educators to report such allegations within 24 hours.

But no one has clearly defined what a reasonable case of suspected abuse might be, leaving the schools to report cases that DCYF dismisses.

Both Maher and School Board President Nicholas Hemond acknowledge that this has created a burden for schools, teachers and DCYF. They also say that teachers are now fearful of touching a student, even in the most innocuous way, out of concern that it might result in an investigation.

Meanwhile, Calabro, in her memo, urged teachers to attend the Jan. 10 school board meeting and share their stories and concerns.

— lborg@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @lborgprojocom