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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, May 9 Jackson County deputies searching for wanted man after pursuit Medford schools still filling admin roles Amid the drought, Medford's water supplies still ample Nashville singer/songwriter with local ties dies of cancer Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, May 9 Jackson County deputies searching for wanted man after pursuit Medford man sentenced in machete attack Suspect in OSP meth stop will face federal charges Emergency services Politics and Elections Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Education Medford schools still filling admin roles Appeals court rules against Central Point schools on bus outsourcing Hedrick principal to take helm at North Medford High School More kindergartners vaccinated in 2015 Elementary students honor local police officers Environment Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford State News Obama makes pitch on trade deal at Nike: 'Just do it' Forecast for 2015 predicts busy wildfire season Cheers and protest signs greet President Obama in Oregon Oregon Senate OKs bill banning 'conversion therapy' Police: Welsh man traveled to Oregon to have sex with girl Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Dorothy Evans Helen Nadine Sankey Dickie Miles Hayes Nita Day Layne Alan Battenfield Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Crater's Oshiro, Giles qualify for state tourney South Medford splits SWC doubleheader Rose's buzzer-beater sinks Cavs Trio of Raiders shine as CC meet opens Beavers' Moore shuts out Utah, 3-0 Varsity 541 College Sports Trio of Raiders shine as CC meet opens Beavers' Moore shuts out Utah, 3-0 Oregon clinches share of Pac-12 title Ex-Panthers Baldovino, Owirka earn honors In the zone Pro Sports Rose's buzzer-beater sinks Cavs Newman deals with penalties after appeal denied Kelly, Na share lead at Players Championship Four tied for lead at Players Many happy returns for Singler Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories People in Business Business briefs: Avista, Mcintosh, BOLI Blog: 1-800-Flowers.com SEC filing provides peek into Harry & David revenue and cost figures Blog: Mom is Our Hero! 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Search on for new medical provider for Butte Falls, Prospect clinics Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Milestones and Achievements Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest Dancing People Company presents 'Salon Series' Theater REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' 'Much Ado' at SOU Music Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Tina Malia at SOU Music Hall in Ashland Earthquake benefit for Nepal Community Events 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Movies Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Tom Hardy adapts to life as Mad Max Victor D. 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EDUCATION Medford School District calls foul on teachers union Comment By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 11:37 AM Updated Mar 12, 2015 at 4:45 PM By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 11:37 AM Updated Mar 12, 2015 at 4:45 PM » Social News The Medford School District has given the Medford Education Association a virtual wrist-slapping for its actions during a mediation to resolve an unfair labor practice complaint filed by the union in October 2013. The district has filed its own unfair labor practice complaint with the state, alleging that the teachers union did not provide a “good faith offer” during a Nov. 16 mediation session and had published “inaccurate information” on its website about the status of the ongoing litigation. Last fall, after Oregon’s Employment Relations Board issued a final order regarding the October 2013 complaint, board Chairwoman Kathryn Logan recommended that both parties attempt to resolve the issue in a mediated bargaining session, which was held Nov. 16. Both parties later agreed that those deliberations and the mediator's statements would be confidential. But according to the district’s complaint filed in December, MEA representatives submitted an offer but then left the building without waiting for the district to respond, “effectively” ending the mediation session. The MEA, according to the complaint, later issued a public statement to its members that “accused the district of an intentional violation of the good faith standard,” among other things. District officials said Wednesday that the statement has since been removed from the MEA’s website. “I think the overarching reason the district filed is because the board wants to make sure that accurate information gets out to all staff,” said School Board Chairman Jeff Thomas. “And there was communication that went out to MEA membership that, in our opinion, wasn’t accurate and put the district and the board in an awkward situation. “We felt it was important to file the ULP to set a standard of communication moving forward, whether that’s from staff to board or board to staff. If we are going to work collaboratively, then we need to trust that the information is disseminated in a clear and accurate way.” Calls to MEA President Cheryl Lashley were not returned. A hearing before an administrative law judge on the district's complaint will be held on or sometime after April 14, said Mary Barton, the Employment Relations Board’s hearings assistant. Brad Earl, the district’s chief financial officer and one of the two members of its bargaining team, declined to elaborate on the circumstances leading the district to file the complaint. “We don’t want to upset the process,” he said Wednesday. “We’re trying our best to have a respectful discourse with teachers,” he added. “But there are some players behind the scenes that are making it hard.” Thomas said that the complaint has nothing to do with the “rank-and-file teachers” but rather those representing them. “To me, it’s not about an unfair labor practice,” he said. “It’s about setting some ground rules for communication so that all parties get fair and accurate information.” In the complaint, the district asks the ERB to order the union to remove the published statement, to “cease and desist publishing inaccurate information,” to post a corrected statement reviewed by the district, to award a civil penalty of $1,000 and to reimburse the district’s filing fee. The October 2013 complaint filed by the union stated that the district had violated the memorandum of agreement included in the 2011-13 contract. The memorandum recognized that teachers had lost eight work days and the corresponding compensation and stipulated that if the district received additional funding, then those days and teachers’ salaries would be restored in the subsequent year. The district added back four days in 2012-13 and an additional four days under the 2013-16 contract, but there was still money up for dispute. The Nov. 16 mediation session was the district’s and union’s final attempt to bargain over the amount still owed teachers. When that failed, the ERB ordered that the district pay $345,067 to MEA members, who had been seeking up to $729,000. Teachers received their share of the settlement Dec. 24. Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 12, 2015 at 11:37 AM Updated Mar 12, 2015 at 4:45 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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