Striking Albany teachers accuse district of illegal tactics

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Teachers at Greater Albany Public Schools who have been on strike since last week held a direct action against the district Thursday afternoon amid canceled classes.

On Thursday, the teachers' union said they filed a complaint to the Oregon Department of Education, accusing the district of illegally engaging in pressuring parents to agree to Individualized Education Program plans that allegedly had less support for students. Students who have disabilities and need special education are required to complete IEPs each year, according to Disability Rights Oregon.

KOIN 6 News reached out to Greater Albany Public Schools for comment on the accusations surrounding IEP discussions. They have not responded on that issue yet.

KOIN 6 also reached out to the Oregon Department of Education for comment. A spokesperson confirmed that "the agency has received a complaint from a Greater Albany School District employee on this topic."

GAPS teachers assembled in strike lines across 21 schools early Thursday morning before gathering for a solidarity march with supporters in the community at Monteith Park in the early afternoon as part of a direct action.

One demonstrator told KOIN 6 News she thinks students aren't being taken care of and special education teachers are overworked.

"They cannot adequately do their job with the amount of time that they have in a day. And it's not their fault. It's just that they are only one person. And they have so many students on their caseload. I know that we just want what is fair and just and aligns with the law, which the district has not been following," said Samantha Stroop, an English teacher at Calapooia Middle School.

In a video message sent to families, Superintendent Andy Gardner said the district presented two complete deal offers in the past few days, which have yet to be fully responded to. He said the district will continue to serve meals at their schools for students, despite classes not being in session during negotiations. He said the most significant areas of disagreement include class sizes and prep time.

On Wednesday, the teachers' union said a community member started a petition calling for the district school board to resign — citing dysfunctional leadership — which gathered 1,000 signatures in its first 24 hours.

The teachers' union said the direct action on Thursday afternoon culminated in educators, parents and community members marching together from Monteith Park to the district office where they dropped off 1,000 yellow pencils at the doorstep to represent the signatures.

The district said that over the weekend they made "significant movement" toward an agreement with the teachers. However, the teachers' union described mediation as "prolonged" and they lay the blame on the district.

Amid the negotiations, the district canceled classes this week, through Friday.

The union acknowledged an agreement was made in the health and safety section of the contract but said that was the only movement in the mediation with the district in a few days.