Some parents in RSU 21 are voicing frustration with what they see as a lack of communication and transparency by the superintendent and school board. School officials say they understand parents are frustrated with remote learning, have increased communication and are planning for five days of in-school instruction in the fall. Post file

Kennebunk Arundel Kennebunkport Educators Association, the teachers’ union that represents educators and specialists employed by RSU 21, filed a complaint against the school board Tuesday, Sept. 24.

The complaint formally accuses the school district of engaging in a prohibited labor practice, violating the rights of its employees under state labor laws.

The union and the board have been in negotiations for a new teacher contract since December, and teachers began the school year without a contract.

In its complaint, association alleges that the district’s school board bargaining team has interfered with ongoing negotiations.

Teachers’ association negotiating team member Sheila Wells said the team is placed at the center of scrutiny for not “tango-ing” fast enough, referring to a statement made by school board chair Lesley Stoeffler last week.

“The school board team members have shown poor judgment and symptoms of emotional distress in the extreme,” Wells said. “The KAKEA team is here to work and has been standing in the ballroom waiting while our dance partners occupy themselves by insulting our membership and defaming our character.”

The Kennebunk Arundel Kennebunkport Educators Association complaint stems from a public outburst by Kirstin Shapiro, the board’s chief negotiator, during an emergency meeting on Sept. 19.

During the public comment period designed to give community members a chance to speak, Shapiro alleged teachers are “terrorizing” her family through her daughter and threatened legal action.

“On multiple occasions, educators in this district have used my 4-year-old daughter to retaliate against my family,” Shapiro shouted with tears in her eyes.

Shapiro offered no evidence to support the allegations, and no complaints have been reported regarding teachers or employees who work in the schools.

According to a statement of facts submitted by the teachers’ association to the Maine Labor Relations Board, “on information and belief the Association believes these allegations are untrue and as such represent an attempt by the school committee through its negotiations chair to interfere with ongoing negotiations and coerce the Association to capitulate to the Board’s last proposal made June 6, 2024.”

Parents in the district were stunned and outraged by Shapiro’s comments last week.

“I can only imagine the pit in their stomachs and the anxious sleepless nights my neighbors and friends are experiencing, all while putting on a brave face for our kids,” parent Melissa McCue-McGrath said.

Attempts to reach Shapiro were unsuccessful.

McCue-McGrath also said that while teachers still do not have a contract, the district rushed to hire a new HR director after former director Scott Harrison left the district in a fiery email.

“There is no urgency when it comes to our teachers, and yet, our HR director can be rushed in at the 11th hour, despite immediate and justifiable pushback from the community,” McCue-McGrath said.

Other parents in the community reacted to the complaint on Facebook, with many parents and residents calling for a complete overhaul of the school board.

“I’m hoping actions are swift and this goes all the way to the top,” parent Dorothy Gregoire wrote.

In a statement responding to the teachers’ union’s claims against the district, Stoeffler wrote, “These allegations are false. We are currently engaged in a formal mediation process with KAKEA, which we entered in good faith. Our focus remains on fair negotiations and reaching a mutually beneficial agreement through this structured, impartial process.”

But teachers’ association negotiators do not agree.

Ellen Jardine, a teacher in RSU 21 currently serving as an association negotiator, said the board chose representatives who are “unsuited” to the job.

“Positive negotiations must start with good negotiators,” Jardine said.

Contract negotiations will continue despite the complaint, teachers’ association President Jen Swan said, but teachers and specialists must be treated with respect.

“We will not allow the district to trample on the rights of educators who work tirelessly for the students and families of this community,” Swan said. “Our focus remains on achieving a fair contract and creating a safe, supportive environment for all.”

Last week, Stoeffler told the Post that because the teachers’ association made a complaint against one board member, not the entire board, she does not believe the accusation is valid.

Stoeffler also said the board intends to have negotiations with the association regarding the teacher contract, which “have progressed to the point of being in the midst of mediation,” continue to succeed.

“We do not want any further delays in agreeing to a new contract for our teachers,” Stoeffler said. “We value our teachers and the school board negotiations team have worked tirelessly to bring the contract to a successful conclusion.”