IEA calls out school management groups’ disinformation campaign, attempt to keep false accusations in educators’ permanent records

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Education Association (IEA) is working to pass Senate Bill 2914 this session, a bill that would put an end to a long-time practice of school administrators keeping accusations that have been proven false in an educator's employment record.

IEA seeks safe public schools for every student and every school employee and supports accountability for misconduct. This bill includes a right to challenge issuance of the warning, or allegations in the warning, to the school board and allows the facts to be reviewed by a non-biased third party, if necessary.

School management associations, including the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators, Large Unit District Association, Illinois Principals Association and others have launched a disinformation campaign against the bill.

"Think about this: School management is fighting to keep false accusations against educators in their permanent employment record. No wonder we have a teacher shortage. No teacher deserves their career and reputation taken from them based on unsubstantiated, faulty claims," said IEA President Karl Goeke.

The bill does the following:

• Seeks to ensure that when a Notice to Remedy is used, the allegations included in the warning are factual and substantiated. It does NOT change current practice in issuing a warning or limiting management's decision-making authority on addressing misconduct.
• Keeps students safe. These warnings are issued for behavior that is considered "remedial," and are not intended as an avenue to address misconduct that impacts student safety. If misconduct rises to the level of student safety, it is NOT impacted by this bill.
• Allows a non-biased third party to assess the allegation to prevent frivolous cases and hold everyone accountable. Arbitration is not the goal, but is necessary when a warning cannot be supported by fact. The cost of the arbitrator will be split between the union and the district and NOT on the district alone.

"We ask lawmakers to support this bill, which applies a reasonable application of due process," Goeke said. "Every school employee should be given a right to challenge the issuance of a warning or an allegation with their own school board. And, if necessary, to have an unbiased, trained third party review the claims. If deemed not credible, those false accusations should not follow a person for their career. That's patently unfair."

The bill passed out of a House committee last week on a 7-2 vote. It is awaiting a vote on the House floor.

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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state's largest union. IEA represents Pre K-12 teachers outside the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.