By Frank Wells
Three teachers, including two of the school's founding members, have been illegally fired by Journey Charter School in San Clemente for their attempts to organize themselves and their colleagues as a union.
Veteran teachers Stephanie Edwards, Paola Schouten and Marlene Nicholas were accused of trespassing and told to pack up and leave when they arrived for work on the first day of school.
All noted for their leadership within the school, the three had no history of performance problems. During the past year, several staff members had raised concerns over school management, fiscal irregularities and the school's failure to adhere to laws governing the conduct of public agencies. During this time, Journey teachers met with a representative of CTA to discuss the possibility of representation, as CTA represents teachers at several California charters. Following those meetings, the teachers decided to organize their own union chapter and seek union representation.
In response, the teachers were told by interim administrator Rainbow Rosenbloom that joining a union "was not a good idea." Following a secret meeting shortly thereafter, Edwards, Schouten and Nicholas were told by Board President Bas Mulder they "did not fit in."
Edwards and Schouten, in their roles as school founders and lead teachers, had hired many of the other staff at the school. Several staff members have left the school since the power grab by Mulder and Rosenbloom.
"We were devastated to be ousted from the school we founded together five years ago in my home," says Edwards.
The three teachers have responded to their illegal terminations by filing an unfair labor practice charge with the state's Public Employee Relations Board. CTA is representing them.
"Bad apples like the Journey School really hurt the efforts of legitimate charters," says CTA Board member Tom Conry, who serves on the State Advisory Commission on Charter Schools. "Such retaliation against teachers is not only unfair and unprofessional, it's unlawful."
Conry is optimistic that the incident will draw the scrutiny of the Capistrano Unified School District, which is scheduled to consider renewal of the school in February. "Hopefully, they will look at these highly questionable management practices and take appropriate action."
The school could be closed down if the district determines that it has failed to adhere to its charter, has exhibited fiscal irresponsibility, has engaged in illegal practices, or has failed to improve student performance.
It is also likely that Journey will face action by PERB over the firings.
"I love this school and these kids," says Schouten. "It's not right that the current governing board is now making secret decisions that involve taxpayer money and our public schools."