RCS hear comments from REA supporters, proposes purchase of McBride Stadium

RICHMOND, Ind. — Sometimes you have to stand up for what you feel is right.

That was the message from the Richmond Education Association, both prior to and during Richmond Community Schools' Board of Education meeting last Wednesday evening.

A couple hundred people attended both the rally and school board meeting up through the public commentary, facing the RCS and the school board in support of REA President Kelley McDermott, an RCS graduate and Dennis Middle School teacher.

REA's Initial Statement

On Sept. 6, Richmond Community Schools recommended cancelling the contract of McDermott.

On Aug. 9, McDermott was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. The REA stated on their Facebook page on Aug. 4, as teachers exited Civic Hall following RCS Opening Day addresses, teachers sought guidance from McDermott, who reassured them that REA would "steadfastly work to protect their rights."

The guidance teachers sought stemmed from RCS in May taking "unilateral action to change compensation for teachers for the 2023-2024 school year, bypassing the established bargaining process with REA," per the post.

The REA filed two complaints of Unfair Labor Practices after each occurrence, the first on June 19 and the second on Aug. 19.

REA's rally in front of Civic Hall

Prior to the Board of Education meeting at 5:30 p.m., REA held a rally in front of Civic Hall, with attendees wearing Richmond red T-shirts reading "#standwithmsmcdermott" and holding signs in support of her and REA.

Speakers at the rally were REA Vice President Jay Lee; Jennifer Smith-Margraf, Tecumseh Junior High School Spanish teacher and Vice President of the Indiana State Teachers Association; and Richmond High School social studies teacher and union member Tre Ronne.

"She has been a teacher for 35 years," Lee said of McDermott. "She has never been written up. She has never had a bad evaluation. RCS actions were intended to stifle REA members' voices, discourage teachers from joining our association and to retaliate against our efforts to seek justice through unfair labor practice complaints.

"Let me be crystal clear," he continued. "The Richmond Education Association remains steadfast in defending the REA president and all its members against these unfair attempts to silence our voices."

Smith-Margraf, on behalf of ISTA, began her remarks by saying everyone was there to hold Richmond Community Schools accountable for their actions.

"We understand deeply the importance of collective bargaining rights, and what it means when those rights are violated, she said. "Collective Bargaining is a democratic act where all members are represented equally and have an equal voice in the process to determine their pay and benefits. Collective Bargaining has also ensured that women and are black, indigenous and other people of color are treated as equals at the bargaining table and receive equal pay for equal work."

Smith-Margraf demanded that RCS reinstate McDermott to her teaching position and called on the Richmond community to continue to stand united with REA.

"To the members of the Richmond Education Association," she said, "Know that your ISTA siblings see you, hear you and stand with you and President McDermott. Know that we will not rest until this injustice is corrected."

Ronne then took the podium, speaking about his 10 years living in Richmond, describing his first impression of the city as immediately seeing the potential for the city to thrive.

"In order for Richmond to thrive, we must have a strong public school system," he said. "And in turn, strong schools must have teachers who are dedicated and passionate. And for teachers to be dedicated and passionate, they must be respected and empowered."

Ronne continued, "The framers of the U.S. Constitution were wise to recognize that checks and balances are necessary to maintain a responsible and responsive government. Unchecked, power inevitably leads to uninformed and unwise decisions, lack of trust and harm. The teachers' union serves as a valuable and necessary check on the power of the administration and the board for the purpose of bringing more perspectives into the key decisions that guide the school corporation."

RCS School Board Meeting

Once the rally was finished, everyone in attendance shuffled into Civic Hall, a change of venue from the Administration Building due to the predicted size of attendance.

After sitting and waiting patiently for an hour and 42 minutes, where the school board discussed the community partnershipp between Starr Elementary and First English Lutheran Church, the success of the Homecoming Parade and week and a budget hearing meeting, the crowd of about 200 people erupted into cheers when School Board President Nicole Stults announced that they would be opening the floor to public commentary.

Eight people spoke on the issues surrounding the REA and school board, with teachers, parents and even a former student body president making comments.

Six of the eight speakers ― Penny Schneck, Dixie Robinson, Sam Thomas, Ben Guard, Beth Harrick and Jimmy Freiberger ― spoke as union members, while parent John Wessel-McCoy and former student body president Keith Morey also gave comments.

The school board has a policy, like many other districts in the state, to not respond to public comments at the meeting, though Stults did issue a statement on behalf of the board in a YouTube video posted Tuesday, Sept. 26, in response to the accusations that the REA have made and are currently under investigation.

Following public comments, the couple hundred attendees dwindled to approximately 20, as the meeting continued on for about an hour longer as consent items were passed, including personnel hiring, a preschool stipend, and an eighth-grade overnight field trip to New York City.

One of the final items of business was a proposal from Operations Officer Karen Scalf to purchase McBride Stadium, and along with it, Cate Field. More on the proposal in a future article.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: RCS holds board meeting, REA holds rally for president