"A REALLY BAD WAY TO START A YEAR." SOME ROCKWOOD TEACHERS ARE EXPRESSING MISTRUST AND FRUSTRATION OVER THIS CHANGE TO DISTRICT POLICY
After a drop in morale last spring over what they called low pay, and then a new contract agreement that included raises, some Rockwood teachers say they *were* hopeful for a better relationship with the district this school year.
Until an email they just got from administration.
The email notified them of several changes, including a new regulation that's been added to the district's Staff Conduct policy.
WARNING?
Teachers are concerned it's a veiled warning to NOT do what they did last spring: gather before school to hold signs asking for raises, and other activities that drew attention to their pay and feeling undervalued.
Teachers are concerned it's a veiled warning to NOT do what they did last spring: gather before school to hold signs asking for raises, and other activities that drew attention to their pay and feeling undervalued.
NEW RULE: NO "DISRUPTIVE" ACTION
It appears, new regulation 4843.2 essentially prohibits teacher pushback that could be noticed by other staff or the public. Although teachers are already not legally allowed to go on strike in Missouri, 4843.2 specifically mentions strikes, walkouts, interruption of work, and "any other practice that disrupts the school environment or interferes with district operations."
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WHAT HAPPENED LAST SPRING
Negotiations with the district were contentious last spring, prompting the before-school gatherings. To reinforce their concerns, the union encouraged teachers to stop doing work outside their contract (that they weren't paid to do), as well as to leave their positions on committees for which they had volunteered.
QUICK CONTEXT: 20th VS 7th
Rockwood's teacher's union also released salary data showing Rockwood teacher pay ranked 20th among the same area school districts where the district superintendent's pay ranked 7th. Rockwood's administration disagreed with the accuracy of the union's data.
Note: The before-school gatherings with signs were called "Coffee at the Curbside."
This Rockwood teacher told us: "They came up with this to get back at teachers for Coffee at the Curbside. It is 100 percent to scare teachers to never again question the (school) board."
Note: The recent email to teachers states that "Cabinet members" approved the new regulation. "Cabinet" refers to the Superintendent's Cabinet. (Rockwood's school board approves policy. Regulations are rules that direct how the policy is carried out.)
INDIRECT THREATS?
Other teachers say the the wording in the regulation comes across as indirect threats. The regulation mentions that the district is authorized to get an attorney to seek court intervention and reads, in part: "Any employee participating in disruptive acts will be deemed to have engaged in a serious violation of board policy, will be considered excessively and unreasonably absent from duties, and may be terminated or otherwise disciplined. The board may also seek revocation of an employee's license(s)."
Complete wording of the regulation is enlarged for easy reading at the bottom of this post.
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| One of several photos on Rockwood's teacher union Facebook post March 1, 2025. |
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| Another photo on Rockwood's teacher union Facebook post March 1, 2025. |
MORE TEACHER REACTION TO THE NEW REGULATION:
"Seems a really bad way to start a year."
"I feel it is another way the district lies and manipulates. They said the last two months of last year they wanted to build our relationship back. And then this."
"Seems illegal for them to make these threats."
"Seems like the district is really trying to break up the (R)NEA."
Note: Teachers requested that we not use their names, out of concern for their jobs.
PARENTS
Parents we talked to had not yet heard of the new regulation. One said she would never have known about the teachers' salary concerns if they had not held signs and informed the public.
THE DISTRICT
It is not clear if the district is aware of teacher reactions to the new rule.
We will update.
We will update.
AGREEMENT
Last spring, the district and Rockwood's teacher union did finally reach a pay agreement that gave them raises for two years, but left the typical third year of such an agreement up for negotiation.
For more on the agreement, see our previous report.
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REGULATION WORDING IN ENTIRETY:
"The board is committed to peacefully resolving labor issues, but the board will not hesitate to act if district operations or the student learning environment are disrupted. No employee shall engage in any strike, walkout, work slowdown, stoppage or interruption of work, work-to-rule, boycott, refusal to cross any picket line, sit-down, sit-in, walk-out, sick-out, concerted refusal to work or any other practice that disrupts the school environment or interferes with district operations. This prohibition includes sympathy strikes or other disruptive actions taken in support of a different bargaining unit in the district or elsewhere.
In the event of a disruption, the superintendent or designee is authorized to contact an attorney to seek court intervention, compensation or any other recourse in accordance with law. Any employee participating in disruptive acts will be deemed to have engaged in a serious violation of board policy, will be considered excessively and unreasonably absent from duties, and may be terminated or otherwise disciplined. The board may also seek revocation of an employee's license(s). Employees will not be disciplined for actions protected by law.
During a strike, work stoppage or other disruption of the district, all employees are prohibited from using paid or unpaid leave unless the leave is required by law or unless the employee provides evidence satisfactory to the district of the need for the leave. The board also reserves the right to revoke previously approved vacation leave, personal leave or other optional leaves.
The superintendent or designee is directed to develop an emergency plan to be used in the event of a strike, work stoppage or other disruption to the educational environment. The superintendent or designee may reassign employees as necessary to keep schools operating and may hire replacement employees in accordance with law. If necessary, the superintendent may close schools with the understanding that all education facilities will be reopened as soon as practical."
In the event of a disruption, the superintendent or designee is authorized to contact an attorney to seek court intervention, compensation or any other recourse in accordance with law. Any employee participating in disruptive acts will be deemed to have engaged in a serious violation of board policy, will be considered excessively and unreasonably absent from duties, and may be terminated or otherwise disciplined. The board may also seek revocation of an employee's license(s). Employees will not be disciplined for actions protected by law.
During a strike, work stoppage or other disruption of the district, all employees are prohibited from using paid or unpaid leave unless the leave is required by law or unless the employee provides evidence satisfactory to the district of the need for the leave. The board also reserves the right to revoke previously approved vacation leave, personal leave or other optional leaves.
The superintendent or designee is directed to develop an emergency plan to be used in the event of a strike, work stoppage or other disruption to the educational environment. The superintendent or designee may reassign employees as necessary to keep schools operating and may hire replacement employees in accordance with law. If necessary, the superintendent may close schools with the understanding that all education facilities will be reopened as soon as practical."
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| Regulation 4843.2 as seen on Rockwood's website, under Board Docs. |
FROM THE EMAIL TO TEACHERS
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| We added the red circle to highlight the regulation at issue. Note: "Cabinet members" refers to the superintendent's cabinet. |