NANTICOKE — The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ruled that Greater Nanticoke Area School Board and district administration did not violate the state Public Employee Relations Act in suspending and dismissing a teacher aide who took a leave of absence after the leave request was denied. The teacher was later re-instated without back pay following a separate arbitration hearing.
According to the written decision from the PLRB, the case centered on a Dec. 20, 2017 request by Pamela Aftewicz for an unpaid leave from March 21 through March 28, 2018. Superintendent Ronald Grevera granted that request, but the trip was canceled and Aftewicz worked the requested days.
On Oct. 23, 2018, Aftewicz submitted another request for unpaid leave for Dec. 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12 of 2018. She purchased airline tickets thinking the request would not be denied. But Grevera denied the request and Aftewicz was unable to get a refund for her ticket. Grevera warned her that if she left, he would recommend her termination to the school board for insubordination and job abandonment. She went on the trip and missed five days of work.
Grevera suspended her without pay Dec. 12, 2018 and recommended dismissal. The board voted to dismiss, without providing the employees name, at the Jan. 10, 2019 public meeting. The PLRB noted Aftewicz attended the meeting but left “immediately following the vote because she became upset.” The ruling includes a lengthy quote from Board President Tony Prushinski regarding his opinion that it was rude of people to leave school board meetings once they began.
As the Times Leader reported, Prushinski said “Do they have a right to walk out? Absolutely. But it is rude.” He added that he would always speak against such behavior when it occurs.