SIMI VALLEY : Mediator to Hear Teachers’ Grievance

Simi Valley school officials said Wednesday that they will hire a mediator to settle a grievance brought by two teachers who were denied paid leave to protest at the Ronald Reagan Library opening.

Supt. Robert Purvis said that because of the publicity surrounding the grievance, district officials thought that a mediator would be the best way to settle the issue.

Charles Brown, a retired assistant superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District, was being considered as the mediator, Purvis said.

No date has been set for a hearing.

Susan English of Hillside Junior High and Kenneth Butts of Sequoia Junior High filed the grievances Nov. 12. The physical education instructors said at the time that it was unfair for the district to pay other teachers who took a “personal necessity day” on Nov. 4 to participate in library dedication ceremonies while denying them the same privilege.

At least five other teachers attended the ceremonies.

Unlike their colleagues, English and Butts skipped the library celebration to join a group of demonstrators protesting against Reagan’s economic and civil rights policies.

English and Butts could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

The contract between the district and its teachers stipulates that teachers cannot take personal necessity days for vacation, recreation or to pursue personal business for profit. Teachers are allowed up to six personnel necessity days a year.

School officials have said that they do not believe English and Butts are qualified for paid leave based on the reasons that they listed for their absences.

Bill Davenport, president of the Simi Valley Educators Assn., said he was pleased with the district’s decision to request that an independent party hear the teachers’ complaint.

“I think it’s a good move,” he said. “This way we get an unbiased approach to the problem.”