Opinion ID: 627142
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jeske's Opposition to Dass's Grievance

Text: Each year, a list of teachers that are classified as a probationary assigned teacher (PAT) [3] is sent to all principals so that the principals can decide which PATs they wish to retain and which they wish to non-renew. The Board's Human Resource Department (HR Department) erroneously misclassified Dass as a temporary assigned teacher (TAT) [4] . Therefore, Dass did not appear on the list of PATs sent to Jeske in the spring of 2006. Declining student enrollment projections for the 2006-2007 school year cost Casals six teaching positions. Dass was one of the six teachers displaced by Human Resources because of being erroneously misclassified as a TAT rather than a PAT. Jeske had no role in the misclassification of Dass as a TAT or the displacement that resulted from that misclassification. Dass filed a grievance challenging the misclassification and displacement. While Jeske eventually learned Dass had been erroneously classified as a TAT, Jeske still objected to Dass's return to Casals. In Jeske's view, if it were not for the misclassification of Dass, Jeske could have non-renewed Dass in the spring of 2006. Jeske sent several emails to the Board's HR Department in which she indicated her desire that Dass not be returned to Casals. One email stated, If Dass is truly a PAT I should have been able to simply non-renew her. Believe me I have tried everything possible to do so. Another email stated, I have the Department of Justice breathing down my back and need to hire a Spanish bilingual teacher before my November 1 audit. Dass contends that these comments, combined with Jeske's alleged comment that Dass should teach on the North Side where the Indian kids go to school and her vigorous opposition to Dass being rehired at Casals, show Jeske's discriminatory intent. The Board agreed that Dass had been misclassified and should be returned to Casals.