Opinion ID: 2134925
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Grievance of Adler

Text: Lynn Adler (Adler) was employed by District in 1988 as an elementary school counselor. She was given full credit for her one year of prior experience as a counselor working with K-12 children at Summit Oaks but she was only given ten years of credit for her seventeen years of work at the Department of Social Services (DSS). According to testimony by then assistant superintendent Prudence Gushwa (Gushwa), Adler was awarded only partial credit based upon the information that Adler provided regarding the extent of her involvement counseling K-12 children while working for DSS. Adler admitted during her grievance hearing that Gushwa informed her at the time of her employment that she was put on Step 10 on the salary schedule but that she had been informed that the steps did not relate necessarily to the years of experience. There is conflicting testimony as to whether Adler was ever informed that she was not receiving credit for all of her years with DSS. On January 12, 1991, Adler filed a grievance with Superintendent Harris alleging a violation, misinterpretation, and/or inequitable application of the negotiated agreement because the District failed to give her credit for more than 10 of her 18 years with DSS. Superintendent Harris denied the grievance. After hearing the grievance in executive session, Board unanimously denied the grievance. A hearing was held before Department and on October 23, 1992, Department issued an Order granting Adler's grievance appeal and directing District to cease and desist from like interpretation and application of the negotiated agreement. District was ordered to pay Adler back pay and pre-judgment interest and to place her on the proper salary line in conformance with Department's Decision. District appealed Department's Decision and on April 20, 1993, the circuit court issued an Order and Judgment affirming the Order of Department. District appeals. We issued an Order consolidating the appeals on June 7, 1993.