Court Opinion

ID: 9745760
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 13:30:56.560868+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:04.429650
License: Public Domain

GARRARD, Judge,
dissenting.
I agree with the hearing examiner and the trial court judge and, therefore, I respectfully dissent.
IC 20-10.1-9-21, set forth in footnote 2, provides for the textbook advisory committee. In Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corp. v. Roberts (1980) Ind., 273 Ind. 449, 405 N.E.2d 895 our supreme court held that the exclusive representative of member teachers must be permitted to appoint at least some of the teachers to the committee.
On the other hand, textbook selection is not a mandatory subject of bargaining. It is an item for discussion only. I totally disagree with the majority's characterization *375that permitting the school corporation to appoint other teachers to the committee results in any deck stacking. The exelusive representative is certainly entitled to input and participation, and it can accomplish that with one member on the committee or all the teacher members or some number in between. It is the representative's viewpoint that is being voiced, not that of the individual members it appoints.
I would therefore find that the IEERB has exceeded its statutory authority in its interpretation and that the school corporation committed no unfair labor practice. I would affirm.