Rally This Wednesday, June 5th in defense of our most vulnerable students
The Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) represents around 1,100 classified workers in the 4J school district, including educational assistants, bus drivers, and bus assistants who work with students in the district’s special education program. These professionals frequently interact with, and provide support for students who have developmental disabilities, severe medical conditions, and behavioral challenges.
In 2023, OSEA drafted legislation aimed at enhancing services for these vulnerable students. Senate Bills 756 mandate that school districts include Educational Assistants and other staff members who work closely with special needs students in the students’ planning teams, alongside the students’ parents. This legislation was passed and was supposed to be implemented by April 2023. While many districts with fewer resources have successfully integrated these changes into their special education programs, the 4J school district has not.
OSEA has entered interim bargaining to push the school district to implement the legally mandated supports for our most vulnerable students. In response, 4J management has sent out emails barring Educational Assistants from participating in planning meetings and instructing staff not to discuss anything with parents except positive anecdotes about the student’s day. This means that if staff believe there is a problem or need, concerning a child, they are not allowed to share this with the parents. This also means staff are prohibited from informing a student’s parents that the support staff could be included to participate in the planning team meetings to support their child.
Not only has the 4J school district’s management failed to implement these changes as required by law, but by not allowing staff to inform parents of the supports that are available to their children management is actively obstructed the involvement of parents in their child’s education and putting both the child and staff at risk.
These actions are clear violations of the law. OSEA has sent a legal notice to 4J Legal demanding compliance with the new laws and will be informing the 4J school board of managements failure to comply with state law and request that they work with OSEA and parents to ensure that students are getting the supports they need.
The Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network (ESSN) has submitted a public records request for the emails and the legal notice from OSEA and will continue to monitor this issue and urge our members and allies to join the OSEA rally in support of our most vulnerable students and their families at 6pm this Wednesday, June 5th at the 4J Education Center, 220 N Monroe St, in Eugene.
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