Pearson fires teacher on lengthy leave

The Lester B. Pearson School Board fired a teacher for breach of contract after she did not show up for work at the start of the new school year.

It was an unusual yet necessary move, said Pearson chairman Marcus Tabachnick.

The teacher, who had been informed of the board’s plan to dismiss her before commissioners voted on the matter at their last public meeting, did not respond to the notice. The teacher in question had been on a leave of absence for several years and was told this summer she must report back to work, which she did not respond to, either.

“Considering the time, she was off for several years, it was a reasonable request (to have her return to work)),” Tabachnick said, adding the board followed proper protocol to determine she was able to return.

“It was an extended period and we had to hold her post while she was on leave,” he said. “This (move) permits us to offer someone a full-time posting. It was not fair to other teachers. A lot of teachers work by year. A leave of absence is OK, but after a number of years, we had to take affirmative action.”

The teacher had been on leave due to some medical reasons, said Pearson Teachers Union president John Donnelly, adding the union would not be contesting the dismissal. “The insurance company also determined her availability to come back to work,” he said, adding the union had not heard from the teacher in about six months prior to the board’s decision. “It was nothing to do with competence (in the classroom),” he said. “She just didn’t physically want to come back. This case is certainly an exception.”