Union leader put in library position

Teresa Knapp Gordon, president of the Little Rock Education Association union of teachers and support staff, said last week that she has been assigned by the Little Rock School District to the library/ media specialist job at Romine Elementary School.

Previously, the organization’s president has been released from teaching responsibilities during the elected term, with the organization reimbursing the school district for the president’s salary.

The Arkansas Board of Education in late 2019 directed that the school district no longer recognize the association as the contract bargaining agent for the employees and that a personnel policies committee — elected by teachers — be formed to advise the district on teacher employment matters.

The committee recommended that the union president continue to be released from teaching while holding office. Education Commissioner Johnny Key, who acts in place of the district’s board, denied the recommendation from the committee and from the Community Advisory Board. Key is permitting the district to release Arkansas Education Association President Carol Fleming from her job responsibilities in the Little Rock district.