The Derby Public Schools nurses and paraprofessionals union has filed a grievance concerning disciplinary actions taken against a teacher’s aide at Bradley School.
According to Colleen Ezzo, a staff representative for the union, paraprofessional Cindy Murano had never had a negative evaluation until the first half of the 2011-12 school year when she was unable to provide toiletry care for a special education student in her classroom.
Ezzo presented the grievance to the Derby Board of Education Thursday at a meeting at the middle school.
The board then held a lengthy executive session on the matter but was unable to resolve it.
Interim School Superintendent George Tanner said because of a personal matter, Dr. Lois Knapton, director of special education, was not able to attend this week’s meeting to answer questions.
He expects the board will hold a special meeting next week with hopes of resolving the issue.
Ezzo said the union objects that school administrators changed the duties of the paraprofessionals when they required Murano to provide personal care for the student that previously had not been required.
Murano attempted to comply, but Ezzo said she had an emotional reaction that kept her from doing it.
Initially, administrators accused Murano of insubordination. When the paraprofessional submitted a doctor’s note describing her actions as involuntary, Ezzo said she was subjected to other reprisals and eventually to disciplinary actions.
Ezzo said that Murano’s cooperating teacher had no objections about her performance, and that the mother of the special education student said her child had improved while under Murano’s care.
My comment would be in the form of a question.
I understand that Mrs. Mairano was removed from
the class she was working in.This was done despite the childs parent requesting she be allowed to continue with this special education child as he was improving.My question is was this done in the best interest
of the child,or to satisfy a personal vendetta
the principal has because of the other child with the toiletry problem?
Clearly after Ms. Murano handed in a note releasing her of this duty is when the retaliation from administrators began. Why did she go from receiving good evaluations to a negative evaluation? Was she ever spoken to about any “concerns” by administration BEFORE her evaluation giving her an opportunity to improve? Was she ever written up for these “concerns” AFTER being spoken to and given the opportunity to improve? As a union steward for 14 years, it is clear to me that administration is 100% at fault here. Have they ever heard of “progressive discipline?” I believe the answer is obvious here. You don’t go from being a model employee to a negative/disciplined employee because you were unable to perform one of your job duties. (If the original issue even was one of her duties!!) SHAME ON THIS DERBY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR DEMONSTRATING SUCH DISREGARD AND HURTFUL BEHAVIOR TOWARDS ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES!! TERRIBLE!! JUST TERRIBLE!!
First of all I want to correct the article, to make it known that Mrs. Mairano was the para for one specific child (child A), and it was another child for whom she was not the para for (child B). Child B had the issue that resulted in this situation. It was Child A’s parent which said her child had improved while under Mairano’s care. Child B did not have a para at the time, therefore Mrs. Mairano was using her time with Child A to “take care of” Child B. The article makes it seem as if there was only one child involved and I wanted it to be known that there were two children. Mrs. Mairano had no problem aiding the child she was hired to be with (Child A), it was the issues with Child B that she had reactions to. Mrs. Mairano should have been able to continue being the para for Child A, as it was the parent’s recommendation and there was no issue with her performing the duties she was hired to do. I hope that this issue is resolved and that neither teachers nor paras are retaliated in a school that I personally love so much and have so much respect for the staff that works hard to provide for our children.
Well said Chantal. As I understand it, every teacher, para, etc. who attended this meeting had his or her name written down and some folks were even asked why they were there. Last time I checked we all lived in the United States of American and had the FREEDOM and the RIGHT to Assemble. Retaliation is NEVER the answer or the solution. Hopefully this will be settled and no further unacceptable behavior on the part of the school administration will occur.
Please excuse my comment above–error. I would like to say that I’ve always had the utmost respect for this school and people such is Mrs. Mairano are why. She was amazing w/both children and parents in the classroom last year. This is very sad to see but glad people are standing up for their beliefs/rights. The paraprofessionals are an integral part of the experience in the school system.
It is a sad day when someone as well loved and regarded as Cindi Mairano is subjected to such unfair treatment. Cindi has always gone above and beyond to help all of her students. Anyone that knows Cindi and her work can tell you how devoted she is to her students. It is obvious that she has been unjustly targeted.
It’s not right that Ms. Murano should be asked to provide toileting care for a student in the first place. I don’t see how that would even fit in as part of the job description. Would not the school nurse, or a special assistant to the student help out with that if there is a problem in which the student can’t take care of it himself? Clearly after reading this article it seems to me that the principle is singling out Ms. Murano by insisting she take on this chore that is outside of the scope of her job, and not even her student. Very unprofessional of the principle to behave in such a manner. I hope Cindy Murano fights this as far as she can take it because there is a terrible injustice being done when a para professional with a clean work history is suddenly getting written up because she is not able to assist a student with toileting problems. Perhaps the principle should grab the toilet paper roll and pitch in instead of forcing her employees (who are taking time away from other students)to do it. Don’t back down, Ms. Murano – you are 100% right to fight this. The principle herself should be investigated and reprimanded if she can’t handle school issues with an unbiased and fair attitude.
While interning for Bradley Elementary school for my Masters Degree in Education, I worked along Ms. Mairano on a daily basis. Never did I once see any signs of negligence or disregard for any student’s needs or requests made by the head teacher. Those traits are not a part of her character. Anyone who works along side Ms. Mairano will see that she treats her students as though they are her own children and resolves issues in a professional manner. Her emotional character should not be seen as a sign of weakness or unprofessionalism. Instead, it should be embraced that someone truly cares about students and sees this profession as a very special calling.
It’s situations like THIS that have since turned me away from a career in teaching and I have no intentions to pursue this career avenue anymore and THAT IS SAD. The previous comments “hit in on the nail” when they ask questions about the process of releasing her from her duty. The school system has chosen to act before asking questions and show no loyalty to an employee who has given years to the school system and has touched the lives of many students.
I really hope this gets resolved because she truly is an asset to the students, teachers and school
As a member of a special education team in another state, I am surprised to find that there was not a plan in place to provide for the unique needs of this child prior to these incidences. If there was no plan in place to anticipate this situation, surely a team should have convened to discuss a plan after the first or second such incident. The plan should have been agreed upon by all parties and should have provided for the proper cleaning of this child by the appropriate staff members. The “appropriate staff members” should have these duties clearly outlined in their job descriptions. If I were Mrs. Mairano I would be concerned about future reprisals or accusations that could be leveled on her for undertaking such a task without prior procedural guidelines put in place, for example – who will witness the cleaning, etc. It is admirable that she attempted to perform this duty at all for a child who was not assigned to be under her direct care. I also think that although it is within the authority of a principal to make changes, such as those this principal made to Mrs. Mairano’s schedule and grade assignment, it is very suspect that these changes occurred only after Mrs. Mairano was unable to perform this task. One of the most important duties a principal has is to foster an atmosphere of learning and safety for both students and staff. Neither should feel threatened in any way. It is obvious that Mrs. Mairano has been targeted and that this principal has failed to provide this climate for at least one of her staff members. I have read the above comment mentioning that the names of the folks, who came to the Board of Education meeting to support Mrs. Mairano, were written down by this principal. Are these the next targets? Are there other grievances already filed by other staff? WOW! I am marching right into my principal’s office tomorrow to thank her for being so supportive of me and my contributions to my school!
Peg Haynes
It sounds like the principal is trying to seek revenge on Mrs. Murano for filing a grievance. Her focus should be on what is best for the children, not on punishing a staff member who was just trying to do her job to the best of her ability and when she couldn’t, tried to get help. She should have applauded Mrs. Murano for her efforts and provided support. Hopefully, the next dedicated employee who crosses the principal will not be a target.
I’ve been a paraprofessional for 10 years and have seen those in my profession go above and beyond the call of duty. Cindi has been one of them. We as paras love children, and our student’s success is our main objective. I have every confidence in our Union to help us resolve this matter. Virginia DiPaola
Ms. Murano was a para in my daughter’s classroom last year and she did a great job. My daughter started school a little bit shy and Ms. M as she called her, really helped her break out of her shell.
As for the issue at hand. If Child B needs special assistance with toiletry, that has got to be difficult for the child. When they show up at the nurses office, they should get the help they need from the nurse and not have to wait for a para to be pulled out of a classroom. I would think the school nurse who has medical training would be in the best position to handle this anyway. Leave the Para’s in the classroom where they belong.
Derby schools currently have a significant task at hand. Provide a quality education to our children that produces better test results than we are turning out today at a lower cost. This is going to require a collective effort by our Board of Education, School Administrators, Union Representatives and a Superintendent which has yet to be identified. This should be where our efforts are focused, not who takes care of special health needs of a child. We don’t need special procedures, grievance hearings and the like, we need good decision making,common sense and protect the dignity of the child in need. I was a special needs child once. Not a need like this one, but I was aware enough to know I was different. Do you think this child sits in the nurses office, waits for the office staff to track down a specific para and does not think “wow, I am different and nobody wants to help me”. Do not underestimate a special needs child’s awareness of their need. Protect them, and do what makes sense. I rest. Thanks Ms. M for all you do.
Don’t give up the fight, Cindy.
The Para is well within her rights to file a grievance. She was not hired as the one-on-one para for this particular child. The child in question should have his or her own para, and the job description needs to include toileting. This is not included in the overall description of special ed para. Toileting isn’tfor everyone. If this para has an involuntary physical reaction to it, this should be respected. It was not her responsibility to toilet this child in addition to the one-on-one responsibilities she had to the child she was assigned.
I worked with Cindi a few years ago at Bradley School and she always went above and beyond her duties as a Para.
Even though Cindy was overcome by the physical impact, and unable to perform this duty, the administrator wrote her up for insubordination, and told her to keep doing it, and not to “deviate” from the schedule.
This was not only an unreasonable directive to the para… but what about the student? How were they impacted- knowing that they were the cause of making someone sick? Didn’this situation require a better solution for all concerned?
And the nightmare continues… its my understanding that Cindy was again given a warning by administrator… this time for arriving a couple of minutes (literally)late to class because a teacher stopped to talk to her about a student.
If Ms. Murano never had any problems before this incident and now it appears that she is being targeted with harassment after filing a grievance, shouldn’t the administration be held accountable? I agree with Barbara, we all have the right to grieve, and it’s sad that this person is allowed to harass her unfairly.
Listen… Once your in the cross hairs your all done. Obviously she’s now a target. But as usual she did nothing wrong. The administration has it in for her. Even the Mother of the child indicates the child is improving under her care, but she still gets nailed anyway. Watch out for the old being late for class trick to load up your file. WAIT !!! I smell something cooking. Hum!!!! Smells like Lawsuit!!
Hello My name is kettely Florian a old friend of Cindy Mairano she is the most caring person that I know and love the job that she beheld for the past if i am right 15 or 18 years. I myself being a Pre-Kindergarten Teacher for the past seven years if you don’t have the heart and love for children you can never be a Teacher Aide or PPreschoolTeacher just to let you out there know we don’t get paid enough for what we do. Cindy don’t give up keep up the fight. I know anoenoughu love your job and these that you care for. May the Lord Bless you and your Family.