The Groton Education Association has filed an unfair labor practices complaint against Superintendent Paul Kadri and the Board of Education on behalf of sixth grade teachers, saying the decision to the change student teams and the school schedule increased teachers’ workload.

The complaint, filed Jan. 30 with the State Board of Labor Relations, said Groton’s change to the schedule and its reformatting of sixth grade teams constitutes a “unilateral change of major terms or conditions of employment” and violates the contract between the district and union.

The complaint seeks a cease and desist order to rescind the change and to compel the district to “make whole any teacher affected by said change.”

The complaint stems from a decision made last year to save money by allowing teachers to retire and not replacing them. Groton opted to keep three middle schools open, and Kadri said he reduced the number of teaching teams in those schools to save more than $800,000.

This meant the sixth grade teachers in two middle schools – Cutler and Fitch middle - had to teach about 125 students instead of 100, and therefore an additional core class, he said.

Kadri said a union representative approached him in late fall indicating the sixth grade teachers were working more than they had in the past, and it could constitute an unfair labor practice. Kadri said he tried to reach the representative but he was on vacation, and then he did not say anything when they saw each other next.

Kadri said the complaint was then filed.

“I genuinely don’t see where the violation is, since it’s clear in their contract,” Kadri said. “But they do have a right to file without letting me know.”

Beth Horler, president of the Groton Education Association, said the change of teams resulted in a 25 percent increase in the teaching load of sixth grade teachers. She said the district could have hired more staff but did not.

"The district was given an opportunity to fix the situation and when they didn't come up with a solution we proceeded with the unfair labor practice to protect the teachers and ultimately, the students," she said.

Horler said schedule changes were also an issue.

"It wasn't fair to the teachers and it wasn't fair to the kids," she said.

In October, more than 60 people jammed two school board meetings, saying changes to the middle school schedule had created chaos and disruption in the middle schools.

Under the new schedule, each student takes seven, 52-minute classes, with 30 minutes for lunch. The schedule sets aside at least one block for extra help, enrichment or electives like world language, computer science or band.

Kadri said he drafted it to give teachers more time to collaborate and create time for students to get remedial help or enrichment.

The complaint argues that the number of classes teachers must teach is a mandatory subject of bargaining.

Groton is in the midst of consolidating its middle schools and negotiating with the union to determine teacher assignments.

The school board voted in December to consolidate from three middle schools to two, and to close Fitch Middle School. Student redistricting is occurring now, and is expected to be completed by the end of the month. Teacher placements would follow.