School Board President reports no resolution yet to fate of 5 teachers

After a half-hour, closed-door session before the April 11 regular meeting of the Van Buren Public Schools Board of Education, School Board President Brent Mikulski made a brief statement.
He told the crowd of about 50 that the school district’s attorneys and the representatives of the Michigan Education Association continue to meet. They are reviewing details and, “the parties remain hopeful.”
The five Savage Elementary School teachers removed from their classrooms in December by former School Supt. Michael Van Tassel have been off the job on paid leave for more than 80 days, with substitute teachers filling in.
Although Van Tassel has been removed from his position, the teachers are still out of the classrooms. The board president issued a statement in March that said they would be reinstated after details are worked out between the district attorneys and the MEA.
At the beginning of Monday’s meeting, as the Checks Payable were approved, Board Trustee Sherry Frazier pointed out the district’s attorney bills are approaching $100,000, which is taking away from the instructional budget.