The Indiana Education Employment Relations Board has ruled against the Richmond Education Association in its complaint alleging unfair labor practices by Richmond Community Schools, closing the case at the agency level.
REA, which represents district teachers, originally filed its complaint in June 2023 after the school board approved supplemental stipends and salary increases outside the usual collective bargaining process. REA argued that approving payments without negotiation violated state law.
A hearing examiner for the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board ruled April 2 that the school district did not commit one kind of unfair labor practice. The examiner concluded that because the district used money left over from the prior year’s education fund—not funds earmarked for the upcoming year—it did not violate bargaining laws.
A second part of the complaint related to whether RCS committed an unfair labor practice by interfering with, restraining, or coercing school employees in the exercise of their guaranteed rights according to state law. That complaint had so far been unresolved, leaving the case open.
On April 10, REA requested dismissal of that remaining count so it could focus on appealing the earlier ruling. Hearing examiner Erin Lahr granted the request April 16, dismissing the second claim with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled.
REA then filed a formal objection to the examiner’s recommended order, sending the matter to the full Indiana Education Employment Relations Board. After hearing arguments from both sides on Aug. 13, the board issued its decision Sept. 2.
In its final order, the board affirmed the hearing examiner’s findings and dismissed the union’s complaint. Board chair Neil Pickett signed the ruling, which said the case will not receive further consideration through IEERB. If the union wants to continue pursuing the matter, it must seek judicial review in state court within 30 days.
WWN reached out to REA for comment but did not receive a response before press time.
A version of this article appeared in the September 24 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.