Board denies Teamsters’ grievance over vacant secretary position

The Suffield Board of Education voted 8-0-0 on March 16 to deny a grievance filed by Teamsters Local 671 challenging the district’s handling of a vacant 12‑month secretary position.

Teamsters Local 671 representatives Nick Frangiamore and Bryan Chong, accompanied by Teamsters steward Charlene Flagg, told the board they believed the vacancy should have been posted and expressed concern about duties being redistributed outside the bargaining unit. The union said seniority provisions in the collective bargaining agreement were not observed.

Superintendent Matt Dunbar, supported by the district’s legal counsel, told the board the vacancy resulted from a resignation, that no layoffs occurred, no new or part‑time positions were created, and that the district acted within its management rights while evaluating operational needs.

After closing the evidentiary presentations, the board recessed into a cleared-room nonmeeting to discuss the grievance (MOTION #26-57). The board returned and on MOTION #26-58 voted to deny the grievance, stating there was no contractual violation. The minutes record the vote as 8-0-0.

The decision did not include an order to post the position; the board declined relief sought in the grievance and recorded that no employee lost employment in the district’s operational changes.

The minutes indicate the nonmeeting began following the motion on the grievance and concluded before the board’s public vote. The minutes are subject to approval at the Board’s April 6, 2026 meeting.