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Kristina (Carey) Moore likely will teach chemistry next year after the Churchill County School Board has rejected her grievance.
The grievance focused on whether she could be transferred from the agriculture to the science department and whether she gave her consent for that to happen.
What affected Moore, Tuesday night, was being out of town and not available to attend the grievance hearing.
Churchill County Education Association President Margie Villanueva contended the reassignment wad not voluntary, as policy states those must be done in writing. Moore did not put anything in writing.
"Mrs. Moore did not want to be reassigned to science," she said. Villanueva added. Churchill County High School Principal Robbin Pedrett was trying to fill a position that did not exist.
In opening arguments, Pedrett informed the board she was going to discuss the facts of the reassignment.
She said Moore verbally requested to her and others in March she be transferred to the science department. Pedrett added that being qualified in science put this teacher in high demand to teach this subject.
"She asked me (about this), and I said 'what a wonderful idea,'" Pedrett said.
The CCHS principal mentioned several e-mails were sent to Moore to see if she changed her mind. Those messages were never returned. Moore in a letter to the school board said she failed to respond out of fears her words would get twisted and used against her.
Pedrett called four high school employees to testify Moore verbally asked to be reassigned to chemistry.
Not knowing Moore had a change of heart, Pedrett said she proceeded to look for a replacement teacher for vocational science.
Villanueva said she understands the problems the high school is having in finding science teachers, but added Moore should not be made a scapegoat.
"We are not here to discuss the woes of hiring science teachers," she said. "The focus tonight was (whether) Kristina Moore involuntarily transferred from vocational agriculture to chemistry."
In Pedrett's rebuttal, she said there is no paperwork available for reassignment purposes. She said Moore is a top-notch teacher and will be in whichever classroom position the board places her.
Trustee Lou Buckmaster asked Pedrett why she did not go see Moore after the e-mails were not answered.
Pedrett said in hindsight, she should have spoken to the teacher.
"I did not do it because I did not think I had to," she said.
Trustee Paul Hinz wondered why Moore chose not to answer the e-mails, mentioning if she had, the issue could have been resolved much sooner.
"This is a lack of miscommunication," he said.
Board member Tom Riggins also felt one response to the e-mails would have let Pedrett know Moore did not want a transfer.
"Our determination was to give her what she wanted." she said.
Board member Dave Ash wondered why Moore did not attend the meeting telephonically. He added the letter written by Moore appears to imply there was a vendetta between the two. However, a letter of recommendation from the principal on Moore's behalf made the teacher "look like a saint."
Agriculture teacher Courtney Dahl said there is some clear animosity between the two employees.
"There is a feeling there is some very bad blood between them." he said.
Pedrett disagreed, saying Moore was one of her students in her teaching career who baby-sat her children.
She said the letters of recommendation she wrote show the type of teacher Moore is Pedrett added she would recommend her to any district.
Board President Greg Koenig also wished Moore had been at the meeting to answer questions.
Board member Lou Buckmaster said what concerned him are the welfare of the students Moore has taught, adding students think the world of her.
Ash said usually the transfer requests should be put in writing. However, in this case, both sides admitted there was a request.
Board member Ron Evans said he has to go by the rule that requests needs to be in writing. Riggins pointed to Nevada Revised Statue 288.150 that reads in part a transfer can be done to help a program. Hinz said the situation is more muddled because of the difficulty in finding science teachers to come to Fallon.
After the board voted 4-3 with Koenig, Buckmaster and Evans in dissent to reject the grievance, Villanueva informed the trustees the CCEA would be moving the process to the arbitration level.
Koenig asked Villanueva to check with Moore to make sure she wants to proceed to the next level.
"She wants to move forward," the CCEA president said.
The board then voted 5-2 with Buckmaster and Evans in opposition to approve the hiring of Jack Garrett to take over Moore's agriculture science position, though the agenda incorrectly stated he would be the agriculture mechanics teacher.
"That's my job," Dahl told the board.
The grievance focused on whether she could be transferred from the agriculture to the science department and whether she gave her consent for that to happen.
What affected Moore, Tuesday night, was being out of town and not available to attend the grievance hearing.
Churchill County Education Association President Margie Villanueva contended the reassignment wad not voluntary, as policy states those must be done in writing. Moore did not put anything in writing.
"Mrs. Moore did not want to be reassigned to science," she said. Villanueva added. Churchill County High School Principal Robbin Pedrett was trying to fill a position that did not exist.
In opening arguments, Pedrett informed the board she was going to discuss the facts of the reassignment.
She said Moore verbally requested to her and others in March she be transferred to the science department. Pedrett added that being qualified in science put this teacher in high demand to teach this subject.
"She asked me (about this), and I said 'what a wonderful idea,'" Pedrett said.
The CCHS principal mentioned several e-mails were sent to Moore to see if she changed her mind. Those messages were never returned. Moore in a letter to the school board said she failed to respond out of fears her words would get twisted and used against her.
Pedrett called four high school employees to testify Moore verbally asked to be reassigned to chemistry.
Not knowing Moore had a change of heart, Pedrett said she proceeded to look for a replacement teacher for vocational science.
Villanueva said she understands the problems the high school is having in finding science teachers, but added Moore should not be made a scapegoat.
"We are not here to discuss the woes of hiring science teachers," she said. "The focus tonight was (whether) Kristina Moore involuntarily transferred from vocational agriculture to chemistry."
In Pedrett's rebuttal, she said there is no paperwork available for reassignment purposes. She said Moore is a top-notch teacher and will be in whichever classroom position the board places her.
Trustee Lou Buckmaster asked Pedrett why she did not go see Moore after the e-mails were not answered.
Pedrett said in hindsight, she should have spoken to the teacher.
"I did not do it because I did not think I had to," she said.
Trustee Paul Hinz wondered why Moore chose not to answer the e-mails, mentioning if she had, the issue could have been resolved much sooner.
"This is a lack of miscommunication," he said.
Board member Tom Riggins also felt one response to the e-mails would have let Pedrett know Moore did not want a transfer.
"Our determination was to give her what she wanted." she said.
Board member Dave Ash wondered why Moore did not attend the meeting telephonically. He added the letter written by Moore appears to imply there was a vendetta between the two. However, a letter of recommendation from the principal on Moore's behalf made the teacher "look like a saint."
Agriculture teacher Courtney Dahl said there is some clear animosity between the two employees.
"There is a feeling there is some very bad blood between them." he said.
Pedrett disagreed, saying Moore was one of her students in her teaching career who baby-sat her children.
She said the letters of recommendation she wrote show the type of teacher Moore is Pedrett added she would recommend her to any district.
Board President Greg Koenig also wished Moore had been at the meeting to answer questions.
Board member Lou Buckmaster said what concerned him are the welfare of the students Moore has taught, adding students think the world of her.
Ash said usually the transfer requests should be put in writing. However, in this case, both sides admitted there was a request.
Board member Ron Evans said he has to go by the rule that requests needs to be in writing. Riggins pointed to Nevada Revised Statue 288.150 that reads in part a transfer can be done to help a program. Hinz said the situation is more muddled because of the difficulty in finding science teachers to come to Fallon.
After the board voted 4-3 with Koenig, Buckmaster and Evans in dissent to reject the grievance, Villanueva informed the trustees the CCEA would be moving the process to the arbitration level.
Koenig asked Villanueva to check with Moore to make sure she wants to proceed to the next level.
"She wants to move forward," the CCEA president said.
The board then voted 5-2 with Buckmaster and Evans in opposition to approve the hiring of Jack Garrett to take over Moore's agriculture science position, though the agenda incorrectly stated he would be the agriculture mechanics teacher.
"That's my job," Dahl told the board.
