Selma teachers drop unfair labor claim, saying district won’t change foggy day schedule

The Selma teachers union withdrew its unfair labor practice complaint after the district reversed course on planned changes to the district’s foggy day schedules.

Last week, the Selma Unified Teachers Association claimed Superintendent Marilyn Shepherd “unilaterally changed the schedule.”

Union leaders said Shepherd should have worked with teachers and community members before making the change that would have only delayed school start times on foggy days for students riding buses. All other students would be required to start school at the standard time.

Shepherd couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

“For the safety of our students, staff and school community, we are pleased that this policy has been put back in place,” said David Wright, President of SUTA. “We are in the midst of the foggiest time of year, and this policy, which has been in place for decades, has allowed us to prioritize safety without compromising on student instructional time.”

The decades-old foggy day schedule allows the delay of school start times until 10 a.m. and extends the end of the school day when the Tule fog is thick, allowing commuters to postpone travel until driving conditions improve.