Classified employees gave Rim school board trustees and school administrators a surprise visit at the Sept. 12 board meeting, held at Lake Arrowhead Elementary School, protesting what they said was an unfair taking of hard-earned vacation hours by the district.

Around 20-plus employees waved signs demanding the district return vacation hours they said were lost during last year’s contract negotiations. Five employees addressed the trustees, with some saying the district had negotiated in bad faith while others said they hoped trustees would work to return cut vacation hours.

District officials later told The Alpine Mountaineer that classified employees received a 1.5 percent salary increase and a reduction in furlough days as part of those multi-year contract talks, and that terms of the new contract were presented to members by the union’s leadership and that the members voted to accept the new contract. As a result of the new contract, district officials said the vacation hours savings represented about $300,000 a year to the district. Trustees said the issue would be looked at. (Photo by Mike Harris)