The Shadyside Education Associate is filing an unfair labor practice charge against the Shadyside Local School District Board of Education.

The charge was filed Friday with the Ohio Employment Relations Board on Nov. 3, according to a statement from the SEA. That was Election Day in Ohio - the same day Shadyside voters rejected a 5.4-mill renewal levy to cover the costs of "emergency requirements" in the school district. School officials expect to lose more than $500,000 through the loss of the levy.

The SEA charge states that on or about Oct. 28, 2009, Superintendent Terry Brinker, "through statements to the media, disseminated information regarding specific bargaining proposals that had been exchanged between the parties during their negotiations over a successor agreement."

The SEA also charges its bargaining representatives were circumvented, and that Brinker engaged in public bargaining and direct dealing with employees - a violation of Ohio law.

Calls made to the Shadyside Locals School District offices beginning just before 3 p.m. Friday were unanswered.

Larry Falbo, president of the Shadyside Board of Education, spoke on behalf of the board.

"It was a bad time for this thing to come to surface," he said. "They could have waited until after the election, and we could have worked things out with teachers. It is a bad situation, and we'll have to wait to see what happens."

Falbo did not wish to comment on the unfair labor practice charge.

"These negotiations have been very difficult," said Jeff Mamone, chief negotiator for the SEA. "It doesn't help things when the superintendent unlawfully resorts to releasing specifics of bargaining, while at the same time distorting the real effect they would have on teachers' salaries and school programs."

SEA president Linda Tomer said the teachers "would like the posturing to end."

"What is needed is for Superintendent Brinker to concentrate his efforts on achieving a fair and equitable contract with Shadyside teachers," she said.