Staff at troubled charter school decide to join union

Teachers and staff at a troubled St. Paul charter school have voted to join the statewide teachers union. Union officials say educators at the Community School of Excellence voted overwhelmingly to join Education Minnesota.

The 128 teachers, education assistants, clerical, food service and maintenance staff can formally join the union once the results are certified by the National Labor Relations Board.

The school's leader and founder, Mo Chang, has faced accusations in the last year that she's mismanaged the school and caused turmoil among employees. Staff members and Education Minnesota also filed unfair labor action complaints against Chang.

The school is the second charter to join Education Minnesota. In January, the Twin Cities German Immersion School in St. Paul also voted to join Education Minnesota.

Earlier this week the board chair of the Community School of Excellence said school officials did not believe a unionization effort was the best way to help the school handle its challenges.