12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 15-21, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Nearly two years ago, Chartwell School received a $45 million donation from Charles “Chuck” and Claire Jacobson’s estate. Chuck, who had dyslexia, was a former board member at the K-12 private school, which focuses on students with dyslexia and other learning differences. Now, a project to expand its campus is one step closer to fruition. “We’re currently in the design and planning phase for a potential campus expansion that would significantly enhance the learning experience for our students and increase Chartwell’s ability to serve the Monterey Peninsula community,” says Danielle Patterson, Head of School. The expansion plan calls for adding five buildings on 59 acres owned by the school in Seaside. The first phase is a learning center, where students would have access to science classrooms and a digital tech lab. The second phase would be a dedicated high school for up to 180 students with personalized classrooms for small classes, a library, athletic facilities, streetlights on Numa Watson Road, plus additional parking spaces. “These facilities would further support the heart of Chartwell’s approach— project-based, experiential learning designed to empower students with complex learning profiles,” Patterson says. The project is expected to take 18 months to complete. It would nearly double the school’s capacity from 215 to 400 students, and the number of faculty and staff from 72 to 112. The expansion project is still pending permits and final approval. The Seaside Planning Commission was scheduled to discuss the project on May 14, but that meeting was canceled and the project will return to the commission for consideration at a later date. Learn and Grow Chartwell School is in the early stages of expanding its Seaside campus. By Celia Jiménez In November 2023, workers at Smurfit Westrock in Salinas voted to switch their union representation to Teamsters Local 856. Days after the election, two of the company’s longtime workers who were active in the campaign were fired. In a filing by Christy Kwon, the regional director for the National Labor Relations Board Region 32, which conducted an investigation after workers filed a complaint with the federal agency, union representatives state they believe the firing was made in retaliation and a way to discourage other workers from getting involved. Around the same time, the employees’ healthcare plan changed, which raised rates for the workers and offered fewer benefits, according to the filing. After a months-long investigation, NLRB staff determined there was enough evidence to support the union’s claims of unfair labor practices. The NLRB has now become the lead prosecutor on the case, and this week, both parties are making their case to an administrative law judge in Seaside. Tuesday, May 13 was the first day of the hearings at the Monterey College of Law, where both parties made their opening statements and began presenting evidence. Earlier in the morning, the courtroom building was empty, save for the attorneys on both sides, the judge and a courtroom reporter. Later in the day, about 20 workers staged a rally at the building, holding signs calling for “affordable healthcare” and an end to “unfair practices.” Westrock manufactures paper and packaging materials worldwide. Its Merrill Street location in Salinas specializes in corrugated packaging, used primarily for agriculture operations. A spokesperson for Westrock says the company typically does not comment on pending court matters. Ritchie Andazola, a negotiator with Teamsters, says the union is seeking reinstatement of the two workers who were fired—Frank Pulido and Jesus Felix. It also wants to see a health plan that is the same or very similar to the previous offering, where the employer paid 80 percent of the premium and the employees paid the rest. Andazola says of the roughly 110 employees at the company, nearly 40 have no medical insurance through the employer because they can’t afford the rates. Others are having difficulty paying for medication for their family members, most of which was covered with no out-of-pocket pay under the original insurance, according to Andazola. In the courtroom, Mark Keenan, the attorney representing Westrock, said during opening statements that it was “impossible” to maintain the same insurance, as the previous union representing the workers, District Council 2, notified the company on Nov. 6, 2023 that it was canceling its insurance immediately. Westrock then put the employees on an interim plan as it negotiated with Teamsters, according to Keenan. Addressing the firings, Keenan said Pulido “berated” a manager as he filed a workers’ compensation claim for his fellow worker, leading to his dismissal. Felix “screamed” and “grabbed” at a District Council 2 representative on site handing out leaflets, Keenan said. (Union representatives dispute that description of the interactions.) The hearings are expected to wrap up by May 16. The judge will then make a decision at an unknown date. Smurfit Westrock employees and others file into Monterey College of Law on May 13, where a judge was hearing a case that alleges the company violated workers’ rights. Boxed Out A trial begins for a Salinas packaging company accused of unfair labor practices. By Erik Chalhoub The proposed expansion at Chartwell School includes improving outdoor facilities, such as a new soccer field. “We are at full capacity on campus,” says Head of School Danielle Patterson. The NLRB has now become the lead prosecutor. DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
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