Our goal is to reach a fair agreement at the negotiations table – an agreement that protects and enhances the quality of education for all students.
There are four major issues in dispute.
There are four major issues in dispute.
Response to Intervention (RTI) – The Association believes that RTI can be an excellent program for those students needing additional
assistance, but RTI is not currently being run properly in the school district. Class sizes are much too high for quality instruction. Not all RTI students are being taught by licensed and qualified teachers, and that is not fair to the students or the district staff. This is not quality education.
The Association has proposed that RTI class sizes be reduced and that only licensed, professional teachers be assigned to serve RTI students,
just as they currently serve all students.
Outsourcing Bus Drivers – The Association believes student safety is paramount and the daily transportation of students is an essential part of the educational process. Professional bus drivers who are directly employed by the school district are the only way to ensure student safety and cost effectiveness.
The school district currently employs high quality bus drivers who have a proven track record of safety and service. Our current bus drivers know the roads and the routes. They also know how to manage the challenges of weather, country roads and changing schedules. Ultimately, the school district works hard to keep transportation costs down and to make no profit from bus transportation.
If the District outsources part, or all, of the transportation department, company bus drivers may not be from our community, they would not
know the roads, would not know the families, and would not be hired, supervised or evaluated by district administration. Local control of the transportation of students would be lost to a private company that seeks to maximize its profits on the backs of taxpayers. Once the routes are
lost to the private company, the district would not have the financial means to reinstate its own transportation department even if they wanted to, due to the initial high cost of equipment. The private transportation company would be free to raise prices at will, with no taxpayer recourse.
Professional Development – The Association believes in quality professional development for teachers that is properly planned in advance.
Teachers welcome meaningful professional development that is not haphazard and does not unnecessarily disrupt the continuous quality instruction for the students.
The school board is proposing a greater number of student early release days for professional development than what has been scheduled in the past. While this is well-intentioned, the end result would be even more disruptive to students, families and continuous quality instruction.
The Association proposes a fewer number of professional development days, with students being released earlier on those days. That way, families can plan for fewer days of early release, which would also make it easier to find alternative childcare coverage. In addition, students on reduced or free lunches would have a fewer number of days without meals. Teachers, then, would have a longer block of time to concentrate on professional growth and learning.
Disciplinary fairness for all employees (Just Cause) – Employees who are unfairly accused of wrongdoing should have the right to review their situation in front of a neutral third party. Right now in the school district, that right is extended to all Association employees except teachers.
The Association is proposing that this “just cause” standard be applied equally to professional educators, so that they, too, have a right to a fair
hearing.
assistance, but RTI is not currently being run properly in the school district. Class sizes are much too high for quality instruction. Not all RTI students are being taught by licensed and qualified teachers, and that is not fair to the students or the district staff. This is not quality education.
The Association has proposed that RTI class sizes be reduced and that only licensed, professional teachers be assigned to serve RTI students,
just as they currently serve all students.
Outsourcing Bus Drivers – The Association believes student safety is paramount and the daily transportation of students is an essential part of the educational process. Professional bus drivers who are directly employed by the school district are the only way to ensure student safety and cost effectiveness.
The school district currently employs high quality bus drivers who have a proven track record of safety and service. Our current bus drivers know the roads and the routes. They also know how to manage the challenges of weather, country roads and changing schedules. Ultimately, the school district works hard to keep transportation costs down and to make no profit from bus transportation.
If the District outsources part, or all, of the transportation department, company bus drivers may not be from our community, they would not
know the roads, would not know the families, and would not be hired, supervised or evaluated by district administration. Local control of the transportation of students would be lost to a private company that seeks to maximize its profits on the backs of taxpayers. Once the routes are
lost to the private company, the district would not have the financial means to reinstate its own transportation department even if they wanted to, due to the initial high cost of equipment. The private transportation company would be free to raise prices at will, with no taxpayer recourse.
Professional Development – The Association believes in quality professional development for teachers that is properly planned in advance.
Teachers welcome meaningful professional development that is not haphazard and does not unnecessarily disrupt the continuous quality instruction for the students.
The school board is proposing a greater number of student early release days for professional development than what has been scheduled in the past. While this is well-intentioned, the end result would be even more disruptive to students, families and continuous quality instruction.
The Association proposes a fewer number of professional development days, with students being released earlier on those days. That way, families can plan for fewer days of early release, which would also make it easier to find alternative childcare coverage. In addition, students on reduced or free lunches would have a fewer number of days without meals. Teachers, then, would have a longer block of time to concentrate on professional growth and learning.
Disciplinary fairness for all employees (Just Cause) – Employees who are unfairly accused of wrongdoing should have the right to review their situation in front of a neutral third party. Right now in the school district, that right is extended to all Association employees except teachers.
The Association is proposing that this “just cause” standard be applied equally to professional educators, so that they, too, have a right to a fair
hearing.