Teachers’ Response to School Board’s Full Page Article &  Paid Ad in September 13^th Mendota Reporter

 

 

• We do not have a problem attracting quality teachers – we have a very difficult time keeping them.  This year we had nine new teachers.  The year before that we had seven.  This “revolving door” prevents continuity in instruction and familiarity in the classroom and is not in the overall best interests of our students.

 

• We are very much in favor of raising the salaries of beginning teachers.  We are, however, opposed to the unfair and arbitrary methods by which the school board has proposed to go about it.  The school board wishes to do away with our current salary schedule – one that has been in existence at MHS for over 20 years.  To resolve the problem of low pay for beginning teachers, the school board needs to raise the base salary.  This will distribute compensation among all teachers fairly.

 

• The school board has portrayed us as being unreasonable and greedy.  In truth, our negotiating efforts are not focused on “getting more”; we are simply struggling to keep what we currently have.  With few exceptions, the items the school board wants us to agree to involve taking something away from us.  They propose cutting our pay, providing us with less time to work individually with students, reducing our health insurance, and lessening our retirement benefits.  We are confused as to how this will achieve their goal of attracting new teachers. 

 

• During contract negotiations three years ago, Dr. Vercimak gave a lengthy presentation at a school board meeting, warning the public that the teachers were going to bankrupt our school district.  His prediction was unfounded.  Three years later we still have over $3 million in reserves.  The offer that we have made is affordable to the school district and does not require a tax increase.

 

• The school board and administration wish to cut in half the amount of time we have to meet individually with students who need extra assistance and contact parents regarding student concerns.  Instead of helping students study for tests or finish homework, they want us to patrol the parking lots, monitor hallways, and check bathrooms – none of which improves student performance or state test scores.

 

• The school board and administration are seeking to fine/penalize teachers who resign their positions at the conclusion of a school year – whether it be to stay at home and raise their young children, care for elderly parents, or take advantage of job opportunities elsewhere.   The school board has proposed that teachers who resign during the summer be forced to pay back 5% of their annual salary as a punishment for leaving. 

 

• The school board’s inflammatory and dishonest articles/ads in the newspaper do little to promote a spirit of cooperation.  Comments from our school board members such as,  “If we are lucky enough to get a good teacher …” and “If we are paying the teachers to be at school, they might as well be doing something.” are misleading, hurtful, and unnecessary.  They cause irreparable damage to relationships that have taken years to build and do little to advance the negotiating process. 

 

• We do not want to strike and contrary to what the school board thinks, we are not trying to punish the community. We are fellow taxpayers, parents, neighbors, and friends.  Many of us have high school students whose education and extra-curricular activities will be impacted as well.  The fact that we are willing to put our own children’s lives on hold, go without paychecks, and risk losing our jobs should speak volumes as to how unfair and unreasonable the school board’s contract offers have been. 

 

• In a Mendota Reporter article dated 8-23-06; Mr. Prusator was quoted as thanking the board for their vote of confidence and show of support in extending a new contract to Mrs. Aughenbaugh and him.  What was not mentioned is that the principal and superintendent’s contracts do not expire until June 2007. The financial details of their new contracts are not being disclosed at this time.  As teachers, we are frustrated that the school board would finalize unexpired administrative contracts, while letting teachers begin the school year without a contract.  We are asking that the same vote of confidence and show of support that was extended to our administrators be extended to us in the form of a fair contract offer.