Elmbrook Teacher Ask for 'A Decent Contract Offer'
Elmbrook
teachers and their supporters participated in a candlelight rally and
then crowded into the school board meeting room Tuesday (February 12,
2002) to protest lack of progress in their contract negotiations.
Elmbrook is in eastern Waukesha County and includes
the communities of Elm Grove and Brookfield. Like teachers in more than
300 other communities in the state, Elmbrook teachers have been working
without a current contract since last June.
At the board meeting, Elmbrook Education Association
President Marge Watzke made the following statement to the school board:
Teachers Deserve More
Parents, students, administrators, school board members, fellow citizens.
You are here today because you value high-quality education and have
dedicated yourselves to improving the opportunities for Elmbrook students.
We Elmbrook teachers are here for the same reasons. There are more than
570 families represented here; 291 of which are experienced teachers who
have gone eight years without a cost-of-living pay increase.
Last Thursday, on February 7th, Dr. Gibson thanked us for our dedication
and called us "heroes" and "heroines" in the struggle
for the "common good" and "continuous academic improvement."
He said our main goal is to develop students to reach their "fullest
potential." We have done the best we can.
In Waukesha County, we are on top for lowest dropout rate, highest graduation
rate, highest WKCE sophomore test results, and highest ACT test scores.
We always beat the state ACT average by several points and Wisconsin has
been among the highest in the nation for years. Clearly, students and
parents have worked to make Elmbrook the envy of most districts in the
state. But teachers have struggled mightily in this endeavor as well.
In spite of the strangulating effects of revenue caps and the QEO, Elmbrook
teachers have given their time and talents inside and outside the classroom
to help put Elmbrook on the map. We are known nationwide.
You have expected a good, even excellent job from us, and we have done
our part. In return, we expect our salaries to at least stay even with
inflation; some salaries have, but not ours. Cooks, custodians, and secretaries
were given a 3.1% salary raise this year. Our administrators received
salary increases ranging from 2.5% to 4.45% and our superintendent's salary
was raised 4.1%. We have been offered much less.
Do you really want teachers who are in front of the class, but "resigned"
inside due to low morale? We have cause for plenty of concern. Already some
math, science, and language arts scores are below 80% proficiency and are
being "monitored."
Like you, we are stakeholders in the future of Elmbrook. Dr. Gibson told
us there must be "adult engagement before there can be student engagement."
The question is, how can you MAINTAIN adult engagement with such low pay,
regardless of what the law says ?
All of you must consider the effects of 1% raises on the teaching profession.
Already one-third of your staff has walked out the door, taking hundreds
of years of experience with them. Are we to understand that our district
can no longer afford the highest quality dedication of career educators?
Recently, at one of our EEA meetings, a young teacher asked, "what
can we do about the QEO situation, "simply quit"? His response
belies what many young teachers are now thinking.
The Elmbrook School Board absolutely HAS to give Dr. Gibson more than words
to challenge our teachers. If you want teachers to keep striving for improvement
by taking self-funded college courses, working late correcting papers, and
spending countless hours on weekends away from spouses and family, you MUST
grant an offer that rewards, not punishes. Teachers are dedicated to meeting
the physical, emotional, and academic needs of your kids day in and day
out.
Eight years is too long to wait for a decent contract offer. Two entire
high school classes have come and graduated since we had a cost-of-living
increase. We've done our part, now we need help from you. There's nothing
else for us to do but stand firm.
Resource page on the Qualified
Economic Offer law
Elmbrook Education Association
Web site
Posted February 14, 2002