Southern Door Teachers Unite at School Board Meeting
Teachers
in the Southern Door School District united January 28 to bring their contract
concerns to a school board meeting.
Approximately 150 teachers, parents and community members from the Southern
Door School District came to the meeting.
Southern Door School Board President allowed the group only 30 minutes
to raise its issues during the meeting. After the time was up, Klein warned,
"If you don't be quiet, you'll be asked to leave."
The teachers have been working without a contract since June 31, 2001.
In August, the school board filed an interest arbitration petition that
stated the two sides were at an impasse. The teachers would have liked
to have reached a voluntary settlement but haven't been able to because
of the board's action, said Steve Bousley, local association president.
A mediation session was held in early January. Southern Door School District
teachers asked to meet face-to-face with the school board, but the request
was denied. Instead, the board recommended a 6- to 12-cent raise per hour.
That would give teachers between $90 and $180 salary increases for the
2001-02 school year. The board offered no raise for the 2002-03 school
year, citing the rise in insurance costs.
Teachers also asked the board to create a committee to explore a mentoring
program, develop an athletic committee to look at inadequacies, and approved
use of up to three of 10 sick days to care for sick children. The board
denied all three requests.
The teachers have already participated in several job actions, including
writing letters to the board and local papers, wearing buttons, and talking
to parents about how issues are impacting the children in the district.
The school board has settled a contract with the administrators. Under
the agreement, administrators will receive 3.8 % to 4 % salary increases.
Posted January 31, 2002; Updated January 6, 2002