Pasco School District has a long history of saying "no." Previous negotiations have gone something like this...
Teachers: We want smaller class sizes and more time for lesson planning.
PSD: No.
Teachers: Okay.
Now repeat this conversation (or one similar) every year for the past 10+ years and you'll have an idea of what it's like to be in union negotiations with PSD. Luckily times are changing in Pasco. Years of working without adequate curriculum, the added burden of standardized testing, and the shock of watching PSD give up state funds offered for reducing class size has teachers fed up.
When this year's team of teachers arrived at the bargaining table they were ready to fight for their students and not take no for an answer. Unfortunately the district's team didn't even show up. That's right. While the teachers' bargaining team came prepared with contract requests in hand, the district team often didn't even show up! And when they did arrive they were unprepared to negotiate and left the table before any substantial work could be done. Saundra Hill is never at the table, and those she sends claim to have no authority to make these important decisions.
The entire summer has been spent this way with no progress made at all. Last week the district left the bargaining table and demanded mediation. A mediator has been assigned, but unfortunately they only have five days available to meet this month. Now the bargaining teams are under pressure to accomplish in only five days what they have failed to do in the past two and a half months. That's a tough job under any circumstances.
With the district's unwillingness to compromise on any issue, they are backing teachers into a corner. The district is counting on teachers to give up and go back to work. Luckily for our students it's not going to work this time. PSD has millions of dollars in reserves that was meant to be spent on books, supplies, added classrooms, more support staff, and so many other important pieces of a successful school district. Saundra Hill should be doing what's best for students by reducing class size, adopting a complete and appropriate curriculum for all subjects and grade levels, and reducing the testing burden on our kids. Sadly, she isn't. Pasco teachers are ready to fight for what's best for all of Pasco's students even if that means a strike. We support them in this effort, and we believe all of Pasco should too.
Unfortunately, this story is true across the sate. First hand experience on a bargaining committee was an eyeopening experience for me on the west side of the mountains. Like all negatively reinforced habits allowed to creep into our society, schools, children, school districts--and don't forget the perpetual and contemptuous legislation endured--we have to first break that cycle in order to force the change. Stay strong Pasco!
ReplyDeleteI worked as a school psychologist in Pasco School District for ten years (2001-2011). I left due to burnout. The role of school psychologist is never easy, but having now had the chance to work in other districts, I can say that Pasco was the most stressful. Pasco was the worst in terms of workload (number of evaluations to do), excessive paperwork, and things like being caught in the middle of building staff and Booth special education administrators when it came to placements of sped students with behavioral problems. It's too bad, because I worked with a lot of good people whom I still miss, but I couldn't stay and maintain my mental health.
ReplyDeleteStay strong, teachers! You deserve a better working environment, and your students deserve a better learning environment.