Mat-Su teachers deserve a new contract

Spectrum, by Barbara Morris

On Aug. 26, the teachers of Mat-Su officially returned to their classrooms. Many teachers were actually in their classrooms at a much earlier date in order to prepare their lessons and classrooms for the arrival of the Valley's most valuable resource, the children. However, Aug. 26 was a significant date for every teacher in our Valley schools because they returned to work without a contract.

Some in the community may not fully appreciate what this means, but our teachers do. Our negotiated contract with the Mat-Su Borough School Board outlines key elements that determine such issues as school safety, work conditions (including enough and effective planning time to prepare quality education opportunities), as well as our compensation package for the work we do.

I recently read in the paper that the chief school administrator was offered a new and more expensive contract because he is doing a good job. What message does this send the 929 certified teachers who are without a contract? Does this mean the school board doesn't think the teachers are doing a good job? Why does the school board feel it is OK to treat the teachers in this manner? Do they think it is not affecting our lives, our jobs, and our students?

Apparently the school board feels that through their evaluation of the chief school administrator, his performance exceeded their expectations in all areas. How was this evaluation done? Did the board ask for public input? Did they ask the employees of the district? Upon what information did they determine to offer him a merit raise 10 months before his current contract expires while at the same time they tell the teachers they don't merit a contract?

Teachers are working hard. We are a highly educated and qualified group that does an excellent job of offering an education to every child who enters our classrooms. We hold college degrees and are certified by the state. We must renew our certification every five years after completing additional college credits. We have to meet the new highly qualified regulations set forth in the Federal No Child Left Behind Act. Without these qualifications, we can't teach.

Does the public know that the school board changed the job description from superintendent to chief school administrator because our current CSA doesn't have the qualifications for superintendent? Is the school board requesting that he work towards becoming qualified? Without the superintendent's certification, the board must employ an "assistant superintendent" to do the jobs the CSA is not qualified to do.

At this point in time, teachers are focusing on students in their classrooms. Many of us are not volunteering to activities within the school or outside the normal workday, such as open houses. Not having a contract is effecting our jobs, however, we will stay focused on doing the very best job within our classrooms for the children of Mat-Su. We need the community to help us hold the school board accountable for their responsibility to the teachers of this district. It is the teachers, along with parents, who make the biggest difference in student learning. We request concerned citizens continue to monitor and question the actions by the school board that do not serve the interest of children, employees, or our community.

Barbara Morris is the president of the Mat-Su Education Association.