Teachers want to be in the classroom, not on the picket line

Americans by and large have become all too familiar with the term bailout. The government determined it was in the best interest of all to saddle taxpayers with more debt in order to bolster the sagging economy. Locally, this scenario is being played out in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District.

Teachers were unable to engage the district in meaningful contract negotiations prior to the end of the last school year. The district and the school board were able to secure the services of a new superintendent in Dr. Kenneth Burnley. With a new superintendent in place, teachers felt that fruitful negotiations would render both sides a contract that would keep schools open and teachers in the classroom with the students where they belong.

Not so fast.

MSBSD is broke. Teachers have been told by the district, the school board and Dr. Burnley that they do not have the money to keep teachers working. The prior administration has left the district financially embarrassed.

This is the same district that ended the last school year with a $3.4 million surplus. This is the same district that was given $3.5 million by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Suddenly, these funds and more are not available to ensure Valley schools are not only open, but are staffed as well. Ironically, Dr. Burnley’s new contract is the largest ever paid to a district superintendent. In addition to his benefit package, the district may have spent more than $200,000 to buy Dr. Burnley back into the state’s TRS under Tier 1. Director positions at the administration offices have been given extended contracts to begin the 2010-11 school year, despite the apparent financial crisis.

Returning to the taxpayers and requesting more money is not an option. It would be futile to approach borough residents and try to explain the sudden alleged shortfall and ask that new funds be generated for the district. The proposed remedy is to ask the teachers to fund the district bailout. The district wants teachers to sign a contract that freezes pay for two years, cuts health care benefits and strips them of planning time during the workday. Negotiations are all about strategy and getting the best deal possible for both sides. This is no longer the case in the MSBSD.

Unfortunately, the district is attempting to sway public sentiment through comments and articles that imply teachers are unreasonable. Teachers signed contracts at the end of last year in good faith. A belief and trust in the district that a fair and reasonable contract would be negotiated commensurate with past contracts that demonstrate a loyalty and commitment to retaining Alaska’s brightest and best teachers.

This trust has been shaken and the loyalty is in doubt as the district portrays teachers as the cause of the breakdown in negotiations. The truth is simple — teachers want to be in the classroom — not on the picket line. Teachers’ hands are tied as the district refuses to bargain, refuse to bargain in good faith, delay arbitration, mislead the public and build a wall of mistrust.

Thom Richards is a teacher at Wasilla High School and member of the Mat-Su Education Association.