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Teachers speak out on collective bargaining

T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS A group of teachers from across the Marshalltown Community School District attend Monday’s school board meeting to show opposition to the district’s collective bargaining proposals for teachers.

Several Marshalltown Schools teachers gathered at Monday’s school board meeting to voice their concerns about the district’s collective bargaining proposals.

Negotiations between district administration and the Marshalltown Education Association teachers union have been going on for the past few weeks, with each side coming with very different ideas of what should be negotiated at all.

“Very few teachers will tell you that they got into the profession for the money,” said Miller Middle School teacher Katie Mayotte. “Rather, we should focus on what the district is willing to collaborate on. If one of their goals is to truly foster a trusting environment … then they should establish communications that give teachers a voice.”

She and other teachers said their voices are not being heard by district leaders. Specifically, they were concerned about the district not wanting to negotiate about items that are permissive, but not required, under Iowa Code Chapter 20, which was severely restricted by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2017.

Permissible items that can be negotiated include salary schedules, grievance procedures, seniority and much more. Instead of having such items put into the teachers’ union contract, district officials are calling for those items to be placed in the employee handbook.

“Removing permissive items from the contract and placing them into a handbook is making many of your teachers nervous,” said Miller Middle School special education teacher Anita Ringgenberg. “Instead, by keeping permissive language in the contract, the district can show a positive, trusting relationship with us.”

The employee handbook is controlled by district administrators and, ultimately, the Marshalltown School Board. While teachers could share their thoughts on any proposed changes to the handbook, they have no official say on decisions about rules in the handbook.

Another concern teachers had was about the period in which this year’s negotiations should be valid.

“The MEA proposed a multi-year contract so that our district didn’t need to go through the hurdle of a recertification election every year. These recertification elections require both time and energy from both the MEA and the district,” said Lenihan Intermediate School teacher Alex Klyn.

He said the district’s proposal of a one-year contract would require such recertifications. Klyn said the time and energy put into that process would be better spent on students.

District Human Resources Director Anthony Spurgetis said district leaders held meetings with the teachers union on April 22 and April 29. The next meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Marshalltown High School media center.

That meeting will be held in exempt session as allowed under Iowa Code to hold collective bargaining negotiations.

The next Marshalltown School Board meeting is set for 5 p.m. May 20 at the Central Administration Office, 1002 S. Third Ave.

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Contact Adam Sodders at

641-753-6611 or

asodders@timesrepublican.com

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