District 622 Teachers, Supporters Rally Outside School Board Meeting

District 622 teachers and their supporters held a rally outside the District Education Center Tuesday evening, and then went inside and packed the school board meeting to demand that the board reach a contract agreement with the teachers.

Workers have been laboring without a contract since April of 2011.

About 80 people gathered before the meeting to grill hot dogs and show their support for the teachers union. Union officers and a state representative also expressed their support.

Paul Mueller, vice president of Education Minnesota, said that working without a contract has meant that educators have not received a raise in almost a year, and the union wants a contract that includes yearly pay increases to keep pace with inflation.

“The 70,000 members of Education Minnesota are with you,” he said to the crowd. “It's time to step up and say 'What about us?'”

State Rep. Nora Slawik (DFL-Maplewood) whose daughter attends Tartan High School, also spoke.

“We are standing with you,” she said. “I want to say to all of you, let's get this over with.”

After the rally, union supporters filled the public comment section of the school board meeting by advocating for teachers.

“It appears to me that the stance of surrendering seniority rights and bidding rights will be a detriment to the education of the children,” said Tom Spoltman. “Teachers are professionals who have long experience, and it would be a benefit to the children to have that experience in the classroom. I would ask that you show [the teachers] your support by negotiating a contract in good faith that shows you value their achievements.”

First grade Weaver Elementary School teacher Jessica Haster said that teachers in the district work many hours over their contracted workweeks. 

"District 622 teachers go above and beyond for their students,” she said.

teacher Vicki Kapaun said several of her friends and colleagues must work second jobs to pay for “regular things.”

“A teacher supporting two children and a stay-at-home spouse would qualify for WIC (a government food support program for low-income women and their children) even though they have a master’s degree and nine years experience,” she said.

The prolonged negotiations are making educators feel disrespected and forgotten, said local educators’ union president Rory Sanders.

“We work hard every day, and most nights and frequently on weekends,” he said.

Board member Nancy Livingston spoke about the negotiating process after the meeting.

“It's a process that we're going through,” she said, “and we're sure hoping that it comes to a successful conclusion. We know that this whole enterprise is about people.”

Representatives of the teachers and school administration will meet with a state mediator on March 28 to continue discussing a new contract.