Teachers demand seat at douglas county school board table
Douglas County teachers are escalating their push for a collective bargaining agreement, arguing it’s a matter of respect and vital to attracting and retaining educators in a district grappling with attrition. The move, fueled by years of strained relations with the school board, has ignited a debate over local control versus teacher advocacy, with passionate voices on both sides filling recent school board meetings.
A history of disconnect
For over a decade, the Douglas County Federation (DCF), the teachers' union, has been without a formal bargaining agreement with the school district. The existing agreement expired in 2012 under a previous board, a decision that, according to DCF President Lucy Squire, has left teachers feeling undervalued and unheard. The current board is now considering a mill levy override, a ballot measure that would provide a 4% salary increase – still below what neighboring Jeffco Schools offers – but it does nothing to address the fundamental issue of teacher representation.
“This isn’t a labor negotiation; it’s a political operation,” declared one concerned citizen at a recent DCSD Board of Education meeting, echoing a growing sentiment among parents and educators. The absence of collective bargaining means teachers lack a formal mechanism to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions, leaving them vulnerable to unilateral decisions by the district.
The union's plea
The DCF’s recent presentation to the board outlined a clear path forward: recognition as the bargaining representative and the initiation of a collaborative agreement-building process. Squire emphasized that the union’s goals extend beyond salary increases, seeking a platform for teachers to contribute to policy decisions and address concerns about classroom conditions. “We’ve grown a lot since the last election,” Squire stated, highlighting a renewed sense of unity and purpose within the teaching ranks.
The district, meanwhile, faces persistent challenges in attracting and retaining qualified educators, with many teachers opting for positions in neighboring districts with collective bargaining agreements and a perceived sense of stability. The impact of this instability is felt not only by teachers but also by students, whose learning environment is disrupted by frequent turnover.
Board response and lingering questions
While board members appeared receptive to the conversation, questions remain about the potential impact of collective bargaining on district flexibility and performance. Board member Brad Geiger pressed the DCF on how a CBA would improve test scores, a key metric for the district. DCF representatives countered that there's still substantial room for improvement and that teacher input could be instrumental in achieving those gains.
The board's decision to review current policies and seek clarification on existing practices reflects a cautious but potentially promising shift in attitude. However, the DCF has already encountered obstacles, reporting being restricted from using district email for union communication and receiving inconsistent guidance regarding the use of school facilities for meetings – a chilling effect that fostered a “culture of fear,” according to Squire.
“We just want to be included in conversations when it comes to our experience,” Squire reiterated, capturing the essence of the teachers' plea. The upcoming weeks will be crucial as the board weighs its options and determines whether to pave the way for a collective bargaining agreement, a move that could fundamentally reshape the landscape of Education in Douglas County.