Even if you don't care about teacher negotiations, this is just a little glimpse into what's the matter with Kansas (It had to be said. It's a low hanging fruit that I'm picking early, and won't oft repeat. Except when I'm at a loss for words with all the shenanigans.)
Every year, school districts around the state sit at a table with teachers and negotiate contracts. This is handled locally, as it should be. Each district has unique characteristics and needs that require attention and discussion. Over the last eighteen months, the group that represents teachers, KNEA, the group that represents school boards, KASB, the group that represents superintendents, KSSA, and school administrators, USA/KS, worked very hard on a compromise that would guide these negotiations. All parties that are involved, knowledgable, and invested in the process agreed on certain terms, and a K-12 School Efficiency Commission regarded this compromise as the best outcome to guide future negotiations. Slam Dunk, right?
Wrong. Enter Dave Trabert and the Kansas Policy Institute (KPI). I'll go into more detail in a future post on KPI and Mr. Trabert.
Dave Trabert (and some billionaire pals from Wichita) wrote a minority report (not the movie, but maybe just as spooky) that significantly limits what can be negotiated. This diminishes local control of the issues and does not serve the parties involved well. This report became a bill - HB 2034. All of the groups involved in teacher negotiations provided testimony opposing this bill. The ONLY person that provided testimony in favor was Dave Trabert. Who is a politician to believe? All of the people with education, expertise, and investment in the process or a Koch paid lobbyist?
I won't keep you in suspense. The committee went with the lobbyist.
That's right. Our legislators ignored all of the professional parties involved - the ones that represent hundreds of hours of work in compromise and all seek to improve education for Kansas students, and agreed with a generously funded Wichita think tank with zero experience advocating for students. Their goal with this bill is to limit collective bargaining power for teachers, but in doing so impedes the districts' rights to negotiate as well.
This is our government at work, Kansas. What can you do? Email your legislator and let them know you support compromise and teachers in our great state!
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