East Aurora teachers again spoke at a school board meeting about their concerns during contract negotiations, highlighting what they called a sometimes tough and unsupportive work environment and compensation.
Middle school teachers, many wearing blue union T-shirts bearing the slogans “East Aurora United” and “teachers and staff stand as one,” expressed concern with school discipline that they said made it tough to teach. A parent and student also spoke on the teachers’ behalf, both highlighting teachers’ work and calling for more pay.
“If (teachers) felt safer, appreciated and valued, perhaps a lot of these contract concerns wouldn’t be as big of a concern,” Simmons Middle School social studies teacher Jay Shipinski said after the meeting.
Union president Sara Imthurn said the union hired an outside certified school business official as a fact-finder. He is looking into the district’s finances and whether there might be more money available for teacher salaries.
School District spokesman Matt Hanley declined to comment on the hiring of a fact-finder, saying district officials agreed to keep negotiations at the negotiating table.
Union members have twice voted down tentative agreements, and have requested a state mediator. East Aurora teachers and staff have spoken at the past several meetings, telling the board about their work environment and urging changes to their compensation.
At the last meeting, some clashed with taxpayers urging a lower levy and calling on the district to limit its spending. Some speakers continued the conversation at this meeting, debating what they saw as the successes and failures of teachers in the district.
East Aurora senior Cynthia Ramos, who is active in academic activities and said she wants to be a teacher after college, said she owes her accomplishments to her parents and her teachers. She said teachers deserve pay that respects their efforts.
She said many East Aurora parents might not able to be as involved in their children’s schooling as they could be in other districts, so it is up to the students to take on advocating for causes important to them.
Teachers in the district sometimes act like parents, she said.
“Many of them could be in different districts, where their job could be much easier,” she said. “Instead, they stay at East Aurora. Why? To make a difference.”
Rebecca Luginbill, a parent in the district, said the district must work on retaining good teachers. They sometimes face huge challenges, she said, and students spend most of their days with their teachers and look up to them.
“We do not want to become a dumping ground for poor quality teachers who can’t get a job anywhere else,” she said.
Several teachers, many from Waldo Middle School, said they face major classroom disruptions and discipline policies are inconsistent, making it difficult to teach. Waldo language arts teacher Donna Los characterized classes as having “constant disruptions” and “constant disrespect.”
Waldo math teacher Kelly Tsioupros said teachers and staff sometimes encounter disrespect from students, and at those times educators need support.
She said she continues to work in the district because of her students.
“The kids is why we all do what we do,” she said. “For most of us, it’s not just a paycheck. Because, let’s be honest, it could be more.”
Simmons math teacher Joe Matuch said he knows of several valuable teachers who chose to leave the district. While it is true that salaries are a concern, he said, “the greater truth is that we’re tired of working in an unsupportive environment.”
Board members said during their allotted time to speak they were surprised to hear about the discipline concerns, and requested further discussions and more information from the administration about discipline policies.
“Trust me, we really are listening,” said School Board President Annette Johnson. “But our problems right now are really hard to solve.”
Twitter: @srfreish
