COLUMBUS TEACHERS STRIKE!
It was unfortunate for Columbus public students...it happened...it got resolved…it’s over…so what?
What’s to be learned for those of us in the Ohio charter school movement? A lot!
First, let’s look at what issues brought the teachers to strike:
- Smaller class sizes
- Wage increases
- Full time elementary art, music, and PE teachers
- More planning time
- Cap on the number of class periods per day
- Guarantees on timing for updated HVAC systems in schools
Without going into details on each, it’s fair to say they did get movement on each of the above in addition to new online learning guarantees.
Why care? Because charter schools rely on their teachers to deliver quality education to students and for parents who have chosen the charter school. And teachers depend on consistent, fair, and high-quality building leadership.
Teachers need support, respect and a voice; they need to be heard and understood. If not, they may resort to an external arm for voice and authority in their wishes, needs, and what could become demands.
Charter schools are given (by their very nature) the opportunity to operate differently. Do we take advantage of that? Could teachers elect a fellow teacher to be an ex-officio member of your school board? Could a committee of the board be authorized to meet on a regular basis with a group of teachers to really hear their concerns, ideas, suggestions? Those concerns could be brought forth and the board could hopefully resolve many issues before they become insurmountable.
As an individual board member or a committee of the board, promise nothing because your only power is acting as a board of the whole. Listen, take notes, bring the ideas to the board, discuss, decide, and get back to the teacher group. Or ask one of the teachers to present the well-thought-out ideas in priority order to the board for consideration. Involve the school leader, don’t by-pass him/her.
Those are only a few of the many possibilities. The important idea is the care and nurturing of the school staff; showing them you care and will act when that is what’s needed for them to deliver a quality education.
You may have other ideas. Please email them BCSB so we can share in future editions.
