LAKEVILLE, Minn. — On Tuesday, teachers in Lakeville rallied ahead of a school board meeting the same day the union filed its intent to strike following an overwhelming 99% vote to do so.
In a statement on its website, the district writes, "Per state statute, the District and Union have a 10-day window to engage in mediation before EML may begin striking. The next mediation session is scheduled for Monday, May 6, which is the earliest date available through the State Bureau of Mediation Services. The earliest the Union could legally strike is Monday, May 13."
According to the teacher's union, the earliest the teachers can strike is May 10.
The Lakeville School District serves about 11,000 students making it the 10th largest district across the state. If teachers strike next month, it would be the first one ever in that district.
"It’s wild," said English Language teacher Johannah Surma. "I have teacher after teacher coming up to me and saying they never expected we’d be in this position."
The district is one of just a handful that has yet to settle a contract. According to the statewide teacher's union, Education Minnesota, 96% of the total 328 regular public school districts have settled locals, which is still the slowest pace of settlement in two decades.
Some of the more prominent metro and suburban locals that are not settled include Burnsville, Farmington and Shakopee.
In Lakeville, the sides are stuck over several issues – including higher wages. The union says its teachers are paid $15,000 less than surrounding districts.
"We can't afford to lose ground when we have 80-plus openings we're trying to fill," said Surma. "We can't recruit candidates."
As the union's lead negotiator, she's also pushing back on any assignment changes or transferring teachers between buildings, subjects and even grades. In a statement, the district says the language is "typical" for most Minnesota school districts, writing, "The District is proposing measures to safeguard staff and limit annual assignment changes to no more than 15 employees annually, which is less than 2 percent of the total workforce, and not a unilateral implementation system-wide."
According to the union, it's been more than a month since the two sides were at the negotiating table, and many teachers didn't mince words at that board meeting in front of its members.
"The students and educators have not been your top priority," said one parent. "Get your shit together, please."
Another one criticized the member's lack of transparency, while others reiterated its time to make teachers feel valued.
"It’s time we invest in the future of Lakeville and the future of our children," said one parent. "It’s time we invest in our teachers."
The district maintains it can reach an agreement and avoid a strike, although it is still asking families to create a contingency plan.
"Seniors have plans, families have plans, teachers have plans," said Surma. "Nobody wants to extend the school year."
The district continued its statement by writing, "If a strike becomes an imminent possibility, the School Board and Administration will work together to determine next steps for the organization's operations, and will ensure that families and staff are informed in advance through official communication channels."
To stay up-to-date on negotiations from the district, click here.
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