Columbia teachers, counselors and librarians will vote on October 11. The question: Do you want the Columbia MNEA to be your exclusive bargaining representative with Columbia Public Schools. A majority yes vote will finally give teachers a real voice in district decisions, resulting in a binding agreement.
The Missourian
Sunday, September 9, 2012 | 6:00 a.m. CDT
BY ASHLEY CRAWFORD, SKY CHADDE
COLUMBIA — The Columbia School Board will vote Monday night on whether or not to approve a ballot that allows teachers to choose their representation during collective bargaining with the Columbia Public School District.
The board also will consider two proposed budget amendments and address the recent resignation of a school board member elected in April.
Collective bargaining
The district uses a "meet and confer" system in which two teachers associations — the Columbia Missouri State Teachers Association and the Columbia Missouri National Education Association — and unaffiliated teachers discuss salaries, benefits and other employment conditions.
Last year, teachers decided they wanted to have a more formal avenue of communication with the district. Policy HH, a plan to provide teachers with an exclusive representative, was then approved by the board in January.
At the Monday meeting, the board will decide to approve or not approve the ballot that allows teachers to choose their style of representation going forward.
On Oct. 11, teachers will vote for the Columbia Missouri National Education Association to represent them during collective bargaining or to continue with "meet and confer," district spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said.
According to a previous Missourian report, CMNEA President Susan McClintic said these types of groups help keep conversations between teachers and the district flowing, but Superintendent Chris Belcher said he worried having a centralized group representing teachers would not keep conversations about salaries and benefits open or inclusive.
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