Teachers to vote on choice of representation

The Missourian
Monday, September 10, 2012

BY ASHLEY CRAWFORD, ELIZABETH SCHELTENS
COLUMBIA — Public school teachers in Columbia will now have a chance to designate a single organization to represent them when they negotiate salaries, benefits and other conditions of employment with the district.

Columbia School Board members voted unanimously to approve the language of a ballot giving teachers two choices for representation when they vote on Oct. 11.

Either the Columbia Missouri National Education Association will exclusively represent them during collective bargaining, or the current policy, an informal mode of communication between teachers and district administrators labeled "meet and confer," will continue.

Susan McClintic, a second-grade teacher at Alpha Hart Lewis and president of the Education Association, said, if elected, her group would immediately start polling the district's teachers to assess their concerns.

McClintic said many teachers are concerned about the hours they are expected to spend at school outside of the instructional day. Depending on the school, she said, teachers are expected to spend between two and 10 evenings a month in meetings.

Rockwood, Ferguson and Springfield school districts have highly bargained contracts, which benefit both teachers and students, McClintic said.

"They have some fabulous contracts, and it shows in their results. Teachers are happier when they're better informed and better represented, and research shows that happy employees make for better results," McClintic said.