Countdown to the End: Day 25

Today staff members were riled up a little. This morning the guidance counselor sent an email to the ISEA members, union members, about the current state of affairs with our contracts. He also mentioned our negotiations team members needed to be doing more. Our superintendent has said that paying employees for opting out of health insurance is illegal, and she said that next year those employees won’t be getting the $10,000 a year. The union lawyers stepped in and said it’s not illegal, and other districts are doing it. So the union lawyers and district lawyers are going back and forth. In the meantime, it has led to a lot of uncertainty and speculation in the district. The health insurance isn’t good, but the only way to opt out is to go with your spouse's plan. Well if you aren’t married you have to go with the school's insurance, and you use that $10,000 to pay for the insurance. All the members of the negotiating committee take the school’s insurance. One of them even said, “If I’m forced to buy why shouldn’t everyone else have to buy it too.” I find that disturbing. You may think that, but don’t say that to other union members. The guidance counselor has sent emails to the superintendent asking to be updated on the progress, and he copies the entire district on those emails. Many people are upset by those emails because he doesn’t use a lot of tact, and it doesn’t allow the negotiations committee to do it’s job. I do think that they haven’t communicated things well, and people are very easily riled by this. Talking about taking away one fifth of an already underpaid employee's salary is a riot waiting to happen. I think someone will get the pitch forks and torches soon. Also, unions really break the teacher rule of equal isn’t fair, so teacher’s unions are a little ironic.

Today at lunch we were discussing the emails,

Above: We grew pink pumpkins all summer
to be decorated and auctioned to benefit the
Pink Pumpkin Foundation.

Below: Students help in the Pioneer display
at the 2014 Farm Progress Show.

Both great things, but too big for me now.

the responses, and everyone's attitude. One of my colleagues and friends said that I was brought up in conversations about the insurance. I waited for an explanation because I try to stay out of the speculations since I won’t be here next year. She explained that while talking with the other union members they agreed that they are all replaceable. That if you don’t like your salary or your unhappy with your job go find another one that will pay you more. They all agreed that they would be easily replaceable, and so would most other teachers in the district, except me. My name was brought up because they can’t replace me. I was flattered, but I don’t think that’s correct. Anyone can be replaced. I started from nothing. I had no experience when I started teaching, but I tried really hard. Most times I failed in front of my students, colleagues, and community members. I told my friend at lunch that I can be replaced, and the greenhouse can be left empty or the field can be rented out. I choose to do those things because I thought it would make me see myself as more successful. Now I look at those things, and see why I’m leaving. I can’t water the greenhouse plants everyday anymore. I can’t do field work on the nights and weekends anymore. I can’t come in early in the morning to check on the eggs that have hatched overnight with baby chicks anymore. I did all of these things because I wanted to be a successful teacher, but it is those things that have made me leave. I hope the person that does replace me will start fresh, and do the things that makes them happy with the program that they build. I built this how I thought it should be, which is too big for me.

I know I made a good choice because I won’t have to pay union dues or worry about a negotiations committee for my salary or benefits.