Reynolds board again turns its tail and runs

From our May 23 Press Release —

The Reynolds school board has again chosen to leave the bargaining table early, and continues to not be serious about getting a deal done or understanding important education issues.

They moved on their previous ultimatum on financial issues, but gave a new ultimatum and again while the mediator was sharing the details with us, the school board abruptly left. The school board once more refused to engage us on conditions affecting our work and students.

We are willing to meet at any time and challenge the school board to join us in-person Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday to get a deal done. We will meet with or without a mediator. The community, our parents, and students need a fair deal and a serious school board.

But despite glimmers of new approaches on Monday, today the school board reverted to past behaviors and left early, despite the hundreds of educators, parents, students, and community members who were encouraging them to do their jobs and get a deal done.

For over a year, we have had one primary message to this school board: come to the table and talk with us about a full contract.

Our priorities include student safety, planning time, and many other working and learning conditions. The last several months, the school board has insisted on ignoring these important issues talking almost exclusively about their often-fluctuating financial numbers.

In the last two years, the school board has laid off 220 employees while growing its surplus to over $18 million. This is way over the proportional average for Oregon school districts.

This school board behavior affects resources and programs and help for students. These are jobs the school board has taken from the community instead of doing what it reasonably and responsibly can for the local economy and our students.

School board paid for several security officers (one near flag)