LETTER: Board should consider other cost-saving measures

To the Telegram:

It is obvious the conservative element of the Superior School Board is more interested in flexing its muscles in the absence of collective bargaining rights than it is in the health, well-being or safety of our children.

As a mother of three children who will be part of the Superior school district next fall, I am outraged to read in a recent Telegram article about the Board is giving serious consideration to altering start and end times so that our children will be trudging to school on frigid winter mornings in the dark. I can’t imagine any parent who would feel that such a thing is necessary or prudent.

Equally outrageous is the sentiment expressed by a few members of the board that such a move is the only way to address budgetary concerns for the upcoming year.

This is outrageous because in the same Telegram article, it is made clear that any benefit to the district, which would be gained by altering start and end times, would be entirely eaten up by the decision to add three “staff development days” to the school year calendar.

The article makes it clear, through quotes from representatives of the teachers’ union, the additional work is being implemented without agreement of the teachers, who would have had the ability to reject the proposal under our old system of collective bargaining. It is clear that board has decided, up to this point, that the opportunity to force teachers to accept unilateral changes to their employment is more of a priority than the safety of our children.

I hope that the recently elected and re-elected members of the board will advocate different priorities. I would also urge the public to consider their options under Wisconsin’s recall statutes for those members currently serving, should they make the shameful decision to vote in favor of the proposed start and end time changes.

Jennifer Mcgillan,

Superior

Tags: opinion, letters