Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for March 7, 2008 UPDATE ON HARDIN COUNTY

One school that doesn't need a "snow day"...

Hardin Co. Teachers & Staff Hold Public Forum

By: Emily Eddington

HARDIN CO.-- Thursday marks day three of the Hardin County teacher strike, and tonight the teachers' union held a public forum to clear up questions. Union leaders spoke to a packed house about everything from teacher benefits to the superintendent's salary. In addition, many people began asking what they can do to get their teachers off the picket line, and back into the classroom.

Union President Sally Cooley fielded questions from parents and students alike. Many agreed with the union's goal of giving teachers and support staff equal health benefits regardless of when they took the job.

"I believe they deserve healthcare insurance, I believe they deserve a raise, I believe they deserve equal pay for equal jobs," says parent Kimberly Vaughn.

Cooley agrees, "We feel that our employees are being discriminated against because of the date that they were hired as well."

Union members say the school has a 750,000 dollar surplus of money that can cover all their requests without raising taxes. Another figure drawing discussion-- Superintendent Ernie Fowler's salary, which the union cites as more than 102,000 dollars.

"In other words, the superintendent's salary is over nine times greater than our lowest paid employee," says Cooley.

Along with pay, the amount of administrators in Hardin County also sparked discussion. The union says the district has the highest student to administrator ratio in the area with six administrators for 646 students. The union believes the people of Hardin County have a reason to be concerned.

"Students do have a right to be angry over this-- what they need to do is be calling their board members and their superintendent," Cooley says.

Many parents in attendance feel the same way, hoping a proactive approach will bring closure to a contract battle that's lasted too long.

"Talking to people out in the public and talking to other board members and try to see if they won't at least listen and keep an open mind," says former board member Dennis Austin.

The board maintains that higher taxes are necessary to meet the union's demands. A federal mediator will head up another bargaining session this Monday. The board says it hopes the union will submit an affordable proposal at that time.