Messages of Support

Friends in Albany,

Right now, our teachers are rightfully feeling undervalued and distrusted by the very people we entrust to value and care for them: our school board and district admin.

At this point, there are two ways this could go:

1) Our teachers could accept the contract that undervalues them, and we could continue to hemorrhage our best teachers to Corvallis and Lebanon, where they will be more valued.

Or

2) Out of their deep commitment to us, our kids, and each other, our teachers could strike and make sacrifices until Albany returns to being a district that attracts and retains the great teachers.

If it comes to it, I stand with them in doing the second.

BUT

It doesn’t have to come to that.

Because for just a little while longer, we have this option:

3) On Monday (Sept 23) from 4:30-7:00 p.m. at North Albany Middle School, we, the people of Albany, show up to show our support for our teachers.

This is no empty gesture.

If the rally is packed, our district will know that they will be held accountable in the court of public opinion if they don’t do more to value and retain our teachers.

If we don’t show up, our district will assume that they can get even more brazen in trying to turn the court of public opinion against our teachers. They’ll assume that they can just use the strike to turn people against teachers.

You don’t have to have a kid in this school system to come. You just have to know one. And to want them to grow up in a school system that keeps and empowers awesome teachers.

To whom it may concern,

The Linn-Benton-Lincoln Education Association (LBLEA) expresses our full support for our fellow union educators in the Greater Albany Education Association. We live together and we work together. We serve the same communities. We are those communities. We stand with the priorities that GAEA have advanced to Greater Albany Public Schools: safe working conditions for students and staff, retention and recruitment of educators, workload and professional learning opportunities, and health and benefits. Our fellow educators deserve a fair negotiation process that allows them to be heard as they advocate for themselves and their students. They deserve a contract that meets the needs of their members and supports the students of GAPS. A fair contract means far more than just fair compensation. It means establishing safety, health, stability, and support in the workplace. Schools that are safe, healthy, stable, and supportive empower teachers and students to be the best that they can be.

In Solidarity,

Jules Thorn, EA President, with support of the LBL EA Executive Council

Dear Superintendent Gardner and GAPS School Board:

First and foremost, I would like to express my genuine appreciation for your current approach to bargaining with the certified employees of Greater Albany EA. Your steadfast refusal to amend the language to protect students and staff at the elementary level, to equalize preparation time practices at the secondary level, and to offer your employees a living wage that reflects the rising cost of living in Albany and the ever-increasing healthcare costs has been nothing short of remarkable. Your utter disrespect and disregard for teachers, counselors, TOSAs, and other certified employees have undoubtedly driven many to make the heart-wrenching decision to leave a community they cherish and seek employment elsewhere.

As President of nearby Lebanon EA, I’ve had the pleasure of welcoming talented, long-time educators who previously worked for GAPS. Their years of experience are now benefiting Lebanon’s students, and I must say, they have been a fantastic addition to Lebanon Community Schools. Your lack of movement stands in stark contrast to our district, which has prioritized increasing certified and ESP wages, prep time, student safety, professional development, limiting class sizes and workloads, and other significant improvements during our recent bargaining settlement.

As you continue with your outdated bargaining techniques that clearly undermine the recruitment and retention of quality educators, let us be clear that your loss is the gain of all the nearby districts.

Regards,  

Bonita Randklev  

Educator and Lebanon EA President

P.S. Albany educators, please know that Lebanon stands firmly with you! Many of us are parents or family members of students in Albany, and we understand the immense challenges you face as you serve a community of students with high needs amid dwindling resources. These difficulties are only compounded when District leadership minimizes the needs of the folks on the ground doing the work day in and day out. Your dedication does not go unnoticed, and we are here to support you in your efforts.  In solidarity, Your Union Siblings in Lebanon

Support Statement

The Cascade Education Association supports the Greater Albany Education Association in their ongoing efforts to achieve their goals during their current bargaining efforts.  The work of GAEA is vital in ensuring certified staff have the resources and support necessary to provide the best education for their students, while supporting the wellbeing of  their members. Their goals are not lofty, pie in the sky objectives. Safe working conditions, the ability to recruit and retain educators, a balanced workload and professional development opportunities for themselves, while protecting the health and contract benefits are not too much to ask when they are tasked with providing so much to the children of their district. 

Working in education is hard enough without having to fight for every little inch of progress.

Tonya Rawie

President

Cascade Education Association

Turner, Oregon

Dear Superintendent Gardner and GAPS School Board,

I am Laura Warren, the ESP President of the neighboring Lebanon School District. I am saddened by the lack of collaboration happening between the Albany District Leadership and the Albany Education Association, during the current bargaining of their contract. Within our district in Lebanon, we work together to find common ground for both the district and the union. This can only happen through a concerted effort to make it happen by both sides. Currently, the Albany District leadership has not been willing to do this. They have been adversarial in their negotiations and have shown a lack of respect for employees within the district. I urge them to rethink your current bargaining strategies.

Relationships are vital to the running of a district in order to run efficiently and support the goal of educating students. When employees are not treated fairly and professionally, any relationships that have been built are devastated. When confrontational bargains like these happen, bitter feelings are created among staff, district leadership, the board, and the community. Relationships, morale, and trust is lost. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible to rebuild. It is in the best interest of the Albany School District to build and maintain these relationships by bargaining in good faith. I encourage you to find a way to collaborate instead of the current confrontational bargaining that is happening.

Eventually you will find a way to settle your differences, but at what cost will that be to your district, your community, and to your students? Many of your staff have been leaving your district and coming to ours and other surrounding districts. This is a result of the attitudes displayed by leadership within the recent and current bargains. This is detrimental to the image of your school district and will last for years to come. Hiring and maintaining qualified staff is going to be difficult and it will be much harder to make the positive changes that both the district leadership and staff are dedicated to.

I urge you to push aside any negative feelings that have been created and do whatever is needed to ensure that your teachers, classified staff, administrators, and district leadership find common ground and settle the contract in a positive way. You can then turn your efforts towards the education of your students. Show the community you can bargain in good faith with staff and support the students you are responsible for.

Thank-you,
Laura Warren
Educator and Lebanon ESP President 485 South 5th Street Lebanon Oregon

P.S. Albany educators, please know that Lebanon ESPA supports you! We understand the challenges you are facing and we are hopeful that you find a resolution soon to your bargaining difficulties. We see you and stand firmly beside you!