Dear Editor,

With all the chaos and confusion surrounding the teachers’ strike, last night I made the decision to attend the board meeting that was to be held at Eisenhower. I am glad, I must say, that I made the decision to go because last night opened my eyes to the many positives and negatives that BOTH the School Board and Teachers have shared in the reason for negotiation, and lack thereof. Now, I know I will probably step on some toes and may even get “chewed out” for this post, but this is extremely important to me, and this is my honest opinion. I have listened to many different opinions concerning this strike, and I believe that everyone has a right to voice their opinions. I will be respectful with you, so please be respectful towards me also.

I am a senior who attends Eisenhower Middle High School, as I would suspect you would all know. I love my school and community, and when I say this I do not say it lightly. I love that I have teachers who take that extra time out of their planning period to let me, a slightly confused AP Chemistry student, come down and get some homework help. I love that I have teachers who fight for an AP class for their students who are hoping to become a little bit more prepared for their intimidating first step into the reality of college. I love that I have godly teachers who make every student know they are loved beyond measure and mean something. I love that I have teachers who want their students to be excited about learning and will take that extra time after school to discuss their student’s plans for their future and give some good ‘ole advice. I love that when I see my teachers outside of school that they are as concerned and loving of me as they are anytime they see me in that school building . This is why I ask you, do not be confused, I LOVE my teachers.

Last night was the first board meeting I had ever attended, and I will say I was disappointed at the behavior of some of the so called “adults” in that room. When the families of the teachers, the students, and the supporting community members were applauding the teachers as they entered that auditorium, I felt proud of my community because it was as if we were standing as one, supporting, not just “some” teachers, but our family and friends, the ones we so dearly care about. When we were applauding, we were respectful, yet powerful in our show of appreciation for our teachers. I was pleased to see that the board allowed for public comments, and while many people brought up valid points and other points that may not have been as sound in my opinion, the board listened, as they too have a right to their opinion. However, I saw a lack of respect in that crowd. The board gave a two minute limit to each public speech because they counted that there were thirty-nine people who signed up to speak and only thirty minutes allotted to do so. They did however, want to allow each person to be able to voice their concerns, opinions, and ideas for resolution, so they had space for another thirty minute public comment session at the end of the rest of their meeting business. When Donna Zariczny, the President of the board, would tell the public that their two minutes were done and that they need to wrap up their comments, the crowd would boo and act as a disturbance. I am not saying that Mrs. Zariczny was one hundred percent respectful every time she told people their time was up, because ironically she would make this comment during some of the times in which the public was getting the most support, yet people were acting immature. I wanted to point out when Mr. Arthur Stewart’s son ( I do not recall his name), stood up to speak his own opinion, which mind you, he is entitled to just like the rest of us, he was booed and disrespected like no teacher or teacher supporter would have stood for. While to me this was mind boggling, what happened right after this really stuck with me. I thought that the integrity of Mrs. Zariczny was admirable as Mr. Stewart’s son was speaking in support of the board and his father, yet she told him his two minutes were up and he too needed to close his statement. The crowd however, very hypocritically, began cheering as if this statement, the one she had said to every person regardless of their opinions, was not the one they had just booed four minutes ago.

I guess I have to take this back to kindergarten to get the point across. What ever happened to the whole phrase,”Treat others as you would like to be treated”, you know that thing we call the Golden Rule? I was embarrassed that as the school board lawyer was trying to present the information to the crowd concerning the pay, health insurance, pay freezes. millage, etc. that some members of the crowd immediately stood up and turned around, as to say ” I am ignoring you because I am right, you are wrong and I have no interest in actually hearing anything you have to say, even though you just sat and listened to us voice our opinions”. If you want to make a good example of our teachers and have them taken seriously, please think about the impact of your actions. Also, think about the young eyes watching you, if you want to be taken seriously, act mature and show how someone who is serious in their beliefs responds when they believe they have been mistreated. If you think you are being treated wrong, does that give you the right to treat someone else in that manner? Are you not becoming the very thing that you are standing up against?

I know that many people are upset that a contract has not been reached in TWO YEARS! This all should have been taken care of years ago, with the negotiation and crafting of a contract that was fair and free of all ambiguity and guesswork. I am extremely disappointed that the board would have rather paid a fine to release all teachers and their families of their insurance, and on top of it did not even give them a fair warning. I do believe the teachers deserve a raise, but do know, money cannot be pulled out of thin air. It takes a lot to figure out how to get the money to give the teachers a raise and to also try to keep the public from voting down the idea of a tax increase, so please do not make it seem that trivial. It does have a cost on the taxpayers, which is something I feel many forget. The public, the teachers, and the board all need to cooperate with each other, being thorough, transparent, and respectful if they want to reach an agreement, and want to reach it in a reasonable amount of time.

One last thing that I want to address is that Mr. Stewart said that there are about 50 teachers who make just under $68,000 a year. Throughout the crowd could be heard teachers saying that “That’s not my paycheck!” and many of them are right, it is not their paycheck. Before you go and call the board liars though, why don’t you go to the public records, www.openpagov.org/k12-payroll.asp, as the pay is very clearly listed, along with their pay freezes.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my opinion, even if it may go against your opinions. I just ask that all those who are attending the negotiation meeting tonight will be respectful and think about how their actions affect the view on the public as a whole. Please be the bigger person and treat everyone with the respect they deserve, even if you are not treated with the same. I know that I have some of the best teachers around and I really do want the best for them. I just ask the public, whether teacher supporters, board supporters, or if you are someone who sees some both sides, please do not jump to conclusions. If you want to educate yourself on what is going on, go straight to the sources, do your research. Treat others, people who may have the complete opposite opinions of you with respect, even if they disrespect you. Be kind always and fight for what you believe in. Be rational and level-headed, and be the community we need during this situation.

Thanks again, from an observing senior,

Hosanna Senz