PUT KIDS IN THE CONTRACT
Open Duluth Teacher Negotiations
I SUPPORT THE REFERENDUM
I support investing in our schools.
Our students deserve excellent teachers, strong academic programs, effective early intervention, well-supported special education services, and meaningful enrichment opportunities.I encourage our community to support the referendum.But if we are asking taxpayers to invest more in our schools, we should also expect transparency and accountability in the decisions that shape those investments.
I’m a Duluth public school teacher, DFT member, and parent.I believe in public education.I believe in collective bargaining.I believe all teachers should be paid well.I also believe our students, teachers, and community deserve a bargaining process that is transparent and accountable.
WHY OPEN NEGOTIATIONS?Teacher contracts affect far more than salaries.- They influence;
- Beginning-teacher retention
- Special education
- Early reading intervention
- Early math Intervention
- Paraprofessional support
- Student enrichment
- Mental health supports
- Equity supports for marginalized studentsYet our negotiations are behind closed doors.
WHY I'M SPEAKING OUTI am speaking out not only as a teacher, but also as a parent, a union member, and a taxpayer.I support public education. I support collective bargaining. I support paying teachers well. I also support the school referendum because I believe our students deserve every opportunity we can provide and Im willing to pay more in taxes for a more robust school system.But over time, I've become increasingly concerned that my teachers union's priorities no longer reflect the needs of many classroom teachers or the students we serve, this includes the bargaining table.DFT leadership controls millions of dollars in assets and generates income through investments and rental property. In many ways, it functions not only as a labor organization, but also as a money manager and landlord.I believe the combination of financial interests, paid leadership positions, and concentrated decision-making has created a culture that is increasingly disconnected from the realities facing many educators.I also believe our contracts should include student-centered language that reflects our commitment to early intervention, mental health, special education, beginning teachers, recruiting teachers of color and equitable opportunities for all students.In my view, it's difficult to make students the priority when the organization representing teachers also has significant financial interests outside the classroom.I don't want to be represented by money managers and landlords. I want to be represented by educators who understand today's classrooms and who are committed to putting students and all teachers—not just a select group—at the center of every decision.That's why I'm asking for open negotiations, greater transparency, greater accountability, and contracts that put kids in the conversation.
WHAT I'M ASKING FORI'm asking the Duluth School Board and the Duluth Federation of Teachers to commit to open community negotiations for the next teacher contract.Specifically, I believe we should:Publish bargaining proposals.
Allow public observation whenever legally possible.
Provide regular public updates.
Include more student-centered language in future contracts.
Create greater transparency around bargaining priorities and decision-making.I believe our community can support teachers, support the referendum, and support transparency at the same time.These goals aren't in conflict.In fact, I believe they strengthen one another.Our students deserve the best education possible. Let's put kids in the contract.
SIGN THE PETITION
CHECK THE FACTSDFT financial filings (IRS Form 990)
Election documents
2014 property transaction
Compensation comparisons
Additional source documents