Teachers across Missouri pledge
support to Lindbergh teachers

The Lindbergh School District’s efforts to squelch teachers’ voice in bargaining became a hot topic as over 320 educators met for the Missouri NEA Representative Assembly at the Lake of the Ozarks, Sunday, April 19, 2009. Teachers from all parts of the state expressed outrage as they learned that 40 years of successfully bargained contracts relating to teaching and learning are suddenly being tossed aside in Lindbergh.

“It appears the new Lindbergh superintendent has convinced the board of education that salaries should be the only subject allowed in agreements,” says Chris Guinther, MNEA president and a teacher on leave from the Francis Howell School District.

Members of the MNEA Representative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Lindbergh school board to reconsider.

Since 1967 the Lindbergh National Education Association has been the teachers’ representative for the purpose of bargaining, signing and upholding an agreement with the district on matters related to salary, hours, benefits, working conditions and other matters of educational concern.

“Teachers here know that collective bargaining is about teaching and learning, not just salaries.” says Diane O’Leary, co-president of the Lindbergh NEA. “There is no reason to shut down the teachers’ input regarding hours, calendars, class size, professional development and other instructional topics that affect our ability to be successful with students.”

Beth Siegfried, the teacher sharing Lindbergh NEA presidential responsibilities added, “There is no reason to change something that works for students and teachers.”

The local LNEA teachers, support staff, students, parents and community members spoke at a school board meeting last week and requested that the district return to the table and bargain in good faith – with the intent of reaching an agreement on teaching and learning issues in addition to salary issues, as has been done for decades.

“I have lived and taught in the St. Louis area for years,” Guinther says. “Everyone knows that Lindbergh has earned the reputation as a district that values the teachers’ voice through the collective bargaining process. That’s one of the main reasons Lindbergh could attract and retain high quality teachers. Their reputation will change if the district shuts down the teachers’ voice. Teachers don’t want to teach where they aren’t valued. Lindbergh will be taking a huge step backward if they continue down this path.”

At this point, the district refuses to return to the table and continues to put up walls to hold back the teachers voice.

The 35,000-member MNEA represents teachers, education support professionals, college faculty, retired teachers and students studying to be teachers in school districts and on college campuses throughout the state. It is the Missouri affiliate of the 3.2 million-member NEA.

For further information:
DeeAnn Aull
573-634-3202

April 20, 2009

Link to Lindbergh NEA's Web site for more information.