Proclaiming SOS: Save Our Students! Auburn Union Elementary School District (AUSD) teachers want safe and healthy schools for students and staff. In solidarity, they are gathering outside their school in the mornings and walking together into the school, answering parents’ questions and sharing information about the need for safe drinking water, class size and enough staff support to better teach and support students. They do the same after school.
They are also asking for parents’ support to contact school board trustees and to attend a November 8 school board meeting to demand action and accountability.
AUSD consolidated schools this year because of financial difficulties. Teachers say the school board and district management made plans for the buildings, but not for the students and teachers. The move was controversial because the neighborhood schools closed included special education and English Language Learners (ELL) students.
Auburn Union Teachers Association (AUTA) has been advocating for accommodations for those students, and all staff and students. Class sizes have been unmanageable and eight staff have been injured, plus there are too few staff to keep bathrooms and classrooms clean. The drinking water is unsafe, forcing teachers to bring water to make sure their students have clean drinking water. Some teachers have been chastised for using too much water.
“This disrespectful behavior is chasing good teachers from our school district,” said Sara Liebert, AUTA president. About 35 educators, over one-third of the teachers in AUSD, left after last year and this has become a consistent pattern.
“Just ask why the school board and district management had the time and energy to close and consolidate schools but not to make sure clean drinking water is available for students and staff?”
“Our students aren’t sardines,” she added. “The class sizes are unsafe, unlawful and makes it doubly difficult for teachers to do their jobs.” The school board’s decision to increase class sizes violated the AUTA contract and thus far AUSD has refused to bargain in good faith on the issue. AUTA has offered many creative options including paying teachers for extra students as required by law, and extra preparation time or support.
AUTA filed a grievance over class size. A mediation is scheduled for November 1.
Wonderful educators in AUSD! I am so proud of their courage to stand up on behalf of their students despite the personal costs and stress, including intimidation from management and the school board president, Greg Holt. I am glad they know they are not alone and that CTA members and staff from across the state have their back. #WeAreCTA #ForAuburnStudents