Union's chosen four could take majority on St. Paul school board
School board challengers back contract proposals.
Teachers unions are strong, but in St. Paul, muscle is being flexed in new ways.
Rather than simply work on behalf of candidates, the St. Paul Federation of Teachers teamed with parents this year to coordinate and bankroll a Caucus for Change movement that challenged incumbents and lifted four political newcomers to prized DFL Party endorsements.
Now, contract talks are underway between the teachers and the school district, and as candidates enter the final weeks of the election, the union could soon find itself with maximum leverage: a new majority on the seven-member board already endorsing its contract pursuits.
At Hallie Q. Brown Community Center recently, the four candidates heard speakers promote union contract proposals, and when commitments were sought, they replied in the affirmative, with an “Amen, brother” thrown in for good measure. The federation is on a roll. Not everyone, however, is enamored of what Superintendent Valeria Silva acknowledged recently to be smart organizing.
“My concern is we have one group, our largest union, that has basically been allowed to dominate the public discussion,” board Chairwoman Mary Doran said.
In 2014, hundreds of teachers and parents rallied for what would be a $33 million, two-year teachers contract that, it turns out, the district could not afford.
This year, the union, responding to what federation Vice President Nick Faber said were concerns from parents about unanswered e-mails to board members and a lack of staff support for ambitious classroom moves, launched the Caucus for Change movement that helped deliver DFL nods to first-time candidates Zuki Ellis, Steve Marchese, Jon Schumacher and Mary Vanderwert.
Helping to fund the effort has been the American Federation of Teachers, which contributed $50,000 to Local 28’s political fund.
Two organizers worked full time this spring with caucusgoers.
Now, the federation is going all out with weekend door-knocking for the Union's chosen four could take majority on St. Paul school board - StarTribune.com:
