* SPEECH GIVEN TO SCHOOL BOARD *

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

GOOD EVENING DR. HANSEN,
BOARD MEMBERS,
AND SUPERINTENDENT STOERNER.

                        I want to speak to you tonight about something that directly impacts the retention of a quality teaching staff in this district.  The members of this Board and the Superintendent are on record strongly supporting the attraction and retention of superior teachers and other educational support personnel.    And we in A-TSTA certainly applaud that support.

                        Next year is going to be a challenging year for us all - - with the new school year starting time, new principals at the three high schools,  and the switch-over to a 7 period day for secondary campuses.    Changes like these are sure to create a kind of trauma for all affected employees.  Change is always hard on us and these are not gradual changes, rather they will all happen at the start of the new year - - itself a traditionally difficult time for any school employee.  

                        But I’m not here to talk about those changes right now.    Instead, I need to express our concerns about the addition of 30 minutes to the workday for all high school teachers, effective the 2007-2008 school year.  

                        According to a clarification sent by email to all principals on Dec. 5, the intent of this policy appears to be to make sure all high school teachers work a full 8 hours, not counting the 30 minute lunch.   The email further states that “elementary teachers have already been on such a schedule for many years.”   This seems to be a discrepancy - -  my understanding of the start and end times are as follows:       
                          HS // 7:00-3:00           MS // 8:OO-4:00       ELEM  //  7:30-3:30

                        I am confused.   Is  the  intention  to lengthen the workdays of ALL campuses to 8 hours paid plus 30 minutes unpaid ?   If so, we ask that you consider education code 21.405(b) which states that the implementation of a duty-free 30 minute lunch may not result in a lengthened school day. 

                        We realize that there is no defined “teacher work day” in state statute, but this district has an established work day of  8 hours, including that 30 minute lunch, for all levels - - and we ask that you leave it that way - - OR compensate us for the extra time.                    Teachers tell me they are affronted by the suggestion that they are not working long enough already.   They are already hard-working professionals who voluntarily extend their work time every day to tutor students, sponsor student activities, make parent calls, grade papers, plan teaching, and so on.    Simply drive by some of the campuses in the district and check out the teacher parking lots,  if you want proof.   

                        This added 30 minutes WITHOUT COMPENSATION is demoralizing to a professional who struggles daily to provide the very best education to Alief school children - - and you will lose good teachers as a result.   I don’t think AISD can afford that.    Do you?         

Thank you.

Mary Ann Reuter, President
Alief - TSTA / NEA