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Show THE 7FPHYR OCTOBER 1991 PAGE 8 the interview that didn't happen -- the school board and the teachersby Jim Stiles Since the Zephyr's first Issue In April 1989, this paper has conducted over 60 Interviews with a variety of public figures In Grand County. That list Includes five different county commissioners, the entire city council, the Moab City mayor, the commission, and state representative candidates In last November's election, the principal of Grand County High School and the Superintendent of Canyonlands National Park. The Interviews have become the centerpiece of this newspaper I and believe they've done a lot to Inform the citizens of this county on the goings-o- n of their public officials. It would never have worked without the cooperation of those public officials and I've been grateful that all of them have been willing to participate and put their views and opinions on the line. Until now. This month I had planned to Interview two members of the Grand County School Board and two teachers from the Grand County Education Association, and allow them to discuss In a public forum the Issues that have of late so badly divided them. The teachers believe they are underpaid; the school board agrees, but says there Is simply no money to pay them. The teachers think theyre not trying hard shared with a couple thousand readers. (There's something about an open microphone that causes a person to think before speaking). It would have allowed both sides to articulate their positions and I present their arguments. But when contacted Mike Arehart of the School Board, and the leader of the Board's negotiating team, he didn't see It that way. Arehart said he "didnt want to air ourdlrty laundry In public," and proposed Instead that the school board and the teachers get together In private workshops to Iron out their differences. Meanwhile Carol Stevenson had confirmed her support for the Interview and suggested I Include Jim Walker, current president of GEA, and Jerl McTaggart who represented teachers on the contract negotiating team. Both teachers agreed, and a time and a place was established. I sent a note to Arehart, hoping he might reconsider and join the MEMO enough. But you wont hear any explanations or proposals or new Ideas In this story. Last week, the school board decided to refuse to participate In the Interview. After meeting with the school board, the executive committee of the teacher's association voted to withdraw as well. So on Saturday, September 21, nobody showed up. The mood between the Board and the teachers has become Increasingly tense In the last month, and culminated In a "vote of no confidence" by the teachers against the Board. But at the same time, the teachers signed their contracts and returned to work. While few if any of them wanted to strike, they had the option of returning to school under protest, without signing their contract. An option they passed up. In early September, Carol Stevenson, president-elec- t of the teachers' union approached me about a story on the dilemma of education In Grand County. I told her my plan for a joint Interview and she agreed It could be a positive step. Likewise, Cynthia Smith of the Board expressed a willingness to participate. The Issue of teacher salaries has In the last two months become a very emotional one, and bitter feelings and harsh words have been expressed by both sides. And yet, little If anything has been said on the record. While the school board insists that the funds are not available for salary Increases, It has done nothing to explain Its budget constraints to the citizens of Grand County. Likewise, while the teachers demand salary Increases, theyve done nothing to show the taxpayers just where the money would come from. Thats why I thought the Interview format could be so effective. First, It would take the argument from behind closed doors and Include the public, who, afterall, Is paying for all this. Instead of the emotional tirades that have apparently replaced reason, both skies would have to confront each other, knowing that everything they said would be LUNCH TO: Helen M. Knight Intermediate FROM Grand County Board of Education DATE: August 26, 1991 The Grand County Board or Education Teels it is unfortunate that at this time there are misunderstandings and differences between us and some of the Educators in our community. . We always have had, and always will have, the best interest of children as our top priority. discussion. Both McTaggart and Walker hoped for the Boards participation as well but planned to proceed, with or without them. On September 18, the School Board met and discussed the Interview proposal. It voted unanimously not to participate, later, the Board met with Walker who subsequently met with the Executive Committee of the teachers' union. If my Information Is correct, only one DINNER FINE MEXICAN & AMERICAN MEALS SINCE 574 N. MAIN MOAB, 801 259-631-9 state liquor license IHI HIIIIMIIIMIHIILMPMB ham - 10PM i98i UTAH |