Local resident raises alarm over stalled teacher contract, questions district reserves

Coral Lopez, a Dodge City High School graduate and parent, told the USD 443 Board of Education on Aug. 11 that community concern is growing over the lack of a finalized contract for district teachers with classes set to begin in two weeks. Lopez said she has reviewed recorded negotiation meetings online and social media posts and concluded the sides are separated by roughly $250,000. "It looked like it was about a $250,000 difference," she said during the public comment period. She also said she had seen social posts asserting the district held about $70 million in reserves and asked whether the board could use reserves to bridge the gap. The board took no action on the contract during the meeting. Lopez told the board she watched the June 13 negotiations and said the district attorney told negotiators they had "no more room to move" and were prepared to proceed to impasse. "We have nowhere else to go at this time and we may just start the next process," she quoted the attorney as saying. Lopez also relayed concerns raised in the community about staffing, citing a claim by another speaker that the district has more than 80 unfilled certified positions. "Those are being filled by teachers teaching during their planning time" or by long-term substitutes, she said, adding that certified teachers are compensating for gaps to prevent students from being left behind. The board did not comment substantively during public comment, and no motions or votes related to negotiations were on the meeting agenda. Board members acknowledged Lopez's remarks and moved on to scheduled business. Ending: With the school year start days away, Lopez asked the board whether it could intervene to finalize a contract; the board did not announce any immediate steps. The public comment record and posted negotiation videos remain the most direct sources of information about the status of talks.