Community member urges constructive teacher contract talks after levy win
Summary
At the Farmington school board meeting a resident, Paul Putt, thanked voters for approving a levy and urged the district to pursue positive negotiations with the teachers union, noting differences between district and union offers and asking the board to prioritize community confidence and teacher retention.
Paul Putt, a community member who identified himself as an Education Minnesota member, told the Farmington School Board on Monday that he appreciated the district leadership and voters for passing a recent levy and urged the board to pursue a constructive settlement with the teachers union.
Putt said the levy victory put the district on stronger financial ground and thanked volunteers and the board for their work. He said he had been ‘‘extremely dejected’’ after last year’s failed levy but that the board’s efforts this year, and voter support, had improved the district’s outlook.
Turning to contract talks, Putt described public figures the board and union have put forward in negotiations. He said the district’s early offer totaled about 11.39% over two years (not including insurance), compared with the union’s last offer of 9.6%, and that more recent district movement had been smaller than the union’s. He told the board: "I encourage you to find labor positivity with the union," arguing the community wants a strong district and that pay increases should better match inflation and the skills of classroom teachers.
The board thanked Putt for his remarks and noted an upcoming mediation session with the teachers union the following day. No board decisions were made during public comment; the remarks were taken for the record.
The district has scheduled mediation and, according to board comments at the meeting, expects to balance competing fiscal constraints and community expectations while preserving a student-centered focus.
