Has Students Come First hurt teacher unions in Idaho?

Kristin Rodine:

Idaho's controversial new school reform laws gutted teacher associations' collective bargaining powers, but local union leaders say they can still work effectively with their district administration to help shape policies.

"This (legislation) basically said to districts that if you don't want to work with teachers in these areas, you can say by law you don't have to do it anymore," Boise Education Association President Andrew Rath said. "But I think they've found that districts want to work with the teachers."

Association leaders Sam Stone of Caldwell and Luke Franklin of Meridian agreed.

"We can always talk to our district," Franklin said. "Our relationship isn't really 'us against them.'"

The Students Come First laws, unveiled by schools Superintendent Tom Luna one year ago and approved by the 2011 Legislature, limits teacher contract negotiations to the issues of pay and benefits and eliminates working conditions and other issues from master contracts.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at January 27, 2012 2:51 AM
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