After months of waiting for a new contract, Bemidji teachers gathered Thursday to prepare for Friday's rally on the waterfront of Lake Bemidji. Members of the Bemidji Education Association spoke about how they are trying to rally community support.
“We have no intention of backing away from the idea that we are one, we are united, and we have a right to be paid for the work that we do. We want to give districts the idea that if not now, then when,” BEA member Becky Skipper said. “For the first time, we're getting a lot of money coming in from the state of Minnesota. And for many years now, we're talking about the programs we want to bring to the district, the funding we need to implement them, and the buses that we're paying for in Bemidji.” , I feel like teachers have been on the back burner. So, with the additional funding coming in, the idea is that it's our turn.”
BEA's main concern was to inform the community about what was going on behind closed doors.
“I think there are probably a lot of community members who don't know that this is going on behind the scenes, that teachers are working over 260 days without a contract,” Skipper explained. “So [we want to] We want to raise community awareness, increase community support behind our teachers, and hope that we can come to the table next week and reach an agreement, but that we are ready to come together if that doesn't happen. I told you. ”
“It's encouraging to see the participation here,” BEA member Caitlin Jonne said of Thursday's sign-making event. “And I think that's what gives us hope. What we really want is a fair contract. So we're going to do what it takes to get there, but we're not going to see that in the near future.” We hope to reach some agreement.”
BEA is scheduled to attend the Bemidji School Board meeting on Monday, March 18th.
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