With education budgets being cut and Republicans in state and federal governments determined to inflict more damage, this is a critical time for the schools and BUSD. The teacher’s contract dispute further threatens our children’s education and, therefore, I feel compelled to defend the interests of my children in BUSD.

Most BUSD teachers, I believe, are dedicated and (when not “working-to-rule”) hard working, putting in extra effort and hours. While I agree with many that our teachers are, compared to many other professions, underpaid, it is undeniable that BUSD finances are very tight and are not going to get any better next year. The teachers union argues about a few $100K, which may or may not be in next years budget, but, in any case, this is a very small percentage of the total budget and within the uncertainties of the budget prediction for next year. Fact is, the school district is not a private company but a community institution paid for by the CA-taxpayers and the people of Berkeley. BUSD makes no profit and is not allowed to make a deficit. If teachers get more money or just cost more due to higher health care premiums and other benefits, there will have to be cuts. These may be cuts in sports, music & arts or closer to the academic core, all aimed at having fewer people on the payroll, i.e., layoffs. Programs would have to be cut or class sizes would need to be increased. This is NOT in the interest of my children.

If teachers were leaving because of low pay, action would need to be taken. However, this is clearly not the case. Other districts are financially just as tight as BUSD. For BUSD being in the middle of the pack in terms of teachers pay, as the Union claims, is not great but certainly acceptable in tight times.

In their effort to better their pay I urge the teachers to keep in mind that BUSD can easily be pushed down a slippery slope. If a strike or other negative development caused parents to pull their children out, it could easily start a chain reaction leading to significantly fewer students and loss of community support with devastating financial consequences. At the end BUSD may be where Oakland is now. Such an outcome would be most unfortunate for families like mine, who are counting on BUSD, and would also be bad for the teachers.

Last but not least, I have been very disappointed by the teacher’s work-to-rule labor action. First, it sends the message to our children that homework is not important, a terrible thing as every parent knows who has tried hard to explain to their children why they have to do homework in the first place. Secondly, I do not appreciate that the children were given misleading explanations for the work-to-rule action, i.e., saying the district doesn’t pay the teachers for all the hours they work. As far as I know this dispute is about an increase in pay and health care premiums and not number of work hours. There would have been nothing wrong with telling the children the truth. A low point has been the removal of the children’s work from the bulletin boards in the hallways (at least at Jefferson). This does nothing to put pressure on the school district but takes something away from the children.

In the long run we can hope and work for a change in the political landscape and for getting education in California the support it deserves and desperately needs. However, for now wishes and political statements don’t help. BUSD has no choice but to live within its means. Tough as it is, it comes down to more money for the teachers vs more teachers for the children.
I sincerely hope that teachers and district will soon agree on a contract.

Bernhard Ludewigt
(Jefferson parent)