Lakeland PBS
❤ Donate
  • Home
  • Support
  • Watch Now
    • Livestream
    • Local Shows
    • Watch Online
    • Schedule
    • Our Channels
    • Web Cam
  • Lakeland News
    • News Feed
    • Featured Segments
    • Watch a News Story
    • Watch a Sports Story
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • State Legacy Funding
    • Meetings & Public Filings
    • Education
    • Employment
  • ❤ DONATE

Pequot Lakes teachers rally after 338 of working without a contract

Lakeland PBS — Jun. 3 2014
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

 

Crowd chants, “Contract… now! Contract… now!”
Pequot Lakes’ teachers rallied this evening after working 338 days without a contract. The teachers say the school district’s one of the best in Minnesota with some of the highest test scores and most educated teachers. The teachers’ union says getting this deal done will benefit the students.
Denise Specht, Education Minnesota president, says, “What’s good in this contract is going to be what’s good for kids. Our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions and that’s what this is all about. Letting them know we care and stand with them.”
Both U.S Congressman Rick Nolan (D) and Minnisota Representative John Ward (DFL) both former teachers, supported the teachers saying in order for our areas’ students to be the best we need the best teachers. And investing in teachers benefits the community’s future.
Congressman Nolan says, “It is indeed the foundation of our future. And the way you get the best education is with good teachers.”
Specht says, “A contract represents respect in their profession. And these teachers in Pequot Lakes are enhancing and investing value into this community and it’s high time the community invests back into the teachers.”
Some of the teachers say it’s comforting to have a rally and to get the support from their fellow educators after working without a contract for 338 days.
Michael Sommerness, Pequot Lakes 6th-12th grade band teachers, says, “It gets a little draining waiting to see you’re valued. And when we come together and we pat each other on the back and pick each other up a little bit it helps out. It helps out when we don’t see that from our school board and we need it.”
The teachers’ union presidents are afraid that if these contract negotiations last too much longer and they can’t get the teachers what they say they deserve the better educators will start to look to teach elsewhere.
Sommerness, last year’s Teacher of the Year in Pequot Lakes, says, “I hate to say it and it breaks my heart to say it. Because this is where I want to be and these are the students I care about. But yeah I’ve looked.”
The teachers know Minnesota will increase the districts funding the next two years. And they’re ready to negotiate for what they think is fair.
Kim Johnson, Education Minnesota’s Pequot Lakes president, says, “We are ready to meet with the school board at any time at any place. We want to negotiate. we want to settle this contract.”

Lakeland News is member supported content. Please consider supporting Lakeland News today.

Donate Today
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Lakeland PBS

By — Lakeland PBS

Our mission to educate, entertain, enrich, and enlighten.

Related Posts

Northern Minnesota Red Cross Chapter Responds to 10 House Fires for 10 Straight Days

Families Asked to Get Regular COVID-19 Tests Through End of School Year

Bemidji Area Schools Working Towards Full In-Person Learning for Secondary Students

Public School Enrollment in Minnesota Drops During Pandemic

  • Program Schedule

Get the free PBS Video App

roku
Apple TV
FireTV
AndroidTV
Google Play Store
Apple Store

Connect with Us

Watch Live News Casts

Contact Us

Directions
Submit an Event
Submit a Video or Photo
Problem with the Website
Need to contact us about something else? Please visit our contact us page for more options.

About Us

Lakeland PBS understands that the media people are exposed to make a significant impact on their lives. Our hope is that the six channels we broadcast along with our online presence provide people with media experiences that make a positive impact on their lives.

Lakeland PBS is where you want to be!

108 Grant Ave NE, Bemidji, MN 56601 | 800-292-0922
KAWE Public Profile | KAWB Public Profile | Cable Provider Channel List | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2021 Lakeland PBS. All Right Reserved.

How would you like to show your support?

Monthly Contribution

One-Time Contribution

Thank-You Gift

I would like to select a thank-you gift

No Gift

Put 100% of my gift towards programming

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.