Editorial: Teachers, let grievance go

Red Wing School Board sent the right message Monday by denying the teachers union’s grievance about paid leave. A handful of teachers wanted their employer — that’s you, the taxpayer — to give them an extra day of vacation every time one of their children competes in a state tournament.

That would have meant hiring a substitute at more than $100 a day. That would have meant those teachers who are parents would have a potential perk that non-parental teachers don’t get.

As for claims that Supt. Karsten Anderson denied a teacher such leave when it’s been “long-standing” practice, consider that interim Supt. Rosemary Schneiderhan took steps in 2000-01 to end it.

Just because former Supt. Clayton Hovda wrote a letter 25 years ago (and five superintendents ago) giving some teachers what amounted to a gift, that doesn’t equate to contractual obligation today, in our view.

Education Minnesota Red Wing President Kirby Hanson attended a school district personnel committee meeting Feb. 21 and participated in the paid leave discussion. He then essentially told Anderson and the committee, “Do whatever you want.”

Given the current political climate where lawmakers are considering performance-based employment for all teachers and given the district’s plans to approach voters for a levy hike, we’re surprised the union filed the grievance in the first place.

We hope the matter is behind us.

Soaring high: Hats off to Red Wing High School students. Gloves off, too.

They could be seen throughout the community Friday, working on various outdoor projects. They moved dirt. They cleared brush. They educated younger students. They helped improve their community as part of extensive Earth Day programming.

Special thanks to teacher Chris Sheehan and the FFA members for coordinating Caring and Sharing.

Soaring high: The Flood Run raises big money each spring for Gillette Children's Hospital. Participating motorcyclists pay $10 — that equals $5 a wheel — and visit the various communities (and their businesses) around Lake Pepin.

What started as an effort to fight the rising Mississippi waters decades ago is now a semi-annual tradition that helps children.

We hope motorists stay alert, that motorcyclists return home safely and that today’s efforts help ill children get the treatment they need.

Tags: opinion, editorials