Monday night’s Austin Public Schools Board meeting can undoubtedly be considered uncomfortable if not painful at times as person after person came forward to give vent to their frustration and anger over moves made in the past few years by the district. Moves they claim were made without all voice s at the table and that is having a destabilizing effect within the district. At the heart of a lot of this have been involuntary teacher transfers from one building to another that many say were made without consultation with the teacher and with very little information offered. Some of those who spoke Monday night even claimed that messages to district administration were unanswered or even glossed over without the benefit of insight or explanation. While this ire has recently become more public, it’s clear there has been discontent for much longer, and it does beg the question — why hasn’t more been done? For its part, the district in recent years has been instituting an overarching plan that centers on core values and the Desired Daily Experience, which in and of itself ensures that students have the best opportunity possible on a daily basis. It’s a concentrated effort that comes with hopes of maximizing the impact on students. As part of this there have been staff changes and administration changes in an effort to reach this synchronization, however, it’s now clear and very public that there are bumps in the road and they were given voice Monday night. Through language in the contract between the district and teachers, APS administration does have the right to move staff if they feel the move would be beneficial to how the district operates and student success. And, we would argue there are times that this may be appropriate for a variety of reasons, but we would also counter that communication should be a part of this. Explanations for why these moves are being made and gathered input from the teachers themselves as to what the course of action might be. It may be that even with this, administration would still deem it necessary, but at least the voice of the teacher would be heard. Their input valued. And like board member Don Leathers, we wonder why language hasn’t been adjusted over all of these years to reflect a culture where all sides are at the table, something that could have been broached by either side. We’re not suggesting that the administration not be allowed to make the moves it deems necessary, nor are we suggesting that teachers, staff and supporters sit back and do nothing. What we are suggesting is that there has been a communication gap somewhere and it needs attention. Both sides are going to need to come to a mutual understanding when negotiations get into the meat of a new contract. The blunt reality of Monday night is that teachers are leaving for other jobs in other districts. APS has lofty and clearly well-intentioned plans for the future and they will need the best teachers we can find and retain them This communication break needs to be mended in a dual capacity of understanding that sets up clear lines and meanings, and that starts with sides sitting at the same table and least talking. Not everything will go the way people want it to go, and that’s just life, but those whose work lives are being upended at least deserve to have their voices heard in the larger discussion when available. Nobody questions that both sides want what’s best for the children in their care, but a fractal approach to the problem does no favors to those attending our schools and in the end that is what the focus has to be. The post Our opinion: Communication must be improved appeared first on Austin Daily Herald. ...read more read less