Janice R. Andrews
Teachers represented by Education Minnesota Lakeville voted to approve a strike amid stalemate discussions with Lakeville Area Public Schools. The news came on Sunday, following a voting process on Thursday and Friday that saw an overwhelming 99% of members support the strike.
Carrie Popp, president of Education Minnesota Lakeville, stressed the teachers’ shared commitment to fair wages, benefits, and job stability. Popp emphasized the negative impact of non-competitive pay and benefits, highlighting the loss of teachers to other districts as a major worry for Lakeville students.
Negotiations on an expired contract have dragged on for more than 300 days, pushing teachers to see strikes as a necessary step to ensure their demands are taken seriously by the district.
The teachers’ key requests include a significant wage raise, more affordable healthcare, and improved benefits. They also oppose the district’s “right of assignment” language, which might result in unilateral transfers of teachers across buildings, courses, and grade levels.
Johannah Surma, the district’s lead negotiator and a K-5 ESL teacher, highlighted worries about the planned forced transfer language’s disruptive effects on school stability and critical student-teacher relationships.
According to state law, filing an intent to strike requires a 10-day notice to the school district. Despite this, teachers are lobbying for an expedited mediation session, which is presently planned for May 6.
To emphasize their message, a rally is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, at 5:45 p.m. outside the district office, prior to a Lakeville school board meeting. The event seeks community support and urges the district to address the teachers’ issues as soon as possible.
