GR teachers: What have you done for us?

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Teachers showed up in full force to the Monday evening Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education meeting with tearful testimonies on the obstacles they have to face.  

Upset at increased health care fees and pay, some teachers showed the board their Bridge Card applications.

Fifth-year elementary school teacher Tina Ratliff showed board members, and 24 Hour News 8, her application for a Bridge Card. She told those assembled that she takes home $555.39 in her paycheck every two weeks.  

"I would like to continue teaching these students, but don't see how I can financially afford to," said Ratliff. She passed by the board, asking them how they "are going to make this right?"

She went on to say she feels "frustrated, undervalued and embarrassed."

Teacher after teacher spoke to the board, sharing similar stories.

One young teacher had to pause to compose herself after tears overcame her at Monday's meeting.  

"I heard our principal say to us once, 'We are in a really hard time and this is as tough as it's ever been for young teachers, but if you just push through, on the other side of the storm that we're in will be the teachers that are supposed to be there.' But that's not fair to put on young teachers, because I have to buy food -- and I can't."

"I'm trying not to cry, but I don't know what to do. I don't have the money to pay the bills," another teacher said.

One teacher said Grand Rapids Education Association teachers don't feel supported in the district.

GREA President Paul Helder said there is a war on teachers. Many members of the audience voiced their agreement with that sentiment.

"These are college-educated folks who went into a profession thinking they weren't going to get rich, but thinking maybe they'd do something more than what they did working at Dairy Queen as a kid," said Helder.

Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Teresa Weatherall-Neal said she "has not considered" the upcoming right-to-work legislation deadline of March 27. She told 24 Hour News 8 she wants to sign a contract that is "in the best interests of this district."

"I don't think what they're asking is unfair and unreasonable. People love their jobs here," she said. "And so I get that, I understand that...and you know...is all of it true? You know -- it's negotiations so some of it is not, but the bigger picture is I understand."

She said she couldn't comment on specific statements made by teachers in Monday's meeting -- saying it's illegal for her to talk about collective bargaining discussions.   

Helder said the district has the money to pay teachers more, and will have more funds available after the transformation plan goes into effect, but chooses not to use money for teachers.  

"With our ratification process and the rules required in our constitutional bylaws, if we don't have a deal by I think March 19, it's going to get real ugly," said Helder.

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The board also discussed new school boundaries necessitated by the transformation plan, which was approved last year.

GRPS provided maps of those new boundaries Monday evening:

• Elementary school boundaries (pdf)
• Middle school boundaries (pdf)
• High school boundaries (pdf)
• Transportation plan (pdf)

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There was also a fashion show at Monday's meeting, in which proposed student uniforms were modeled.

The uniforms will be phased in during the next three years, according to a GRPS news release. Elementary students will start wearing uniforms in the next school year, followed by middle school students in the 2014-2015 school year, and high school students and alternative schools students in 2015-2016.

FAQ on GRPS boundaries, uniforms and the transformation plan (pdf)

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Online:

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Monthly "Transformation Plan Implementation Meetings" are scheduled for:

• March 19, April 22 and May 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Union High School
• March 20, April 23 and May 22 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Creston High School
• March 25, April 25 and May 23 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ottawa Hills High School