A letter sent to Boulder Valley School District parents telling them of steps officials will take should there be a teacher strike was not meant to influence negotiations, a district spokesman said.
But Melissa Tingley, head of the teachers union, said the letter is trying to get parents to take sides in the conflict between the Boulder Valley Education Association and the district.
“It’s a shame that the district is trying to create unnecessary fear with the parent community,” Tingley said.
Mediation between the district and the 1,500-member teacher union collapsed Sept. 17, and the association filed notice with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment of a possible strike.
The union wants changes to the professional salary schedule that will move pay higher more quickly. The district says it can’t afford the changes this year.
The letter sent by e-mail and through regular mail from Boulder Valley superintendent Chris King to schools and parents outlines the district’s contingency plans should a “job action” occur.
A job action could be an actual strike, high teacher absenteeism or just teaching during the school day but not before or after class hours, the letter said.
The district is increasing its substitute teacher pool and working with principals on plans to keep schools open, offering educational services and keeping kids safe, the letter said.
“If it is not possible to keep your child’s school open on a given day, we will notify you through the media and school-based communication that the school will be closed for the day,” King said.
District spokesman Briggs Gamblin said Boulder Valley only wanted to assure parents that learning will go on should there be a strike or slowdown.
“We just wanted to let them know what we are planning to do, but hopefully that won’t happen,” Gamblin said.
Tingley said she hopes the district will be open to more negotiations and not a work stoppage. “We just hope the district won’t force us down that path,” she said.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
