Dear Editor:

I read the following piece to the CSD School Committee at its Jan. 13, 2015 meeting:

I am here to speak of why I am concerned about working without a current contract. You speak of appreciating what we do, so why are you hesitant to demonstrate your appreciation? The committee members' actions speak louder than their words.

We are educated professionals. We spend each day dedicated to educating the young people of this community. Many of us spend many hours above and beyond what our contracts require planning lessons, grading papers, and reading professional journals and books about education. We make phone calls, answer emails and meet with parents, and/or administrators.

Some teachers form clubs to enhance the students' experiences. Those meetings take time to plan and hold. Often teachers provide snacks and other supplies for club members at their own expense. We are not compensated for the extra hours we spend with these groups, including the Garden Club, Math Club, Jump Rope Club, etc.

We spend our own dollars to provide clothing, food, shoes, boots, books, supplies, etc., to assist our students. We (raise funds) to be able to provide experiences and field trips for our students that take them outside of the Boothbay region. We act as chaperones on trips, at dances, etc., so that these events happen, without further compensation.

Many teachers hold after-school programs to help students with homework, without being compensated. We are often expected to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of retired teachers, or ed techs who are not replaced, without further compensation. Our planning time is filled with more and more requests for meetings. Often, teacher planning time is taken up by students, because of poor weather conditions, as students are required to stay in their rooms for recess.

As teachers we are also expected to follow through on initiatives beyond teaching students per administrative requests for curriculum design (Atlas), Restorative Practices training, the transition to the new teacher evaluation system including the iObservation software, the transition to standards-based grading and diplomas, and NEASC accreditation; each of these tasks is a demanding initiative beyond our regular teaching, adding to the pressure of working without a current contract.

We are here tonight, I believe, to understand your actions.

Thank you.

Hildy Johnson

BRES Teacher

BREA Rep