Banana Republic of Spring Lake Park

The Strib reporting on the Crosby- Ironton teacher's strike is laughable. No doubt, with negotiations at an impasse, and the district struggling to get children back in the classroom, the Strib reports that 35% of the teachers and - OH NO - over half of the union negotiators are either getting laid off or an involuntary furlough.

The move would lay off four teachers and place 26 striking teachers on
unrequested leave of absence. Among those targeted for leaves are four of the teachers union's seven negotiators.

The proposed leaves were based strictly on the teachers' seniority and certification, Lawrie said. That four of the seven negotiators were listed "was pure coincidence," Lawrie said. A fifth negotiator, teachers union president Stan Nagorski, plans to retire.

"Vindictive," said Nagorski. "That's how it appears."

So Stan Nagorski tries to claim that union negotiators are being unfairly targeted. Perhaps he senses that the public support is with the school district and the only way to win support is by playing the victim card. Somehow I can't imagine Stan sitting idly by while the school district violated the bargaining agreement and handpicked who they were going to furlough.

It sounds like the school district followed a seniority plan. Furthermore, is Stan and his union buddies going to ask the good people of Crosby-Ironton school district to fund the $1 million loss the school has incurred so him and his union buddies can go on strike.

Sorry, Stan. You guys have a good thing and your blowing it. Decent wages, tenure, summers off, a nice retirement package. And no worries about getting your jobs outsourced to Malaysia, Mexico, or India. Sorry, I have no sympathy. And the worst of it, Stan, is the negotiators still have to do their union jobs. Do they get any compensation for that work? Hmmmmmmm.

Especially rich are some of the comments from some of the teachers.

Mike Beseres, a district shop teacher for 23 years, is among the negotiators slated for an unrequested leave. He said the district had four shop teachers when Lawrie became superintendent three years ago. He could become the third to lose his job, he said.

"This is not Edina; it's a very vocational area and the kids are losing guidance," he said. "I almost feel like these kids are being treated as second-class citizens by a superintendent and board that doesn't appreciate their needs."

"It's been absurd -- just like these cuts," said Nicki Jacobs, district special education instructor for 15 years who is on the unrequested leave list. Jacobs, a union negotiator, called the board's agenda "retaliatory," but said "it will make us stronger, more united, more resolved.

"What the school board has done is a travesty. Not to us. To the kids. They're the ones who will really are suffer."

Mike and Nikki, you and the teachers need to stop hiding behind the children. The school board didn't go on strike. You did. Is the strike about the students or you and your teaching buddies trying to get a pay raise? If the kids are so damn important to you then get off your asses, swallow your pride and get back to work.

After all, it's for the children.