Jordan School District teachers prepared to strike

WEST JORDAN — About 500 people showed up to Jordan School Board meeting Tuesday night to let their opinions be heard regarding the district's budget cut plans, which includes laying off 500 employees.

One man held up a sign that read "Welcome to next year's classrooms," to which the audience cheered and clapped.

Members and supporters of the teacher's union, Jordan Education Association, rallied outside the packed auditorium. Students and educators held up signs that read "Speak for Tomorrow Today" and hoisted a 30-foot-long banner featuring pictures of teachers.

"I hope the school board listens to us since it's our future they are affecting," said Chase Schumaker, 16, a sophomore at Bingham High School, as he held up a section of the banner.

Schumaker participates in football and wrestling and said he's worried about the plans of some educators to not put in their usual time with athletics and extracurricular activities.

Daniel Melville, who teaches chemistry and coaches football at Riverton High School, said some teachers are talking about abandoning their obligations to athletics and extracurricular activities because they have too little time and too many kids.

"With the lack of prep time, they are going to become an impossibility," Melville said. "Either extracurricular is going to suffer or the classroom will suffer."

Melville said he doesn't think a strike is necessary, as it would just "alienate us from the parents."

Other Jordan District teachers say they are prepared to strike, depending on what happens at tonight's Jordan School Board meeting.

"Yes, I will walk out if that's what it takes to wake them up," said a Jordan District teacher who doesn't want her name printed for fear of retaliation.

Jordan Education Association president Robin Frodge told the Deseret News a walkout or strike is not definite. The intention is to attend tonight's meeting and share information with the board and public. From there, a series of public information events are planned before a strike would even be considered.

The district is trying to slice $30 million from its budget, which could mean eliminating jobs, increasing class sizes and reducing programs. Of the 500 positions to be axed, 250 will be teaching positions. High school teachers also would lose their prep period and teach an additional class in order to mitigate class size increases, which could be four children per class.

Some teachers — and especially coaches — say they are going to refuse to work more than their contract hours and will only do the minimum expected of their jobs until district officials and board members start listening. This means no extra time spent on athletics, tutoring, clubs and other extracurricular activities.