Collective bargaining could help students and teachers in Fayette County schools | Opinion

Teacher contracts these days aren’t just about fair pay and wages. While those certainly are important — especially to help districts recruit and retain educators — today, they include many provisions that make a huge difference for students.

But in Fayette County, the 6,000 - 7,000 teachers and school staff don’t have a meaningful, independent voice to participate in decisions that directly affect students. They often feel silenced or ignored, and the threat of retaliation for speaking out or disagreeing with district administration leaves employees sine vocibus “without voices,” stifling genuine discussion and lasting change. They effectively have no outlet to discuss and help solve problems. This is no way to improve student outcomes or employee morale in Fayette County Public Schools.

Districts around the country have reaped numerous benefits when teachers and district administrators collaborate through collective bargaining, gains that could happen here IF teachers were permitted to be genuine partners with school leaders.

For instance, many teacher contracts place limits on class sizes and if that number is exceeded, teachers earn additional compensation, such as in Washington, D.C. Smaller class sizes allow for more individualized attention and reduce classroom chaos. To ensure that students have enrichment and a safe place to be after school, the Cincinnati, Ohio, contract includes provisions requiring student clubs, activities and sports offerings. In Minneapolis, the union successfully negotiated for more school counselors and social workers. And across the country, teacher unions have used their collective power to advocate for wraparound services at the school site for students and their families, including medical and dental clinics, food pantries and before- and after-school programs.

The most recent Washington, D.C., contract provides teachers with more planning time. Fayette educators would welcome that, given their dedicated but incredibly exhausting schedule before, during and after school, including team meetings, working through lunch breaks to help struggling students, parent and administrator communications and meetings, mandatory weekly meetings after school, lesson preparation, grading homework, coordinating trips and events with school obligations.

Teachers, school social workers, guidance counselors and others who see students daily are the canaries in the coal mine. They see and hear what’s going on, what’s missing in classrooms and what needs fixing. But they need a willing set of ears so that the situations can be remedied. That can only happen at the bargaining table. Without educator input in Fayette County Public Schools, systemic issues remain unaddressed, creating a cycle of frustration and burnout among our educational professionals. And that leads to increased turnover, which is bad for students and quite costly for the district.

When teachers are adequately supported and able to have a unified voice at the bargaining table to solve problems, students reap the benefits. There’s no downside to this and studies suggest that districts with strong unions are associated with higher student achievement, particularly for low-income students.

Educators want what students, parents and other community members want and need. Collective bargaining is the key to strong, more effective learning environments that create long-lasting positive outcomes for all. I urge the Fayette County school board to approve collective bargaining. Let’s have all voices at the table so that we can give our students, teachers and schools the tools they need to thrive.

Adrielle Camuel is the State Representative for House District 93 in Fayette County and an FCPS employee.