By Hector Flores
Since August of 2004, the district and the union have been embroiled in a bitter contract dispute, which some parents say has spilled over into the classroom. ³We want the contract negotiations settled,² said Danie Sanders, a parent with children enrolled at McVey who joined the crowd at the Salisbury Center on The Plain Road in Salisbury. ³The last budget passed the first time because parents expected a contract, but nothing happened.²
Madeline Tavel, whose children attend Barnum Woods, explained that she attended the march in defense of her children and community. ³We just want this little war to end,² she said, ³because it has put a black eye on East Meadow and we are fed up.²
Tavel pointed out that the parents are not choosing sides, but simply want the dispute resolved. "We are going to continue this until something is done," she said.
Eileen Napolitano, also of Barnum Woods, agreed, saying that parents are fighting for their children¹s education. "The teachers¹ contract is affecting the children, and we want our voices heard," Napolitano said. "The Barnum Woods community is taking the lead. We are not blaming anyone, and we understand that it is a relationship between the union and the district. Unfortunately, this disagreement is no longer about the issues, but about principles. We want both parties to set their differences aside and think about why they are here, which is for the children."
Michele Bennett, another Barnum Woods parent, echoed Napolitano¹s comments, saying that it is the children who are being overlooked. "It has been three years already, and it's starting to trickle down to the children and families," Bennett said.
Dispute over class photos
Tavel said that the parents' rally was spurred in part by disagreements over class photos, which were taken last month. Some elementary school teachers were not allowed to appear in photos with their classes because they insisted on wearing the black T-shirts they have become known for as the negotiations have dragged on, which sport the words ³Negotiate Fair Contract² in neon-yellow letters.
Leon Campo, deputy superintendent of the East Meadow School District, said that the district's policy on staff dress on Picture Day became an issue when some parents complained about teachers¹ desire to wear the T-shirts. "These photos are important," Campo said. "They are a lasting memory for parents and children and we want to keep it pleasant."
Campo explained that at Bowling Green, only one fifth-grade teacher showed up for the class photos wearing the T-shirt. At Barnum Woods, parents expressed their concerns and got involved in the discussions before Picture Day, and as a result, Campo said, all of the teachers dressed ³appropriately² and appeared in every class picture.
At Meadowbrook, however, Campo said that ³a majority² of teachers were wearing the T-shirts, which led district officials to decide that no teachers would be allowed to appear in the photos. "We were not going to differentiate between staff,² Campo said, ³so we decided not to allow any teacher to take their photos.²
But Mary Barpszek, vice president of EMTA and a teacher at Bowling Green, said that many teachers were upset that some were excluded from their class photos. "They are upset because it¹s been three years without a contract," she said. "When the teachers wear the shirts, they are just expressing their First Amendment right."
³After we heard about this photo issue,² Tavel said, ³we said that enough was enough and decided to hold the march.²
The negative impact
An East Meadow High School parent who asked to be identified only as "Hope" said that some of the district¹s older students have been more deeply affected by the contract dispute than the younger students.
"It is just a minority of teachers who are doing this," she said. "They don't want to give the kids extra help. Some teachers, instead of teaching, mention their contract negotiations during classes, and there is nothing the kids can do about it."
Hope added that some teachers have also refused to write college recommendations. "It's probably only two teachers, " she said. "But it still affects the kids."
John Gallagher, president of the EMTA, said that from his perspective, the teachers¹ actions have not impacted work in their classrooms, and added that the union favors parental involvement. "When I heard the parents were getting involved, I thought that was wonderful news," Gallagher said. "They pay our salaries, and their involvement is only good news. I only hope they continue to be involved."
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
