Education must become a priority in North Dakota. Just the other day we sat at a meeting at our local school (which, by the way, is one of the best around). The negotiations between board and teachers had reached an impasse (for the first time in over 20 years), so the North Dakota Education Fact Finding Commission was convened.
The purpose of the meeting was for the commission to hear the facts from both the teachers and the board. The teachers spoke and the board spoke. We in the audience were given a chance to speak and some did. The commission listened. The process was amicable. The commission will make its recommendation to the school district soon.
The board presented evidence that they cannot be financially responsible to the school district and also bring teacher salaries up further (even though the base still would be at the very minimum in North Dakota). "There is no more money. We're 'maxed' out!" The same is heard all over North Dakota. So, even though what our teachers are requesting would still leave them dead last in rank of salaries, 51st among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the school boards say they cannot agree to these increases.
What I realized at the meeting was that there were two people present representing those who could make a big difference in the future of our schools. Sen. Russell Thane, R-Wahpeton, and Rep. Arden Anderson, D-Wahpeton, from the 25th District were visitors to our fact-finding hearing. Our legislators are the ones who have asked for our trust that they can get the job done in Bismarck.
Our next Legislature has some crucial business to take care of. One of the most important items of business will be to begin to secure the future of education in North Dakota. Our state senators and representatives can walk no longer on both sides of the fence (winking at each other along the way). Either they find a way for education or they don't.
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There is another group who can do something. That group is you and me. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot say we value our wonderful teachers who provide top-notch education for our children and allow policies to remain that show so little regard for the well-being of those teachers. We cannot say we want to improve conditions for teachers in the state while refusing to pay for those improvements. We can't have it both ways.
The hour is late, but education in North Dakota can still be saved. We can do it. Are we willing to stand up? Education must become a priority in North Dakota.
Reinhart lives in Walcott, N.D.
