By Stephen Floyd
Eight candidates are running for four seats on the Silver Falls School District (SFSD) Board at a time when labor negotiations have soured and teachers are ready to strike.
Our Town reached out to each candidate for their perspective on the relationship between SFSD and the Silver Falls Education Association (SFEA), as well as their goals as candidates.
An initial round of answers is below.Additional questions and responses will be in the May 1 edition of Our Town.
Question: How would you describe the district’s relationship with the teacher’s union, and what would you do to strengthen that relationship?
Zone 1
• Philip Wiesner said there is a discernible feeling of mistrust between the parties. He said the district and union need to look beyond their differences, but not before looking hard at why their relationship became so contentious.
“In general, negotiations get viewed as a money argument,” said Wiesner “This has signs of being much more than that and something money can’t solve long-term.”
• Jo Tucker has been watching both sides and said some of the rhetoric from the district has gone too far, such as the term “perverse incentives” used recently by the board to describe SFEA’s class size proposals. She said the relationship with SFEA can be fixed, which is vital for students, staff and the administration.
“I think people need to be truly heard and respected,” said Tucker. “They need to feel and actually be supported. I have faith that things can and will get better.”
Zone 3
• Derrick Foxworth Jr. acknowledged there is tension between the district and union, and hopes they can find a negotiated solution that gives both sides what they need. He said, if elected, he would push for creation of a Teacher Advisor Committee to meet regularly and offer guidance to the board on issues affecting educators.
“I find that those closest to the work often have great ideas and solutions,” said Foxworth. “I think the creation of such a group would provide teachers with a greater and more consistent voice at the district level.”
• Dixon Bledsoe said the relationship “is in dire need of help” after a “brutal” year of collective bargaining, and the path forward will involve listening more, talking less and being honest. He said there would be no winners in a strike and hopes a compromise solution can be found.
“As we come out of COVID, which was devastating in so many ways, it does make intuitive and logical sense to compromise on the last two remaining areas of dispute (class size and compensation) so that we can keep kids in school learning,” said Bledsoe.
Zone 6
• Eliza Torlyn said she would be disappointed to see a strike and hopes both sides reach an agreement beforehand. She said a collective bargaining agreement must be competitive enough to attract skilled teachers, but within the means the district is able to allow.
“To help strengthen the relationship between ‘the district’ and ‘the teachers,’ I would encourage them to listen to each other with a compassionate ear, to express gratitude for the work each team is doing, and to actively review together what does and doesn’t work with their mutual expectations,” said Torlyn.
• Joshua Ort said prolonged labor negotiations are just one factor straining the relationship between the district and teachers. He said student behavioral issues related to the COVID-19 years, class reconfigurations at two grade schools, and new curriculum standards have made teaching a more difficult challenge.
“To strengthen this relationship, I believe that fostering an attitude of openness and a willingness to listen and learn from both parties is essential,” said Ort, who also called on parents to become more actively involved in supporting educators.
Zone 7
• Incumbent Board Member Tom Buchholz said the relationship was “more difficult than it should be.” He said both parties want what is best for students and teachers, like appropriate pay and class size, which begs the question, ”Why are we fighting?”
“I would like to see a joint statement of shared values that the teachers and the district agree to that both parties can send to lawmakers in Salem and we can refer back to when tensions arise,” said Buchholz. “The vast majority of resources and rules are directed from Salem and the most effective change for our kids will occur from there.”
• Jesse Smith said the relationship is “contentious” and acknowledged the disappointment some teachers must have felt during recent stalled mediation sessions. He said both parties are ultimately part of the same team and need to balance the district’s budget with the need for competitive contracts.
“We have to work together, we have to respect one another, and we have to listen in good faith,” said Smith. “…And unfortunately the current members of the School Board haven’t been able to do that. So I hope our community will agree that it’s time for a change in leadership.”
The Silverton Grange is hosting a candidate forum Sunday, April 23, for those running for the Silver Falls School District Board and the public is invited to attend.
The forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall, 201 Division St. N.E., Silverton.
Each of the eight candidates will give an opening statement, then the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions. The event will be moderated by Grange President Cayla Catino.
All eight candidates have confirmed they plan to attend. The Grange said it will not be endorsing any candidates and said the evening will simply be informational.
