Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/426191
AEA Advocate x Winter 2014/15 9 A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) is an A-rated school district with excellent schools and the highest number of national board certified teachers in the state, but that's not what it's been known for this past year. Instead, this school district has become the evening entertainment for the rest of the nation because of the antics of the GPS School Board. That's all changing now because of the dedication and efforts of members of the Gilbert Education Association (GEA). The bright spot of election night were the victories of Jill Humphreys and Dr. Charlie Santa Cruz, GEA's recommended candidates for the GPS School Board. "I think the Board and this election drove some people who are really committed to the work they do with our students to take action because they want Gilbert schools to be back to what it was known for as an excelling district," says GEA President Diane Drazinski. The Board was ruled by a Tea-party majority that took extreme actions and made drastic changes in policy that led to the elimination of 80 positions and the exodus of over 800 school employees. Among these actions and changes were rejecting the district's override request, refusing to sign on to teaching of the state's academic standards, withdrawal from the Arizona School Boards Association, attempting to tear out pages of Honors Biology textbooks, limiting speaking time during board meetings, and a general disrespect of school employees and community members. The media reported extensively on the Board's actions and soon the story started grabbing bigger headlines. The vote to redact pages from textbooks has been featured several times on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow show, turning Gilbert into a national embarrassment. The Board majority seemed intent on alienating the community and attacking school employees to pursue their own agenda. Last year, the Board voted to dissolve GEA's professional agreement and bargaining rights, an agreement that had been in place for at least 30 years. The action came about without warning or provocation and led to the misconception that without the agreement, GEA would not exist. In fact, the opposite has happened. AEA Organizational Consultant Ann Smith, who assisted with GEA's campaign, believes Continued on next page Gilbert Education Association Scores Victory in School Board Race GEA members picket outside board meeting after the loss of their professional agreement last summer.