Teachers Union agrees to public negotiations with Douglas County School District

March 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Douglas County, Colorado, March 7, 2012:  Douglas County School District’s Board of Education and the Douglas County Federation of Teachers (DCFT) have agreed to hold ongoing negotiations open to the public. These sessions have previously been held behind closed doors.

“We are thrilled for teachers, families, and taxpayers alike,” says Karin Piper, spokesperson for ParentLedReform.org. “We are grateful that both the school district and teachers union see the benefit of transparency. They are honoring our community with this decision.”

ParentLedReform.org initiated a petition calling for transparency in collective bargaining in Douglas County in February.
Piper posed the question publicly to the Douglas County School Board and DCFT in a February School Board meeting, urging both parties to bring talks into the open.

DCSD board president John Carson and director Doug Benevento indicated in an immediate response that the school board was supportive of the request.
Last night, DCFT president Brenda Smith agreed in a public comment:

“By letting the sunlight shine on our negotiations, parents, taxpayers and employees will benefit by seeing the open dialogue around our district’s priorities,” Smith said when addressing the school board during the bimonthly school board meeting.

“We’re happy they agree with us,” replied DCSD board president Carson later in the evening.

Piper is scheduled to testify March 8, 2012, on HB 1118, which would make transparency in collective bargaining mandatory for all Colorado school districts.

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ParentLedReform.Org is a multi-issue united parent network which leads meaningful reforms for America's future.

We research complex issues and policies which impact families and make them understandable.

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