Lauren McLennan's comments to the School Board on 9/21
My name is Lauren McLennan. I have been a teacher at Mar Vista High School for the past 10 years. I am also a member of the Sweetwater Education Association Board of Directors, having been elected just this year. I attribute my recent involvement in SEA and my quick assent to leadership to not only my own sense of duty and determination, but to you. Your complete refusal to negotiate fairly with the educators of this district spurred me on to help inspire and organize our members for action. It is my belief that you will soon regret your actions because you have awakened the tiger, metaphorically speaking. I also believe, however, that we will be all the better for it. Through this experience, we will discover the power that has always been in us and we will be more determined than ever to protect our students and their right to a quality education.
On October 7th, you will have another opportunity to settle our contract fairly. Should you choose not to negotiate again on that day, I want you to know that we will not despair. In the past few months, I have seen the educators of this district come together in an amazing show of unity. We have formed new relationships across campuses that will last for years, long after you are gone. Through the power of our growing Political Action Committee and fund, we will soon be rid of you, and we will move forward together as a more unified body with more power to help our students accomplish their dreams and to help their children accomplish their dreams. We will continue to do what we do best, what we are most passionate about, and you will forever be remembered as the board and superintendent that tried to destroy what we hold most dear—the Sweetwater family.
It is in your best interest to settle this contract NOW, even though you may have already sealed your fate as a result of your obstinance and complete failure to realize that it is SEA members and members of all the other labor unions that hold this district together. Your attempts to divide us will be unsuccessful and will actually have the opposite effect.
On October 7th, it should be your goal to try and save face by settling this contract and putting a stop to this nonsense. When you meet in a few minutes to discuss negotiations, you will probably not discuss my commentary, but I know it will be on your mind. Now is the time for you to make a different decision. Now is the time for you to attempt to make amends. Further delay on your part will only cause more damage to your careers and reputations. We will rally educators, parents, and community members like never before, and WE WILL take back this district.
Roberto Rodriguez's comments to the board on 9/21
Dr. Gandara, President Cartmill, Boardmembers, my name is Roberto Rodriguez, I’m Secretary of SEA, I’ve been a teacher in this District since February of 1987, and I find myself compelled to speaking to this body for the first time in that 22 year span.
I am here to thank you. For it’s through your actions and decisions over the last year that the Sweetwater Education Association and it’s 2,200 members are finally removing the label of “Sleeping Giant.” In the past, although we’ve been one of the largest labor organization in the South Bay, we’ve been unable or unwilling to use that power. It’s been suggested that in part that was due to friendly relations with the School Board. It’s safe to say, those days are clearly gone.
On many occasions over the past year, SEA leadership has found board members to be uninformed at best, and ignorant at worst, as to the events taking place at the bargaining table. And yet, even when our leadership has done its best to inform you on proposals that have been made by our bargaining team, you’ve chosen to stay the course and be followers of a man who is here today, will probably be gone tomorrow, and will leave you with a mess at your doorsteps.
But have no fear. SEA and it’s members will make sure that you are relieved from dealing with this mess. While some have vilified Dr. Gándara, everybody knows that it’s the School Board that are collectively the Superintendent’s boss. And since some of you have relinquished your roles as leaders, we will assist you in relinquishing your seats on the board.
This is not the time for board members who want the title as part of their business literature. This isn’t the time for board members who want the position as a stepping stone. This is not the time for board members who simply want the perks without doing the hard work.
I guarantee we will remember who has supported us. We will remember who has spoken to us as if we were misbehaving children when teachers were forced to plead for their jobs. We will remember who was angry at Dr. Gandara for taking the pay-cut off the table. We will remember the consistent anti-union voting record.
This is NOT the time for empty shirts in comfortable chairs. What we need is leaders. Leaders who recognize to their core that the educators of this district are it’s most valuable asset and not just give lip service to that on a form letter. Leaders who recognize that the only way to achieve our collective goal of preparing our students for a brighter future is to seek an honest dialogue and to approach bargaining with a true sense of equity and fairness. We need TRUE leaders.
The members of SEA at our recent General Membership meeting have made a resounding statement of support for these ideals by increasing their donations to our PAC in numbers we have never seen before. SEA has a mandate from it’s members to transform this school board. That is a mandate we intend to follow through with and deliver on. We intend to NEVER be in this situation again.
So once again, I want to thank you for your intransigence and bringing us to the brink, for by doing so you have awakened our membership, and I assure you, regardless of the outcome on October 7, we will forevermore be vigilant.
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