June 07th, 2023

Linn Dems join GAPS teachers on picket line

May 24
About 250 Greater Albany Public Schools teachers and supporters, including a number of Linn County Democrats, picketed May 22 around the GAPS administrative office before a school board meeting. As reported in the Democrat-Herald, the union wants the district to return to the bargaining table for three sessions and resolve what they view as the following contract violations: the district office and principals have scheduled too many staff development hours and won't pay employees for the extra hours; Albany Options School's schedule is longer than the contract allows; the district refuses to honor teachers' step-in-pay salary increases; and the district refuses to give raises to those teachers who do post-graduate work. Among the Linn Democrats on the picket line were Nichole Case, Circe Verba, Nancy Greenman, Keith Kolkow, Mark and Susan Leonard and Ben Watts. School Board member Michael Thomson also participated. "I think before the school year is out the district should sit down with the GAEA and work on these issues," he said.

Linn County Dems Nichole Case, Keith Kolkow, Mark Leonard and Susan Leonard walked the picket line with teachers May 22.

Ben Watts joined the picket line.

School board member Michael Thomson and Keith Kolkow.