Just seven weeks before the next one begins, the school year finally ended Monday in Marysville.
A collective sigh of relief is in order for students and parents who endured an outrageous and destructive battle of wills among educators. Last fall’s 49-day teacher strike is a state record we hope is never broken, for the sake of families everywhere.
But feelings of relief mustn’t mask the issues that still face the Marysville School District, issues that could result in further discord if not addressed in a mature, constructive way that no side seemed interested in this school year.
A new superintendent is on the job, one with a reputation for building partnerships. That will be a tall order in Marysville, where communication and collaboration between administrators and teachers was sorely lacking in the months leading up to the strike. Both sides appeared to be more interested in advancing their own agendas than in working together. Personality conflicts were magnified. Emotions frayed; trust was all but destroyed.
Both sides were angling for a showdown, and that’s what they got. The children and families of Marysville got caught in the crossfire. The price they paid, in terms of stress, upset schedules, missed vacations and summer job opportunities, was shamefully high.
As superintendent, much responsibility falls on Larry Nyland to lead the district toward cultural and financial stability. But much also falls to adults throughout the district – teachers, administrators, staff members, school board members and parents – to lead by building bridges that will benefit the district’s children. That means breaking out of silos, and outgrowing an us-vs.-them mentality that leads to conflict and stagnation.
To be sure, serious issues must be addressed by the state. Teacher compensation shouldn’t be subject to the cycles of the economy – a stable source of funding for salaries is needed. In addition, as the state demands more of its teachers and students, ways to reward the best teachers and weed out the worst must be studied. Should teachers be allowed to strike? Perhaps it’s time to answer that question once and for all.
As these issues are hashed out, though, the top priority in the Marysville School District must be to resolve the differences that led to so much bitterness. Only a commitment by all sides to honest communication, respect and collaboration can ensure that this nightmare is never repeated.
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