Demand the Schools Columbia Heights Students & Educators Deserve!

Sign this petition to let the union know you support their demands for smaller class sizes, class caps, and counselors in schools!  

Teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions. The more we do to support and compensate teachers, the better our schools will be for our students! The contract is the biggest way educators and our community can have a voice in our district. 

Columbia Heights Federation of Teachers (Local #710) is prioritizing the following changes during negotiations: 

• Salary and benefit increases that help solve the educator shortage and retain our high-quality educators.
• Changing the language and ratios on “class caps” so that classrooms are not overcrowded and teachers can focus more on students who need additional support, such as English Learners and Special Education students. 
• Adding counselors to the contract, so that students will have access to academic support.  There are currently no counselors in Columbia Heights. 
• Bringing Early Childhood and Family Education teachers to the teacher salary schedule to recognize their important impact on our students and families.
• Changing the language on subbing, so teachers are adequately compensated for supervising during their prep time (a frequent issue due to the teacher and substitute shortage).

Our commitment to our students each day gives us an undeniable purpose to advocate for everything our students deserve, which includes making sure that as educators we are respected and valued for our work. We are committed to creating strong schools, which lead to strong communities. A contract that honors our commitment is needed to keep high-quality educators in our district!

Right now, the district’s contract proposals ignore historic investments in public education by the Legislature and will do nothing to remedy the educator shortage that’s burning out teachers, and denying students the time and attention they deserve in smaller classes.  

Thank you for your support of educators in Columbia Heights!