This year, on April 27, educators in the Lexington Education Association (LEA) reached an agreement with the administration regarding their contracts, ending the long-term conflict over better working conditions. The current contract provides teachers several benefits, including reasonable paid-leave systems and a more significant cost of living adjustment.
“The biggest piece is that teachers who had five classes will all be down to four within the next year or so. This is huge. Allowing teachers to do right by kids, have a manageable workload, be able to get to know their students, etc. is invaluable. The only reason we, teachers, are here at a high school, rather than a college or university, is because we fundamentally love high school students,” Robin Strizhak, Co-President and Negotiation Chair of the LEA, said.
However, these benefits, as described by Strizhak, only came after a tumultuous period of contract negotiations. While this conflict was difficult to navigate, many educators agree that in the end, everyone was working towards the same goal.
“The reality is that we, the teachers and the administrators in the Central Office, are more aligned than not. We all want to do the best we can for our kids. It is the way in which we achieve that result that is different,” Strizhak said.
As of today, teachers say they feel happier, more appreciated, and excited to continue with their work. They are able to spend more time interacting with students and have more freedom to take time away from work when needed.
“There is a noticeable positive difference in many of the school buildings. We got a lot of things that we didn’t expect that we would,” Strizhak said.
The new contract has boosted morale and provided a general sense of relief across the board. However, there is still more to be done. Of the LEA teachers union’s four units, A, C, D, and tech, Unit D, composed of executive assistants and school support personnel, is still fighting for its own contract.
“We can celebrate our great contract, but we also want to keep in mind that Unit D is still working really hard for theirs,” Abigail Coyne, an English teacher at Lexington High School and LEA representative, said.
While negotiations continue, the contract changes have already begun to positively impact students. Teachers are seeing a healthier work-life balance that improves the quality of work they are able to put in for the school and students.
“Students reap the benefits of the contract because teachers are in a happier place so they’re willing to volunteer more of their services outside of the contract school day,” Andrew Baker, the LHS principal, said.
Activities that teachers volunteer for include advising clubs, supervising dances, and coaching sports. Now that teachers receive more support from their contract, they can focus on forging important connections with their students through one-on-one time with students. When teaching is able to be an enjoyable and livable profession, educators are willing to stay in Lexington long-term.
“This contract actually allows people to settle in and stay here for longer and kind of create lasting roots here in Lexington, which is a big, big part of the whole school community and district culture,” Coyne said.
