SCHOOL CANDIDATES DISCUSS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Three of the four candidates for the Cape Girardeau Board of Education say they have reservations or oppose collective bargaining for teachers.

All four candidates indicated they would not want to see teachers strikes in the Cape Girardeau School District.

Two candidates Jack Sterrett and incumbent Kathy Swan say they oppose collective bargaining.

Incumbent John Campbell says he's "open to the collective bargaining issue" but skeptical that it could work.

Candidate Steven Wright has not come out for or against collective bargaining. He said he hasn't researched the issue enough to offer an opinion.

But he said, "I basically believe that teachers should not be able to strike."

The Missouri Senate is looking at a bill that would allow collective bargaining for public employees such as teachers. The measure, however, would prohibit strikes.

Lawmakers say there's currently little support for such legislation and it's unlikely the measure will win approval.

Campbell pointed to teachers strikes in Illinois as an example of the problem with collective bargaining. "We don't want strikes in our public schools in Cape Girardeau.

"I'd rather be in the position we are now where we have a partnership with our teachers, where we are not on a confrontational basis," said Campbell.

Swan said, "I am opposed to collective bargaining as a forced means of negotiation and communication."

"I don't think it is beneficial to the students," she said. "If collective bargaining groups can come in here and their focus is on classroom instruction and the welfare of students, that's one thing. But historically, collective bargaining groups have not had their job performance as the focus," she said.

"I think we can be a more effective school district without collective bargaining," said Swan.

Sterrett said he's opposed to collective bargaining because it generally involves a narrow focus. "They are wanting representation for higher salaries and, or, benefits.

"If teachers' groups are literally out on strike, then what you've got is turmoil," he said.

"I don't think collective bargaining is really the route to take," said Sterrett. "To me, it is a short-term fix to a much larger problem, and the problem all comes back to funding."

Open communication between teachers and administrators, not collective bargaining, is the key to a successful partnership, he said.