With the start of a new school year only days away I think it is important to re-emphasize the MTA’s desire to be a part of a clear and effective system of communication that will only serve to benefit all.   Without clear, consistent, and open communication, the potential for misunderstandings is always a possibility and the ramifications of poor (or non-existent) communication will be frustrating at best and potentially disastrous at worst.

Recently there have been some major communication gaffes directly involving the MTA and it is necessary to bring them to your attention.  On August 14th, interviews were held for the position of Personal Administrator.  It was extremely upsetting and very unfortunate that at 10:20 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 14th both Gary Day and I were called at our homes and notified that the first interview had begun at 10:00.  Neither of us had been notified regarding the interview details—the date was not confirmed, and the time and location were not communicated nor were any other related pieces of information made available (meeting ahead of time to formulate questions, format/structure of interview process, role of each member, etc.).  It was extremely upsetting and very embarrassing to have somehow been left out of the informational loop.

On Monday, August 27th—the first day of New Teacher Orientation, a near disaster occurred.  The schedule of events specifically designed to welcome and introduce new teachers to the district called for our new teachers to board a bus at Monhagen Middle School between 10:45 -11:00 and be transported to the MTA office for the union’s portion of the morning.  By 11:10 when there was no arrival of the new teachers, a phone call was placed to Monhagen to determine if the bus had left.  It was at this point that we learned no bus had arrived and we subsequently found out that no bus had been ordered by the district.  To add further insult to injury, my name was cited as being the person responsible for ordering the bus!  (To the best of my knowledge I have not been authorized to expend district funds!)  As upsetting as it was to have my name falsely linked to this mistake, it was far worse to have 39 brand new employees left to wait under the broiling sun while a series of calls were placed to secure transportation for them.  This was incredibly embarrassing, and it was very frustrating for our newest members who were left for an hour with nothing to do but wait.  By the time a bus was secured (a huge thank you to Mike Tuttle) and the teachers arrived at the MTA office, we had lost over 45 minutes of our well-planned and very detailed presentation for the newest members of our union.

What is most upsetting about both of these examples if that up to this very minute, no apology has been extended for either incident!  No explanations have been offered, nor has there been any acknowledgement of the phone calls I placed regarding both of these occurrences.  I am just incredulous at the lack of common courtesy and the total absence of anyone taking responsibility.  It is extremely difficult not to feel insulted and ignored.  As a member of an educational community, I assume that everyone should model the behaviors expected of our students—taking responsibility, offering apologies, inquiring as to the well-being of others and/or making amends are all examples of  appropriate responses when a mistake has been made.  As teachers, are we not valued enough to be the recipients of courteous behavior from the leaders of our district?

As I have been conducting exit interviews over the summer, many of the teachers who have resigned from the district have mentioned the frustration of poor communication as a factor in seeking employment elsewhere.  And, as recently as today, I have been receiving phone calls from members asking basic beginning of the year questions because they have received no official information from the school district.

With the start of a new school year only days away, we need to know that timely, clear and professional communication will become commonplace across the district.  I am not happy to have to publicly ask for something that should be a natural occurrence.