Letter's facts wrong on teacher salaries

To the editor: The letter published in the Sept. 24 Fence Post from Mr. Thomas Anderson not only misrepresents the teachers of District 211, but it misrepresents his relationship with the teachers and staff.

At no point has the union tried to misrepresent the facts of their salary increases.

The teacher's union has, instead, worked to help the public understand the complicated system by which they are paid.

What Mr. Anderson misrepresents is that all of the most experienced teachers in District 211 will not see any further increase based on experience.

At 19 years of experience the experience steps stop.

That means for those teachers with the most experience in the classroom from 19 to 35 plus years of experience do not see step increases. My concern here lies with the true intentions of Mr. Anderson, who tries to appeal to the public as a thrifty, man-of-compromise.

Yet, when we evaluate Mr. Anderson's past relationship as board of education member and constant supporter we discover a litany of comments and actions that have always pitted him at odds with the teachers and staff of this great district.

It was Mr. Anderson -- who now speaks to the district's need to be fiscally responsible -- who only a year ago was publicly endorsing the superintendent's decision to encourage the board of education to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in an attempt to terminate an innocent and highly qualified teacher of over 20 years.

The teacher's union recognizes that pursuing the interests of the teachers may at times put them at odds with some members of the community, but it is also vital that as we work through these difficult times we recognize the true wolf in sheep clothing, which in this situation works to sow discord and not, as he would like you to believe, encourage "collaboration and cooperation."

Jason Spoor, vice president

District 211 Teacher's Union