Monday, Sept. 18, 2023 | 2 a.m.
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The recent rash of staff shortages at schools in the Clark County School District should be no surprise. Just what did CCSD and the community expect? The law says that teachers cannot strike, and the lawsuit filed by CCSD against the Clark County Education Association essentially muzzles union members. So, teachers are using the only device they have left: themselves.
Superintendent Jesus Jara says he is disappointed that teachers would “use the children as bargaining chips,” which is rich with irony. His statement is straight out of Politics 101 (and literally uses the children as a propaganda tool). Meanwhile, CCSD is using teachers’ livelihood as a bargaining chip. Staggeringly high inflation, coupled with the loss of 1.8% of their salaries this year, is a significant blow to teachers with children and families of their own.
Now that the teachers union is stifled, CCSD’s plan was clearly just to wait them out. No wonder people aren’t lining up to work for the district. The “staffing shortages” simply begin leveling the playing field.
But who is really damaging the children’s education? The district has over 1,200 teacher vacancies yet refuses to provide pay and respect to attract and keep teachers.
A “staff shortage” may close a school for a day; the damage done by Jara’s failed leadership will last years after he is gone.
