Bismarck, North Dakota - News

WENDY GRAFF
Mandan By DON BENDER
Wilton By MARILYN OSTRANDER
Bismarck

I believe what has happened with teacher negotiations in Mandan is sad. The fact-finding committee published a letter summarizing its findings in the Mandan News on Friday.

I ask, what happens after the letter is published? Does the fact-finding committee and the mediation process have any purpose? Teachers either have to accept the school board negotiating team's latest proposal or they don't have a job.

What kind of mediation is this? In the end, it ends up being the school board's way or the highway for teachers. The Fact Finding Committee made its conclusions based on impartial scrutiny of both sides' proposals. The school board has made little or no attempt to follow these recommendations. The MEA negotiating committee was willing to meet with the board on Aug. 18, and the school board negotiating committee wouldn't meet with them. What kind of negotiation is this? The process ends up being a joke, with the school board getting their way in the end.

My mother has taught for the Mandan public school system for the past 28 years. Our family knows how many extra hours and hard work go into teaching. It shows how little the Mandan School Board negotiating team values my mother and other experienced, hard-working teachers. I graduated from the Mandan Public School System and have a deep appreciation for all the teachers.

My husband and I are also currently residents of Mandan. Mandan residents need to be more aware of the actions of the Mandan School Board and more supportive of teachers. The board is supposed to be representing the interests of their community, but I don't think this is happening. Do the citizens of Mandan want teachers to be treated this way? I don't think so.

Teachers are educating the children of Mandan and deserve a pay increase. The school board approved raises for administrators. The city of Mandan along with the school board approved a new junior high. This new school is greatly needed, but the new school will be nothing without appreciated, dedicated teachers to teach the children. I think the school board's priorities are out of place when they supported a new junior high but won't support appropriate raises for teachers. In the end, it shows just how much educators and education in Mandan are valued.

No one retires at 51

My hat is off to Reps. Al Carlson, R- Fargo, and Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood. Finally somebody with some clout is taking a stance. I, too, am wondering how Elaine Little, former DOCR director, can do what she is doing and still collect her severance pay for retiring early.

First off, I do not know how things work with retiring early, but I am smart enough to know that nobody retires at 51 years old and receives full benefits. Did she start working for state government when she was only 21 years old? By the law supposedly set by the N.D. State Legislature in 2003, it says early retirement for full pension, if the years a person worked for the government and their age equal 85. Figure out the math. At 51 years old and working for the system for 30 years, it still doesn't add up to 85. 51 and 30 equal 81.

In the article (Aug. 27, "Legislators question severance payment"), it says, "Governor Hoeven has the authority to set compensation for his executive office appointees, as long as it is within the agency's spending authority." I, as a taxpayer wonder if it was in his authority to do, now that Little is working for another department within state government. As noted in the article, Little has been hired as director of a multicounty jail and treatment center in Rugby. She starts there on Sept. 1. This is not a private prison. It is still state. Maybe somebody can tell me what the loophole is.

All I know is, I'd like to be able to retire and get a big check and then go back to work for another place, at all of our expense. Something to think about.

Showing leadership

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., has been showing fine leadership lately. His announcement of two major projects in the area goes to show he's a great senator.

Here in Bismarck, a few weeks ago, we saw the groundbreaking of the Northern Plains Commerce Centre. It will serve as an industrial hub for the distribution of goods, and is logistically placed for easy access to rail, road and air transportation. This will continue to ensure Bismarck is a trade center in the Midwest.

Conrad secured $2 million for this exciting project. The money came out of the new highway bill signed by President Bush. As a member of the conference committee that finalized the highway bill, Conrad was definitely looking out for North Dakota.

The other project worth much praise is the coal liquefication plant near Washburn. Conrad secured millions of dollars in federal loans to help get the project off the ground. The plant has the potential to be a $3 billion project. Many jobs will be created including an initial 1,000 construction positions. When operating starts in 2009, 300 permanent positions will then be created.

Conrad's hard work continues to build North Dakota's importance in trade and energy for the future.

Comments

Important information regarding online commenting:
* All online comments are limited to 350 words total.
* Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
* Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.

Name:

Email: (optional)

Comments:

Image Verification: (Case sensitive)