The presence of a sign hanging at the Holiday Market Shopping Center caused a stir at the Cottonwood Union School District board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
The Cottonwood Teachers Association brought up the sign, which hangs near the location teachers have been picketing about their salary contract.
A phrase on the sign reads: "Please take your negative protest to your place of work or to the district office where it belongs."
Teachers association member Daneka Miller said the Cottonwood teachers who have been picketing in front of the shopping center are simply exercising their right to inform the community about their situation.
"We have a right to stand out on a public street and hold our informational signs. We have done nothing negative, and we have said nothing negative about anybody," said Miller.
Local businessman Doug Matheson, owner of Big D's BBQ, was present at the meeting to share his side of the story.
"I have a great deal of respect for everyone of you that are a teacher. You do a great job," he said.
"My concern with what you are doing is that if one car doesn't turn in that parking lot because of you standing out front, then that is one patron that I probably lost," he said.
The Big D's BBQ owner said that he and unnamed others at the shopping center contributed to have the sign made.
"You are hurting my business and other businesses," Matheson said.
Miller, of the teachers association, expressed concern that the sign may be a conflict of interest with district board member Jim Seale, whom she said operates in the shopping center.
"I'm really curious about that because it is hanging from Jim Seale's office on Jim Seale's building" Miller said. "I'm thinking that is a conflict of interest for him to be hanging something that is negatively against us."
Board member Seale was not present at the meeting to respond.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 1
DIDYAHEAR writes:
Uninformed, I think all the information has come out recently and I think you've lost a lot of your parental support. Good luck, cottonwoodmom and dante, who are both teachers I might add, with your pointless battle. It's a joke, most of the Cottonwood community would kill for what you make now, you are all just being greedy. You should just be thankful you have jobs. Cottonwood Union school district needs to clean house and get rid of the teachers that have thrown the biggest fits. I feel sorry for the children of Cottonwood, they have been mistreated by the teachers long enough. Kudos to Mrs. Kizer, Mrs. Boyle, Mrs. Brogoitti, Mrs. Fitch, Mrs. Randolph, Mrs. Tamagni, Mrs. Stevens, Mr & Mrs. Doty, Mrs. Koonfield,Mr. Fuller, and all of the other teachers who have been behaving like civilized adults and Shame on the CTA Reps. who have been instigating the protesting, strikes and the children strike last year, shame on all of you, you know who you are. What are you teaching our children, where is your work ethic, your values. You have all gradually started doing less and less for the children, what are you being paid for? When will you do your job? Just curious.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.