A Force In Education?

Power. Influence. Energy. Strength. Movement. Control. Compulsion. Mighty. Firm. Power exerted against will or consent. A group of people organized and trained for a specific purpose.

Force.

How significant is it that the Poudre Education Association teachers union openly states a goal of being a “political force”?

Force is a powerful thing, pun-intended, so we wonder if the community would be wise to ask some questions and have a clear understanding of the PEA's leadership, influence, and connections within our area. Would it be wise to understand this group that is interested in controlling the operational structure designed to educate over 25,000 local children?

How Does the Union Operate?

The PEA currently includes approximately 1400 Poudre School District employees. Through PSD, these employees send approximately $90,000 each month to the PEA via direct deposit of union dues.

The PEA is led by former PSD teacher John Robinson, and we were surprised to learn that despite working for the union, Robinson is actually a paid employee of Poudre School District, contracted as PEA President and specifically assigned to work for the PSD Board of Education.

So the President of the local teachers union is a publicly paid employee of the elected PSD Board of Education.

Hmmmm. Power. Influence. Control. Okay. We are starting to get the picture.

According to tax filings, the PEA receives over $1 million dollars annually from PSD employees.

Could a million dollars provide quite a bit of power, control, and influence? We think maybe it could.

We were also interested to learn that the teachers union and associated political committees were the primary financial contributors to the election campaigns for all seven of the current PSD Board of Education directors.

The union and its associated organizations have also contributed thousands of dollars to the current Board of Education campaigns of PEA endorsed candidates Jessica Zamora, Conor Duffy, and Kevin Havelda. Given the massive assistance these candidates receive from the unions, would it be reasonable to ask what the unions receive in exchange? How is the union benefitted by ensuring the election of their preferred candidates?

In addition to significant financial resources, the PEA also has extensive organizational capabilities designed to get their preferred candidates elected. During the 2021 PSD school board election season, the PEA was visited by none other than Becky Pringle, the powerful president of the 3.2 million member National Education Association. The PEA posted photos of her visit on their website, demonstrating their display of their organized election operation. In local elections when voter turnout is a key contributor to election success, the PEA clearly uses its operational structure and access to its 1400 PSD employees to help elect its preferred candidates. Zoom in on the photo. It's all there.

So let’s summarize:

• The PEA has a stated goal of power and control.

• The PEA has access to millions of dollars.

• The PEA uses that money to elect PSD Board of Education directors.

• The PEA then has direct access to the elected Board of Education directors through employment.

• The PEA then works with those officials to set public policy and spend public funds.

Organizational mission to be a political force accomplished?

What Questions Should We Ask?

The Poudre School District Board of Education is responsible for the education of approximately 25,000 Northern Colorado children and oversee a budget of about $550,000,000. Their decisions have tremendous impacts on the community and have direct affects on the futures of all the children who come through the PSD educational system. So it may be wise for families to understand how the teachers union relates to district officials and what role they have in district decisions.

• What are the educational philosophies of the PEA? How may those philosophies impact students in the classroom?

• Why would a union designed to advocate for teachers be interested in becoming a political force?

• How much is the PEA involved in district decisions regarding academics and other areas impactful to students?

• What does the PEA receive from the Board of Education candidates in exchange for their election support?

• Should parents worry that the PEA has a stronger influence over district decisions than community members?

• Is it appropriate for a private organization to have such a significant impact on a public organization?

Forces move things and change things, so perhaps we should ask just what the PEA wants to accomplish with its political force?