History of REA
Our Mission
To represent our licensed educators in Reynolds School District and support them creating the schools our students and community deserve.
Who We Are
We are a non-profit organization supporting the 560 licensed teachers, counselors, specialists, and school psychologists who educate the students of the Reynolds School District in East Multnomah County.
Our History
Kathy Schuman worked in the Reynolds School District for over 40 years. She saw many changes during her time here. In an interview, Kathy spoke of life before collective bargaining. When Kathy first starting teaching the District wanted to save money and so two teachers were replaced with assistants. The classroom had 88 students with two teachers and two assistants. In the early years the Reynolds Education Association acted more as a social club. The contract was a half page listing the beginning date, ending date and pay.
Teachers were required to attend all PTA meetings in the evening and be dressed nicely for the occasion, too. There was not a duty free lunch. Teachers were out on recess duty and also assigned tasks during recess. For example, the teachers ran homework clubs, craft stations and other activities. Staff meetings started when the students left and continued until the principal said it was done. Many times the meetings went until 5:30 and could be scheduled whenever the principal wanted. Each principal controlled his/her own building. They decided if you had to report on a snow day and by what time.
When collective bargaining began, 1974, everyone was expected to attend all of the bargaining sessions. The sessions were like theater, everything was open and talked about in front of each other. The first items gained in the contract were definite hours of the work day, personal freedoms (married and pregnant women were allowed to work and not hassled about it), just cause for dismissal and academic freedom. The contract removed capricious behavior of administrators. All teachers were under the same contract.
The issues that have been fought throughout the life of the contract remain sadly the same. Wages were so poor that many people worked second jobs. Seniority has also been fought many times as districts attempt to balance budgets by hiring less senior and therefore cheaper teachers. The bargaining teams have all fought to mention the specialist and try and assure their jobs.
Throughout her time here Kathy saw Reynolds rise to be the district that everyone wanted to work for. REA remains committed to carrying on this long history of collaboration and understanding.
To represent our licensed educators in Reynolds School District and support them creating the schools our students and community deserve.
Who We Are
We are a non-profit organization supporting the 560 licensed teachers, counselors, specialists, and school psychologists who educate the students of the Reynolds School District in East Multnomah County.
Our History
Kathy Schuman worked in the Reynolds School District for over 40 years. She saw many changes during her time here. In an interview, Kathy spoke of life before collective bargaining. When Kathy first starting teaching the District wanted to save money and so two teachers were replaced with assistants. The classroom had 88 students with two teachers and two assistants. In the early years the Reynolds Education Association acted more as a social club. The contract was a half page listing the beginning date, ending date and pay.
Teachers were required to attend all PTA meetings in the evening and be dressed nicely for the occasion, too. There was not a duty free lunch. Teachers were out on recess duty and also assigned tasks during recess. For example, the teachers ran homework clubs, craft stations and other activities. Staff meetings started when the students left and continued until the principal said it was done. Many times the meetings went until 5:30 and could be scheduled whenever the principal wanted. Each principal controlled his/her own building. They decided if you had to report on a snow day and by what time.
When collective bargaining began, 1974, everyone was expected to attend all of the bargaining sessions. The sessions were like theater, everything was open and talked about in front of each other. The first items gained in the contract were definite hours of the work day, personal freedoms (married and pregnant women were allowed to work and not hassled about it), just cause for dismissal and academic freedom. The contract removed capricious behavior of administrators. All teachers were under the same contract.
The issues that have been fought throughout the life of the contract remain sadly the same. Wages were so poor that many people worked second jobs. Seniority has also been fought many times as districts attempt to balance budgets by hiring less senior and therefore cheaper teachers. The bargaining teams have all fought to mention the specialist and try and assure their jobs.
Throughout her time here Kathy saw Reynolds rise to be the district that everyone wanted to work for. REA remains committed to carrying on this long history of collaboration and understanding.