By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Several teachers in the Rim school district and a representative from their union spoke at the Nov. 16 meeting of the Rim of the World Unified School District board of trustees, pleading for fair compensation as the trustees consider the next year’s salary schedule.
“I am a passionate advocate for myself and my colleagues to be fairly compensated,” said Kassandra Zamanis, an English teacher at Rim High. “Our dedication to excellence is unwavering. We are highly educated. We are always extending ourselves well beyond our contracts. We go the extra mile for our students.”
Sydney McCook, a TK teacher at Valley of Enchantment Elementary School, said that “I stay because I love Rim but I might have to leave because of rising costs. I looked up every salary schedule in San Bernardino County. Rim is 31st out of 32 in teacher pay. Why can’t we be the leaders instead of at the bottom of the barrel?”
Jennifer Nichols, a new math teacher at Rim High, told the trustees she had been offered the job three times but kept turning it down as it would mean a significant pay cut because of the salary schedule and cap on experience. She finally accepted the job and took at $26,000 pay cut. “We need to stay competitive to recruit teachers,” she said. “The mountain students are amazing!”
Rim High English teacher Nic Nicholas spoke for the Rim Teachers Association, the teachers’ union. “Rim of the World is at the bottom. We won’t attract new teachers and may not retain the existing ones. We have lost many talented teachers to higher-paying districts.”
Nicholas then read comments from several other teachers:
“This has been a difficult year. The profession has changed greatly. It gets harder each year – more expectations are place on us, not only teaching students but parenting them.”
“We are in need of a raise due to the increased cost of living and inflation. I would feel more valued as a professional. Teachers are stressed, feeling exhausted and overworked. More and more demands are made of us. We work hours over our contracted hours at the expense of our families.”
“I love being in the classroom. I do not want to be another adult who turns their back on the students. We take work home every day. It’s no wonder more people are walking away from education. I want a job that provides me and my family with what we need.”
Bill Mellinger, president of the board of trustees, advised the teachers that no salary proposal was on the agenda for that night’s meeting. RTA, he noted, “has just started negotiations.” He further stated that “no amount of money is going to take care of the stress.”
During the board members’ comments, Trustee Jordan Zarate thanked the RTA members who spoke. “I appreciate your making your voices heard. We are always happy to listen.”
Trustee Jordana Ridland added her thanks and appreciation for so many people attending the Nov. 16 meeting. And, she said, “it is gratifying to get back wonderful results from the Mountain High WASC committee. It’s apparent how much staff cares about our students. We appreciate the continuing efforts of our staff and we hear you.”
“I understand the needs of the union,” Trustee Scott Craft said. “I’m committed to making sure the teachers, staff and students get everything they can. Negotiating is a tough process. Teachers need to be paid what they deserve to be paid.”
Mellinger reported that the board is moving forward toward a bond. “We desperately need what can be done with a bond. We cannot have students in classrooms at 94 degrees. Can’t have doors open, can’t have a river inside Rim High after it rains. We have to do things that will take millions of dollars.
“We as a school board have to look at total compensation. I am so grateful for all the people who work in the school district – bus drivers, maintenance people, office workers, administrators, counselors, teachers, subs, coaches, security, cafeteria workers, noon duties. Thank you – every one of you matters. We need to help care for one another.”
Parent Elaine Horan expressed concern to the board about books she has heard have been found in the Lake Arrowhead Elementary and Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate school libraries concerning gender identity. “We need to concentrate on teaching our children the basics of education. Sex education should be kept out of public school curriculum and put back in the responsibility of the parents. We have trusted you with our children and you are failing them.”
Mellinger reported there will be a special closed session meeting of the board on Nov. 27 at 7 a.m.
Later in the meeting, the board approved the contract for Interim Superintendent Dr. Gary Rutherford, effective Oct. 26. When asked after the meeting, both Mellinger and Trustee Cindy Gardner said that, for the time being, Rim will have both a superintendent and an interim superintendent.
Members of the Rim of the World Educational Foundation presented checks to the principals of the seven schools that make up the district. The Foundation, President Jo Bonita Rains said, was started in 1983. Since 2010, the Foundation has donated $685,046 to the district, a fact that drew applause from those attending the meeting.
Priscilla Williams, the chair of the Partnership with Schools committee, then presented each principal with a check representing that campus’ share of this year’s available funds. Each school is eligible for an amount based on its student population.
The Foundation also awarded funds for the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at both Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School and Rim High.
Jennifer Whiteside, the director of Educational Services, and Brian Willemse, the Rim High principal, outlined the upcoming Ethnic Studies program to the trustees. These classes are mandated by the state and will be a graduation requirement in the 2029-2030 school year. They will be offered starting in the 2025-2026 year.
Four foundational principles are required: African-American, Asian-American, Chicano-Latino and Indigenous studies.
The first step, Whiteside said, will be to establish a committee, which will consider a number of questions including when this program should begin. Will it be a freshman class? What topics should be included? What stories might be included in the curriculum? What areas of conflict should we be aware of?
“This is something we are building,” Willemse said. “The state says certain things have to go in. It’s up to us to build it.”
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