Willamette Week| News| Politics

Ben Canada has hardly been a wallflower since he arrived in Portland. From the first day of classes--when the new superintendent of public schools joined students on a bus--to his tireless promotion of community involvement, Canada has proven to be a good listener who understands the importance of public perception.

In contrast to his high visibility, however, is his near-total silence on the biggest issue facing the Portland schools today: teacher negotiations.

That silence is no accident; rather, it is part of a calculated strategy that has failed to bring together teachers and administrators and threatens to backfire on both the school board and Canada.

Since May, the Portland Association of Teachers and the district have been locked in unproductive talks, with each session further driving a wedge between the two sides.

At issue are money, benefits and the implementation of academic reforms. These issues arise every time teachers' contracts expire, but the level of emotion in the current talks far exceeds the amount of money involved.

Part of the problem, says PAT President Richard Garrett, is a leadership vacuum in the district's team. For the first time in decades, the district hired an outside negotiator, Nancy Hungerford, to do its talking.

In the past, Deputy Superintendent Donald McElroy spoke for the district, but he retired in 1997, and this time no one of his authority is at the table. Thus far, board members and Canada have chosen not to throw the weight of their positions into the talks.

It's not as if the teachers don't want to hear what Canada has to say.

"I have suggested to Ben that he can't be hurt by speaking out and that he can do a lot of good," says Garrett. "I think that the superintendent's participation in bargaining would be constructive and helpful."

Acrimonious negotiations and the mass rallies at two recent school-board meetings make it clear teachers are looking for more than a pay increase. They also seek some signal that the district appreciates their work. The longer the impasse drags on, the more the teachers feel administrators don't care about them.

"There's a lot of anger at the lack of a settlement," Garrett says.

Garrett traces much of the teachers' resentment to the last negotiations, in 1996. Those talks, settled on the verge of a strike, took place during the regime of Canada's predecessor, Jack Bierwirth. In those negotiations and in other moves, such as the reconstitution of Humboldt Elementary, Bierwirth alienated much of the PAT.

In contrast, while PAT officials have repeatedly blasted the school board during recent talks, Canada has largely escaped criticism. At a recent board meeting, for example, a teacher from Humboldt presented board members with mock report cards, which showed that they had failed in every aspect of negotiations; Canada was given a passing grade.

So why not bring Canada into the picture?

"He has a huge agenda, and we're anxious to keep him out of a big labor battle," says Ron Saxton, chairman of the school board.

Canada, seeming to take his cue from the board, says he prefers to make his presence known by visiting schools and talking directly with teachers rather than speaking out publicly. He believes he can win teachers over one building at a time rather than all at once. "If it becomes necessary, I'll get more involved," Canada says. "Right now, I'm confident that things are moving forward."

Not everyone is that upbeat. After six months of fruitless talks, the PAT recently summoned state mediators. The first mediation, held Dec. 14 behind closed doors, was apparently a bust. "We didn't have a very productive session," Garrett says, echoing Saxton's assessment.

The district and the PAT aren't scheduled to meet again until Jan. 21. By that time, Garrett says, the statutory mediation and cooling off periods will have expired, which means PAT members can strike then if they so choose. And, Garrett says, "Some schools are anxious to carry picket signs."

Indeed, if Canada is ever going to stand up and try to soothe the animosity between the rank and file and the district, it's difficult to imagine a better time than now.

"There's no doubt in my mind Ben Canada wants to see the contract settled," says PAT lead negotiator Nancy Arlington. "We think he'll help us do that."

He may want to act fast. As with any honeymoon, the goodwill the superintendent enjoys won't last forever.

Portland teachers are asking for a 4.4 percent raise. The district offered an increase of roughly 2 percent in its latest proposal.

Portland teachers haven't gone on strike since they began collective bargaining. Can Ben Canada keep up this record?

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Willamette Week | originally published December 22, 1998