On Aug. 18, the Clark County Education Association (CCEA) walked away from the negotiation table without a renewed contract for educators. The union, advocating for significant teacher salary raises, could not come to a consensus with the district. While there seems to be progress towards a more generous contract compensation due to funds recently allocated to the school district by the state legislature, the details remain unclear, and it is unknown whether the Clark County School District is willing to meet CCEA’s demands. The last solid offer CCSD put on the table was an 8.5% salary increase during the first year for teachers and a 1.5% increase for teachers in the following year.

However, the CCEA and teachers across the district have been demanding a renewed contract with CCSD since July that guarantees a 10 percent salary increase in the first year of the agreement and an 8 percent increase in the second year. There are other non-negotiable stipulations in the CCEA’s proposal, such as increased healthcare compensation. Throughout the last month, CCSD has remained firm in refusing to meet these demands; it appears that there is little room for additional negotiation.

The lack of transparency in the district’s negotiations is neglectful of the value that essential district educators provide and perpetuate the ongoing issue of teacher turnover that has adversely affected district schools. Currently, over 1,300 licensed positions are vacant in the school district, and improvements to working conditions and compensation for teachers are necessary to incentivize new hires. The best course of action CCSD can take to sustain itself is to acknowledge the value of our teachers for what they are: crucial and indispensable parts of our public education system.

Following a CCEA protest that interrupted a District Board of Trustees meeting on Aug. 10, CCSD filed a complaint with the Clark County District Court, requesting an injunction against their alleged labor cessation threats. The single statement they used as evidence for this suit was a comment from John Vellardita, CCEA’s director, specifying that the organization may move forward with “work actions.”

As a result of this frivolous suit, union leaders may have been discouraged from continuing protests due to the associated fines that could result from allegedly violating this state law. Fortunately, a district judge recently struck down the injunction that was filed in July, warning CCSD that they could not meet the burden of evidence required to assert that the CCEA was planning a worker strike. This incident only strengthens the idea that CCSD is not entirely willing to negotiate in good faith.

Prominent district figures ,such as Superintendent Jesus Jara, have claimed that it would be “fiscally irresponsible” to meet the CCEA’s salary raise demands. Even assuming that the $250 million allotted by the Nevada State Senate for teacher salary raises this June is unable to indefinitely cover the proposed salary increases, this concern is irrelevant to the bigger picture. It is the district’s responsibility to appropriately compensate its employees for the value and labor they provide. Every other district in Nevada has utilized the funds, so it is difficult to understand why CCSD has been so slow to follow suit.

Citing the “bottom line” to explain the lack of action is an irresponsible sentiment that demonstrates a lack of foresight on the district’s behalf. Instead of attributing a budget deficit to teacher compensation, the district needs to take initiative in managing its budget, reducing wasteful spending, and prioritizing high-priority budget items, such as essential worker salaries. It is almost unthinkable that CCSD cannot pay fair wages, even within a grossly underemployed district.

At the end of the day, the education protests boil down to a First Amendment issue. The right to free speech is perhaps the most well-established and historically crucial right of free American citizens. While opinions about the validity of the demands made by the CCEA are debatable, it is undeniable that we must take action to defend CCEA’s right to protest teacher contracts. The attempt by CCSD to portray their collective actions as a “strike threat” legally undermines the ability of individual teachers and the organization in a larger sense to exercise their rights. If we do not take decisive action to stand up for CCEA’s rights, none of us are safe from having our fundamental rights disregarded, whether in a union or not.

The future for teachers in our school district remains uncertain. The ongoing gridlock resulting from fierce negotiations is jeopardizing the welfare of more than half a million students and parents who rely on the structural integrity of the public education system. With an ongoing exodus of teachers from CCSD, we need to take a step back and reassess the foundational members of our education system. Without a living wage, fair benefits, and a sense of mutual respect between teacher interests and district needs, the foundation of teachers who sustain our education system will crumble. It is time to stop evading the issue when it comes to education, for the sake of our parents, students, and teachers.