I read these comments and it is very much like many news articles around here. No one bothers to get the facts. I am not a union member, but I have followed this whole situation pretty closely. First, if you are union bashing because you are unhappy with your present employment. Maybe you should try to Unionize. Unions in the US are being trampled for successfully raising the pay, benefits and stability of our middle class workforce. They have helped make this country what it is. So, now it is convenient to kick them around like a political football. Wake up America, your freedom is under attack here. As for the teachers Union. They did not storm out of negotiations if you have really followed this. The Union has pretty much led the charge to resolve budget issues. They agreed to open segments of a legally binding contract that was negotiated...by JARA, presented to the board and Ratified. The district spin Doctors will shape this as some sort of error or sneaky practice by the union. Where in the heck is the accountability by the board for THEIR decision. If you don't understand the numbers you are voting on with my tax dollars...the board needs to do more work. And, to recommend and accept the district employee responsible for this contract as the new superintendant...are you kidding me? The Union at one point terminated negotiations...and why not. They have been stonewalled by an attorney, the district does not appear to be forthcoming with the supporting data on where they are getting there figures for cuts...and the district has trash canned a legally binding contract that they ratified and put in effect. And John Dick, in a school board meeting would say...well the Union hasn't brought anything...and the Union walked out. They have brought solutions where they were not required to by law and have been kicked in the teeth. It is not their job Mr. Dick, it's now on the district, to bring options to a negotiating table. In the meantime, failure to do so has slammed an already difficult budget with costs and legal fees that should be going back into the classroom. That is why I voted for the half mil referendum. Not so you guys can run wild with district funds so you can hide from your own mistakes. The Union seems to be the only party bring viable, negotiated solutions to the table. The district seems to have no accountability or responsibility to the legal document they approved and has made off hand changes without even providing proof of the necessity...without following the agreed upon procedures to make these changes. Isn't that why we need Unions?