Page 12 - Top Workplaces 2019

12 THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019 THE MORNING CALL
Continued from Previous Page communication,” he said. “Now when
we have salary negotiations, problems
For Duane Betz, a mechanic in the aren’t being heard and aired out there
district’s bus garage, Parkland pride was for the first time. When I first started
on full display in February 2018, when here, three years in, teachers went on
the garage caught fire and16 buses were strike. And we have not had anything
destroyed. close to that for15,16,17 years.”
The mechanics worked all weekend Parkland Superintendent Richard
to get the rest of the fleet of buses — Sniscak pointed to the outpouring of
whichhadsomedamagebutweren’tde- support by employees for the district’s
stroyed — back on the road. “Be the Difference” campaign. Run by
“We actually saved 11 of the buses,” thenonprofitParklandEducationFoun-
Betz said. “Eleven of them were parked dation, the campaign funds “Celebrate
right outside the building and as the fire Innovation” grants that allow teachers
company was putting the fire out, we to do extra programs and make class-
were moving those buses to get them room purchases that the district budget
outoftheway.Theyhadminordamage, might not allow for.
cracked windshields and melted lights. This year, 381 employees pledged
Wewereinallweekend,gotalltheparts more than $29,000 to fund the grants,
weneededandthose11buseswereready which was a 52 percent increase over
for service Monday morning.” last year, Sniscak said.
Theyhadloanerbusesbutdidnotuse Parkland is able to attract quality em-
them, he said. ployees with competitive salaries and
“Every student went to school on a benefits, which include reimbursement
Parkland bus Monday morning.” Betz APRIL GAMIZ/THE MORNING CALL for teachers who further their educa-
saidwithobviouspride.“Tomethatwas Kratzer Elementary principal Karen Aulisio help students make calming bottles at tion, he said.
huge. I wanted to say our kids went to one of the school’s “Positive Behavior PAWSitive Celebration.” Continuing education runs deep in
school on our buses.” the district. The district regularly holds
Thatyeoman’seffortwasappreciated ily,” Aulisio said. “Everybody is all for Labor-management communication what it calls Parkland Academy, in
by administrators and teachers who Parkland, all for the kids. It was an im- has fostered a sense of cooperation that whichteachersandotherstaffrunsemi-
nars on topics such as web site design,
brought the mechanics meals and mediate feeling of community.” survived even lean years for school dis-
snacks throughout the weekend. Stu- She also appreciates that higher-ups tricts, Gopen said. During the Great Re- classroom management and CPR.
dents wrote them thank you letters. don’t micromanage every decision, in- cession, administrators, teachers and Thedistrictalsoholdsasix-dayorien-
The community spirit was evident to cluding when Kratzer underwent a support staff each took turns taking a tationfornewteachers,sotheyarecom-
Karen Aulisio, the principal of Kratzer large renovation project in 2015. payfreezesoeachgroupsharedthebur- fortable when they get in the classroom.
Elementary School, when she arrived at “There’s such a sense of trust,” she den of tight budgets. Sniscak said the Top Workplaces
Parkland in 2010 after working at other said. “We had to pick paint colors and The unions meet monthly with the nomination is an honor because it re-
districts for17 years. flooringandfurniture.Thesuperintend- district leadership, said Gopen, who is flects the opinions of district employees.
“People took you under their wing ent said to me, ‘I don’t pick colors at treasurer of the teachers union.
and made you feel like part of the fam- home and I’m not picking them here.’ ” “It’s important to keep open lines of Margie Peterson is a freelance writer.