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Former La Crosse teachers’ union president Havlicek tells school board there’s a “lack of respect” for educators

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Central High School Spanish teacher John Havlicek addresses the La Crosse School Board during public comments on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022.

La Crosse’s school board, Monday night, gave tentative approval to a new district budget, which includes only a 2 percent pay hike for teachers. 

Before that vote, however, former La Crosse Education Association president and longtime Central High School Spanish teacher, John Havlicek, told the board that teachers are being disrespected. 

Havlicek pointed to the perception that teachers put in less than eight hours of work in a day and don’t have to work in the summer.

The teacher of 27 years offered four suggestions for change, including telling teachers what to stop doing, so they can work closer to a typical 40-hour work week.

Another option? “Give me comp time, so I can gain back those hours that I’m to report to work. At this rate, I’ll be done sometime in early April,” Havlicek said.

The last option, according to Havlicek, “admit that we are in fact full-time employees that deserve to be treated like the professionals we are, and we should be compensated fairly.”

This summer, the board rejected the union’s request for a 4.7 percent. This, after teachers didn’t get a raise during the pandemic.

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.

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3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. John

    October 4, 2022 at 6:31 am

    Well when you vote 90% for President Biden and inflation is killing you wage maybe you should rethink your vote. Tell your teachers to not vote the way they do. Now you need a pay raise from your neighbors.

    Mr. Havelicheck sounds a bit like his students whine and complain with no responsibility tied to the outcomes they vote for or push for. Reap what you sow.

    No one says teachers aren’t important. They need to understand where their paycheck comes from. THEIR NEIGHBORS and we’re all in the same boat but we can’t complain to get a pay raise.

  2. Lucenut

    October 4, 2022 at 11:31 am

    This guy is such a whiner! Spanish teacher is NOT someone that deserves any respect. Sorry goofball! You are non-essential.

    • Jenn

      October 4, 2022 at 9:39 pm

      And why do you say that? Seems like teachers are pretty essential since w teachers affect literally every child in our country.

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