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Pelican teachers put kids first
Published 8:18am Tuesday, December 22, 2009Pelican Rapids school teachers, despite financial challenges facing the district, always maintain their philosophy of putting kids first.
“We continually adapt and modify to meet the needs of our students and our diversity,” said Virg Kollar who was the lead negotiator for the teachers in the most recent contract negotiations. “We work hard and take seriously our responsibilities for the education of our students.”
Pelican Rapids teachers agreed to what Kollar describes as, “a soft wage freeze,” meaning that newer teachers at the bottom of the pay scale will get some remuneration above their base salary while long-term teachers, like Kollar, will be frozen at their current level. There were positive changes to the contract language, as well.
Kollar, a native of Fergus Falls, has been teaching and coaching in the Pelican Rapids School system since 1974.
He said it would be nice, in his words, “if the State of Minnesota saw fit to help us and all other hard working teachers in other school districts in west central Minnesota to receive fair compensation.”
Kollar is not unlike his colleagues who have full loads at Pelican Rapids High School, and lots of class preparation. His daily workload includes one class of English 9, one class of English 10, two classes of physical education and health for tenth graders, one class of physical education and health for eighth graders, and, in addition, driver’s education.
“Those of us in taeching really enjoy being with the students, both in the classroom and during extra-curricular activities,” said Kolar, “and we keep in touch with many of them, after they’ve graduated.”
Kollar succeeded Al Siegle as head football coach and headed the Viking program for several years, before current head football coach David Haugen. Kollar, who played football in Fergus Falls, still enjoys coaching the sport and is an assistant to Brad Strand who coaches eighth grade football.
He’s also coached in the wrestling program, now headed by Harold Holt, and has worked with the student council at the high school. He also works as a referee for sporting events.
Strand, who is better known as head boys basketball coach at Pelican Rapids High School, assisted Kollar in this year’s teacher negotiations for a two-year contract with the Pelican Rapids Board of Education. Also taking part in the lead roles for the negotiation process were second grade teacher Pam Bruhn and third grade teacher Ryan Syverson.
Kollar is pleased that teachers and school board members quickly came to an amicable agreement for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. There was mutual respect on both sides of the negotiation table.
“With little operating money because of failed referendums, and less state aid, both sides worked hard to find an acceptable solution,” said Kollar, “for both the teachers and the district.”
His wife, Kim, is a teacher in the Perham School system where she is an instructor for family and consumer science as well as physical education. She and Virg have two adult children. Son Andy resides in Fort Collins, Colo., and daughter Raina lives in Fergus Falls.
“Each faculty member in this school system loves and respects kids and wants to put them first,” said Kollar. “We had this belief when we went into education. Our goal is to make this a team effort, with teachers, students, parents and members of the community and rural areas working together for what’s best for our kids.”
