Hi, Candace248.  Union "pandering"?  Maybe.  But, something else I've seen first-hand. 

It's also giving  over-paid district educators something "interesting" and "creative" to do--and they get to set the agenda, and (because they've got degrees) overwhelm the elected trustees.  

Worked in a district superintendent's office for four years.  Saw the tendency myself. Because they don't--or won't-- examine what's been done before, many "directors" on staff keep re-inventing the same stuff over and over again.  Fad-ism and political correctness reign supreme. But they are not alone--at least in BC--the Ministry of Ed. people often do the same thing.  New curriculum, huh?  Hmm...