Thank you!
We asked for a strong Unit A showing last night—and you delivered!
Tonight, the School Committee began by saying they wanted to hear from educators and acknowledged the value of our perspectives due to our daily work with students. But they ended the session by rejecting all of our proposals on preparation time, class size, and the student and educator day—again insisting they would not waive any of their management rights.
For the second night in a row, the School Committee came without any written counterproposals and was unprepared to discuss the BEA’s clearly communicated proposals on preparation time, class size, and the school day. They said they would bring Principals to share input on schedule changes, but only one was present—and was not given a chance to speak.
These two sessions have left us deeply disappointed by the School Committee’s disorganization and lack of respect. Their verbal counterproposal on the first two days of school exemplified the ongoing challenges: despite our clarity about needed changes, their response after caucusing was essentially a restatement of the status quo.
We will continue refining our proposals related to the workday and work year, and we expect a response on Unit C. The School Committee has asked the BEA to consider a one-year contract—which fails to address any of our key issues—and to continue bargaining over the summer. We are open to summer dates, assuming we can identify ones that work for both teams.
At this point, we have to ask:
What capital does this School Committee think they’re bargaining with?
It’s clearly not time, not money, and certainly not respect.