Burlington teachers strike September 14, 2017, in front of the Champlain Elementary School on Pine Street. VBM photo.
Vermont Business Magazine The Burlington Education Association, the union representing Burlington public school teachers, sent its members the following email today indicating that it has reached a deal on a new contract with the Burlington School Board. Bitter negotiations the previous two years led to rancor in both cases and teachers went on strike for the first time since 1978 in September 2017. This new contract was negotiated without the threat of a strike and under the radar of the press.
The 2:45 pm email to teachers from Andrew Styles, BEA President, reads:
"The BEA negotiating team has signed a Tentative Agreement with the Burlington School Board for the 2019-20 Teacher’s Contract.
"The two parties reached a verbal agreement on Thursday, December 13 following a 6.5 hour bargaining session. Since last Thursday, the groups have worked to come to consensus on the contract language that represents the verbal agreement.
"Representing the BSD at Thursday’s extended session were Vice Board Chair Jeff Wick (BSD negotiating team lead), Board Chair Clare Wool, Board Commissioner Keith Pillsbury, Superintendent Yaw Obeng, Director of Finance Nathan Lavery and Director of HR Nikki Fuller, along with Board Attorneys Joe and Colin McNeil.
"Jeff Wick and (BEA chief negotiator) Dan Hagan signed the Tentative Agreement on Wednesday, December 19, 2018.
"The details of the agreement will remain confidential pending ratification by both the school board and the full BEA membership.
"The BEA has called a ratification meeting on January 10, 2018 at Burlington High School at 3:45PM. All BEA members are strongly encouraged to attend. The details of the agreement will be released at that time, questions will be answered by the BEA negotiating team, and BEA members present will vote on the agreement by secret ballot. Should the agreement pass by a simple majority of BEA members present, and should the school board also ratify the agreement, it will become the terms of employment effective September 1, 2019."
In a subsequent press release, Styles and BSD Board Chairwoman Clare Wool said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to work together to come to this tentative agreement in a timely manner and resume full-time attention on the important work of educating Burlington’s children.”
“I am pleased that collectively the BEA, Board, and District have been able to work together to reach an agreement on the behalf of our students and their teachers, and we look forward to continued collaboration,” said Superintendent Yaw Obeng.
The Burlington School District is a pre-k-12 public school system of about 4,000 students in Burlington.
A group photo representing both sides after the tentative contract was signed. Courtesy photo.