A joint decision was made between the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union and the Southwest Vermont Education Association to extend the current teacher contract with no wage increase for the 2020-2021 school year.
The contract negotiations were put to a vote by teacher union members, with an overwhelming turnout to support the extension of the contract. This agreement will allow SVSU to control costs while moving forward during this unprecedented time, dissolving fears of a reduction in force amongst teacher union members.
“I want to thank the leadership of the teachers association, especially SWVEA President Katie Sullivan, and the membership for the vote they took,” said SVSU Superintendent James R. Culkeen, who noted that the SWVEA leadership team organized the vote in a matter of days. “Our teachers were part of the solution.”
“In what is already a very difficult time for teachers, we were able to avoid a much more difficult situation,” said SVSU Director of Human Resources Nick Gault.
“We are encouraged by the collaboration with administration,” Ms. Sullivan said. She is feeling energized as she hopes to continue looking towards the future “to create schools that are best for our learners and our membership.”
SWVEA Vice President Christopher Lane expressed similar sentiments, offering that “this decision is a great example of collaboration that puts student learning first.”
The contracts will reach final approval when Superintendent Culkeen brings the proposal before the SVSU, Mount Anthony Union School District, and Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District Boards of Education for a vote.
The contract negotiations were put to a vote by teacher union members, with an overwhelming turnout to support the extension of the contract. This agreement will allow SVSU to control costs while moving forward during this unprecedented time, dissolving fears of a reduction in force amongst teacher union members.
“I want to thank the leadership of the teachers association, especially SWVEA President Katie Sullivan, and the membership for the vote they took,” said SVSU Superintendent James R. Culkeen, who noted that the SWVEA leadership team organized the vote in a matter of days. “Our teachers were part of the solution.”
“In what is already a very difficult time for teachers, we were able to avoid a much more difficult situation,” said SVSU Director of Human Resources Nick Gault.
“We are encouraged by the collaboration with administration,” Ms. Sullivan said. She is feeling energized as she hopes to continue looking towards the future “to create schools that are best for our learners and our membership.”
SWVEA Vice President Christopher Lane expressed similar sentiments, offering that “this decision is a great example of collaboration that puts student learning first.”
The contracts will reach final approval when Superintendent Culkeen brings the proposal before the SVSU, Mount Anthony Union School District, and Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District Boards of Education for a vote.