Schools

Stoughton Teacher Contract Talks Remain Stalled

The Stoughton Teachers Association took a different approach to the contract negotiations at the Nov. 26 school committee meeting, but the impasse remains.

In additions to submitting a petition for the school committee to agree to the contract demands, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, 14 teachers read reasons why they are thankful for being a teacher in Stoughton.

Melanie Ingrao, a teacher at the high school, told the school committee about the responses they received. 

Among the things the teachers were thankful ranged from their students, being able to help them inside and outside the classroom, their fellow teachers and support staff at the schools, being about to teach in the school they attended, and being able to help students get scholarships to college.

On the contract negotiation front, both sides say no progress is being made on resolving the issue. They have a formal contract session scheduled for Dec. 11.

Stoughton school superintendent Marguerite Rizzi traveled to New Orleans at the end of the week for a conference about contract mediation.

According to Stoughton Teachers Association president Andrea Pires, the lack of progress is leading to frustration and talk of going on strike if the contract isn't resolved. There is a no-strike provision in the contract. 

"It's been done," said  Pires of striking, despite the no-strike provision. 

Rizzi said school chairwoman Joyce Husseini had offered to meet with the teachers' association "numerous" times.

"(A strike) is not usually the first response," said Rizzi.


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