In their guest column (April 24), Tom Kendall and the Auburn School Committee are again missing the point, or perhaps wishing to portray teachers in a less than favorable light.
According to the article, “the Auburn School Committee feels compelled to fully inform the community regarding the ongoing teacher contract issues.”
The Auburn Education Association feels obligated to bring to light a glaring omission from the School Committee’s article.
They state that during the mediation process “the parties came close to reaching a deal … but were not able to resolve a few remaining issues.” In actuality, we reached an agreement, signed by both sides on Sept. 14, 2015.
To summarize our agreement, “the terms of the expired Agreement shall be carried forward, subject to the following additions, modifications and deletions:
• “Tentative agreements reached prior to mediation” are included;
• Agreement was reaching concerning wages and health insurance;
• “This Memorandum of Agreement is contingent upon final agreement on contract language for all tentative agreements” and two additional articles.
Both parties reached agreement on those articles subsequent to the signing of the MOA.
It should be noted that it was not until after the agreement was signed that the School Committee negotiators wanted to add items for discussion.
It is the School Committee that refuses to live up to its end of the bargain.
The issues that the Auburn Education Association and its members have are less about the protracted negotiations and more about the lack of respect and value placed by the School Committee on its professional staff.
A recent survey of teachers shows that:
• 71 percent of teachers surveyed do not believe the Auburn School Department is heading in the right direction educationally;
• 61 percent of teachers surveyed do not trust they can state an opinion regarding educational direction with a district-level administrator out of fear of retribution or of being labeled negative;
• 71percent of teachers surveyed do not believe district-level administration understands and appreciates the work teachers do on a daily basis;
• 55 percent of teachers surveyed would take a job in another school department if given the opportunity.
The School Committee continues to ignore the fundamental lack of confidence in leadership, educational direction and professional value felt by those on the front line daily.
Yes, a speedy resolution to contract issues will certainly help to begin the healing process, but until the underlying issues are addressed, there will be no improvement in morale, trust or respect, which ultimately impacts students.
We welcome any opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with members of the School Committee, management and community in an effort to remedy this shameful situation.
Let’s remember that teachers’ working conditions are students’ learning conditions.
Carl Bucciantini, president, Auburn Education Association
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