Since mid-February of last year, the boards representing Barre Town Middle and Elementary School, Barre City Elementary and Middle School, Spaulding High School and the Barre Technical Center have been negotiating with the teachers’ associations (Barre Education Association and Barre Town Education Association). The goal of the negotiations has been to arrive at a new collective bargaining agreement for salaries, benefits and working conditions in our schools. We have been working to develop a unified contract under the requirements of Act 153 which has proven to be a significant challenge.

The boards’ had hoped that the independent fact-finder report would be completed prior to public disclosure of the unresolved issues. However, recent activities by the associations have given rise to questions and concerns in our communities and within our schools. We believe it is time to provide the factual information necessary to address these concerns.

The boards have tentatively agreed to a number of the Associations’ proposals, as follows:

n Severance pay for accumulated sick leave for all teachers.

n Increased life insurance benefits and personal leave time for the SHS, BTC and BCEMS teachers.

n Extended dental insurance coverage for the BTMES teachers.

n A cash payment in lieu of the health insurance benefit.

n Accommodation of the teachers’ requests for scheduled in-service days.

n Adjustment of the contract renewal and release dates to better meet their needs.

n A lunch period free of any official duties.

Although we’ve made substantial progress in crafting language for a single contract, there are issues that remain unresolved. Predictably, these issues involve wages and benefits.

The associations’ salary proposal calls for a 3 percent increase at BTMES, a 5 percent increase at SHS and BTC, and a 5.71 percent increase at BCEMS in the first year of a four-year contract. This proposal would add an average of $125,000 to the BTMES budget for each of the next four years. At SHS and BCEMS, each budget would need to increase by more than $200,000 annually for the next several years to support the proposed salary increases. We view these increases as cost-prohibitive and unsustainable, particularly in these challenging economic times. The board has proposed a 1.5 percent increase per year for the duration of the contract.

With respect to benefits, the associations are seeking a 3 percent reduction to the health insurance premium contribution; enhanced benefits for course reimbursement and sabbatical leave; and long-term disability insurance. The boards remain steadfast in their position on the teachers’ contribution to their health insurance plan, currently at 20 percent. The teachers agreed to this contribution level in the wage and benefit package of contracts ratified in prior years. Expanding or adding any additional benefits would impose an undue burden on Barre taxpayers and be fiscally irresponsible at this point in time.

We hoped that a reasonable compromise could be attained through continued dialogue. Unfortunately, the associations’ negotiators have repeatedly stepped away from the negotiations table and we’re now waiting for the fact-finder to complete her work. We remain optimistic that the fact-finder’s report will lay the groundwork for an equitable settlement. Meanwhile, there has been, and remains, an open invitation to continue discussions to settle the contract.

The associations’ leadership has made repeated calls for a negotiated agreement and a fair settlement. We share these objectives. We understand the value of a negotiated contract with our teachers, and we also recognize our responsibility to provide a settlement that is fair to the taxpayers, one that is sensitive to the needs and of the citizens of our communities.



Barre Town Middle and Elementary School, Brenda Buzzell, Chair

Barre City Elementary and Middle School, Marcia Biondolillo, Chair

Spaulding Union High School, Norma Malone, Chair