…and it is as cold as ever…We began by asking the School Committee team to explain their position regarding the increasing burdens on teachers. They offered a rather technical response that focused primarily on administrative logistics and some ways to make these more efficient. In turn, we insisted that the remedy that would insure the best education for our students was to contractually limit increased non-teaching burdens. However, they remain entrenched, maintaining the status quo and presenting some technical remedies that would be implemented on a schedule of their own making. This discussion of unconstrained workload was lengthy.

At the end of the session, we gave them our economic proposals for Unit B and the Paraprofessional Unit, which exactly mirrored the $3000.00, $4000.00, $5000.00 that we asked for in Unit A bargaining.

We have a session scheduled for 12/9 where they will respond to the Para wage proposal. The plan is to focus attention on Paras that night.

We also have two upcoming actions and it is imperative that you make time to participate! They are not going to move at the table unless we make things uncomfortable in the community.

— Eric Schiff, Negotiations Chair

MARK YOU CALENDARS! PLEASE SIGN UP FOR DEC. 12 UNDER “EVENTS”

— Saturday, December 12, 11am-1:00pm. Leafleting at Coolidge Corner. Please meet behind the Coolidge Corner Theater. Sign up under EVENTS for 1 or 2 hours.

— Wednesday, December 16: Picketing at EVERY school for 30-45 minutes before members are required to be in the building; leafleting of parents; all staff walk in together.

— Complete “Over and Above” survey

— Each member assembles a list of the names of at least 3 parents whom they’d be willing to talk to about negotiations if they had a clear script for doing so.

The Action Team is meeting this Friday, Dec. 4. Stay tuned for logistical details.