Teacher Contract Negotiations Begin Fact Finding This Week

Much like a trial in a court of law the School Committee and Andover teachers’ union began presenting their cases to a state-appointed fact-finder on Monday of this week. This was the next step in the process after an attempt to reach a tentative agreement over the teachers' new contract failed last month.

All parties had agreed upon every issue in the contract except the high school schedule in this tentative agreement.

On Monday, School Committee representatives and Andover Education Association representatives presented their case to a fact-finder in a day-long event. Next, both sides are required to provide a brief supporting their position by May 3. Prior to this, both sides are required to provide evidence and supporting documents to the other.

Using the briefs, the fact-finder will then provide a final report by May 15. Both sides then have 30 days to reach an agreement. 

“The hope is that this process will lead to the two parties coming to an agreement,” said School Committee chairman Annie Gilbert.

Gilbert said that districts that go to fact finding typically reach an agreement during this period.

However, if a decision is not reached in the 30 days after the fact-finder’s report is released, the state gives the School Committee the authority to implement their most recent, best offer without the need for support from the teachers’ union.

During the tentative agreement last month, teachers did drop work-to-rule, quelling concerns of students and parents worried about the availability of their teachers outside of class.

The Schedule

Currently, teachers teach three 82-minute classes during the first semester and teach two 82-minute classes in the second semester. Teachers are given a duty such as hall monitor or parking lot monitor to fill the third 82-minute time slot during the second semester.

The School Committee had proposed filling that third 82-minute time slot in the second semester with a third class. The School Committee says this provides smaller class sizes and reduces the need for 11 teaching positions, positions that could be eliminated mostly through retirements and non-renewals.