Wantagh Teachers and School Board Reach Tentative Agreement

Nearly a year since their last contract expired it appears that the Wanted United Teachers (WUT) is close to having a new agreement.

Wantagh Board of Education president Jean Quinn announced at Thursday night’s meeting that they have reached a tentative agreement for a new contract with the WUT. The union has been in negotiations with the Wantagh School District since their last contract expired on June 30, 2010.

Quinn said that this past Wednesday the school board and WUT met for the third and final time with an agreed upon mediator and a tentative agreement was reached between the two sides during the over eight hour session.

Wantagh superintendent Dr. Lydia Begley said details of the tentative agreement between the WUT and Board of Education could not be shared until the contract is ratified. During their time without a contract the WUT packed two school board meetings in and in a show of solidarity for a new deal.

Quinn also said the Board of Education met with the Wantagh Educational Secretaries Association (WESA) on March 22 regarding their contract situation but are now at an impasse. WESA president Cathy St. George read a statement at Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting held at expressing the importance of reaching a new agreement. St. George said the WESA has been in negotiations with the district for over a year.

“The board must focus on our collective bargaining now,” said St. George. “The members of the Wantagh Educational Secretaries Association are the engine’s oil because we keep the Wantagh engine running smoothly.”

The next Wantagh Board of Education meeting is scheduled for May 5 at 8 pm. At Wantagh High School.