Woodstock Early Bird Update: In deference to the negotiating parties involved and both sides desire to keep their negotiations “private”, we have edited this post to reflect the basic information that a contract is under review, removing any details of what might be being discussed.
For the time being.
Everyone who pays school taxes and/or has a child deserves to know what the issues are that affect teachers and workers in our schools. It doesn’t take much to know (and it certainly doesn’t require a “leak”) that universally, across the country and here, teachers are being asked to take pay cuts and pay more for health benefits. We look forward to a full report from negotiators after the next round of mediation.
Some of you may — or may not have — been following the recent contract negotiations and nine-day teacher’s strike in Southwest Vermont — Bennington — to be specific. It all seemed very far away to Woodstock Early Bird. However, it’s come to our attention that, in fact, Windsor Central Supervisory Union teachers and support staff — members of the Vermont National Education Association — are actually working right now without a contract.
WCSU’s most recent teacher/support workers’ contract expired on June 30th. The union and the board return for mediation this coming January. The same attorney representing the Southwest Supervisory Union in Bennington will now be representing the Windsor Central Supervisory Union in Woodstock. His name is Steven Stitzel. He is a Burlington, Vermont-based attorney.
A School Board meeting is scheduled for tonight (Wednesday November 9th) at 7p at Woodstock Union High School. It is open to the public.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 
Posted by Pat Crocker on November 7, 2011 at 19:47
Isn’t this the attorney that works for the VTNEA? That doesn’t necessarily add up to the same scenario here. The circumstances and concerns may be entirely different.That is part of the benefit of having local agreements…Let’s not look for controversy where none may exist.
WEB Reply:
Negotiations are at impasse. That is a fact. The controversy exists. The circumstances and concerns are exceedingly similar: Cuts to Wages and Health Benefits. The two sides are at very different ends of the table. My sources are solid.
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Posted by Lisa Lawlor on November 10, 2011 at 10:59
To help clarify the reason why the districts hire the same atty. There are maybe 3 practices in Vermont who represent school districts. It is specialized service. The firm hired by the wscu is the same who has been doing most of the legal work for the district.
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