Task force a welcome development in contract talks
Editor, Townsman:
We're glad to see continuing coverage of the teacher contract situation. The more information that you can get out there the better, as it is very difficult to understand what is really going on when you are only hearing from one side or the other.
It is clear that the teachers and administration of the Andover Public Schools, the volunteer School Committee members, and the parents that have children in the Andover Public Schools all care deeply about the education of the students and want to give them the best they can. Hopefully we can rally around that unifying goal and find the best solution possible.
There appears to be some very positive development toward that goal. At back-to-back meetings this week hosted by parents and attended by dozens of parents, members of the AEA and School Committee both shared the news that they have agreed to set up a task force to study and resolve the major outstanding issue, the Andover High School schedule. The task force (made up of teachers and administrators) has met and both sides have agreed to implement the recommendations that come from the task force. According to both sides, the task force is looking for some sort of hybrid solution that can be a winner for everyone. We wish the task force the best of luck.
Of course the dispute is still ongoing and impacting students. We ask parents with children in the Andover Public Schools to join us at the School Committee meeting tonight, this Thursday, at 7. The union and teachers are usually there, but very few parents attend. The School Committee, teachers Union and teachers need to see and hear that we care deeply about the education of our children, we support them all in resolving this dispute so that the focus can move back to the classroom and that we want to help in any way we can.
Parents, please invest an hour of your time Thursday evening to support your children, and ask your neighbors to come too.
Michael Day, 84 Sunset Rock Road
Liz Bardetti, 8 Seminole Circle
Kim Sousa, 4 Montclair Ave.
Patty Flowers, 19 Wildrose Drive
Mary Sakellarios, 7 Poplar Terrace
