Andover Public Schools is reviewing the latest counterproposal presented by the union that represents the district’s teachers during the 13th bargaining session between the two sides Wednesday.
The district will respond to the latest proposal on Nov. 8 and will discuss the response at the next bargaining session with the Andover Education Association on Nov. 14. “We are hopeful that both parties can continue working in good faith to come to an agreement that is fair and equitable for all, and we will continue to update the community when possible,” Andover School Committee Chair Tracey Spruce said in a note to the school community Wednesday night.
While Spruce said the district “presented the AEA with a package proposal that included an additional 10 minutes per day of elementary prep and planning time” in her update on the Oct. 11 negotiations, it did not appear to pass muster with the union:
“Isn’t it scary that the Andover School Committee wants to kill our proposal of ten more minutes of recess for our youngest learners?” AEA said in a Facebook post a few hours after Wednesday’s session. “Research shows this is what is best for kids!”
APS teachers and instructional assistants have been working without a contract since the start of the school year. The school committee offered a 9.65 percent increase over a three-year contract and removal of a step increase at the closed-door meeting on Oct. 11. The offer also included a 9.5 percent stipend increase.
The school committee’s counteroffer came after AEA’s proposed for a $2,500 bonus and 16 percent raises for teachers over three years, down from its previous proposal of 16 percent in raises and two $2,500 bonuses.
AEA also wants APS to drop the Lucy Calkins literacy program. A growing number of educators have criticized the program in recent years, saying it does not align with evidence-based research on how children learn to read.