ASHLAND — The Ashland City Board of Education will await the results of the fact finding process before further negotiating with the Ashland City Teachers Association, according to a press release issued Friday from the Ashland City School Board and Superintendent Doug Marrah.
The BOE had intended to meet Friday morning to pass an agreement between the two parties, but that meeting was canceled late Thursday evening after the ACTA’s membership voted down the proposal, reportedly by a narrow margin.
The contract had been agreed upon by the BOE and ACTA’s negotiating team in early December at a special meeting, where additional clarifications were added to the BOE’s last best offer. The BOE had presented the offer at its Nov. 18 school board meeting, but the ACTA had responded the following week, saying the proposal did not meet the qualifications of a last best offer. The clarifications made the agreement worthy of a vote.
“While we are disappointed in the result of this vote, we will proceeding to fact finding, which will hopefully result in a recommendation that the parties can approve,” the press release said. “We were hoping that ACTA would ratify the tentative agreement so that teachers could return to working a 7.5 hour day and receive the additional, associated compensation prior to winter break. The 7.5 hour day provides beneficial collaboration and planning time, which helps us provide exemplary education to all students.
“The vote was a set-back for our teachers, students, staff and community.”
While the ACTA’s leadership had communicated its membership’s unresolved concerns to the BOE, the resulting last best offer did not sufficiently address those concerns, according to a different press release released Thursday from the ACTA.
“Members expressed concern about the Board’s threat to take away expected compensation and desire to reduce job security for new hires, and we are hopeful these issues can be settled with the Board in 2020,” said ACTA spokesperson Rich Wasowski in the press release.
The BOE’s press release thanked the teachers who voted in favor of the tentative agreement and went on to say the contact will “eventually be resolved.”
“Our district celebrates the students and their parents who have worked through individual challenges and shown individual and collective resilience. Each student that has found success can often thank a teacher for instruction, direction or support,” the release said. “We are thankful for the support of our community as we work to meet the needs of each child while being responsive to financial constraints.”
A similar message from ACTA president Mel Baker ended the ACTA’s press release.
“We hope to work toward a fair contract for all ─ our students, teachers, the Board, and the community,” Baker said. “We’re a team. We work together. It’s what makes Ashland someplace special. ACTA is especially grateful for the continued support of Ashland residents. As always, ACTA remains always committed to Ashland students.”
