Ongoing contract talks between the Stoughton Teachers Association and the Stoughton School Committee are scheduled to take place Jan. 27. The two sides did meet Dec.11, but weren't able to come to a new contract agreement.
Stoughton School Committee chairman Joyce Husseini said at Tuesday's meeting that she has a great deal of respect for the teachers for what they have to do and with what the state is asking them to do with new mandates.
Husseini doesn't expect the contract talk to be settled soon. The teachers have been without a contract since Aug. 31.
"It's not realistic," said Husseini of settling the contract shortly. "We are look forward to continuing (talking.)"
Husseini said the salary structure is just part of the agreement that needs to be worked out before the contract dispute is resolved.
According to a report in the Boston Globe, both sides did reach an agreement on the wording of a social networking policy and were able to settle an unfair labor practice in that Dec. 11 meeting. That was their first meeting since Oct. 3, as both sides have been disagreeing about who has wanted to meet and when.
The Stoughton Teachers Association has been collecting petitions asking for the issue to be resolved. Their president Andrea Pires recently released an online survey, which said teachers are looking at employment elsewhere.
Husseini said it was unfair for one side to represent the other side unfairly to gain support.
"We don't necessary have a gag order, but I do respect the process," said Husseini.
The school committee was scheduled to meet Tuesday night in executive session to discuss contract negotiations, but that was postponed because of the weather conditions. The committee had a shortened agenda because of the snow. They will now discuss the contract at their next meeting Jan. 14 in executive session.
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