Teachers Looking for Common Ground on the Common

Normally the has plenty of green, but on Monday afternoon, the distinct neon green of Wesford Education Association t-shirts sought attention from passing motorists.

Despite earlier comparable visibility rallies at and , little progress has been made between the WEA and town officials, with the process currently in mediation.

"What we're facing is a Selectmen and School Committee group that have already decided what the outcome will be," said WEA president Ruth Freeman. "When you look at the other (department's) contracts, that's what's been settled. We are not willing to do that. We want to work together (with the town) and make our workplace a better place."

With the impasse between the two sides, members of the WEA now see their best path to creating a compromise with the town is reaching out to build support among personal networks in Westford.

"The other day when we were out in front of , you see people (driving by) that we've talked to in parent/teacher conferences (in previous years)," says Gayle Windisch, an 11-year veteran of the , who brought her 18 month old son Bjorn to the rally. "You get to know the parents, but they're not just our parents, they're our neighbors."

But as teachers like Windisch attempt to remind their friends and supporters that the battle is ongoing, the debate will likely continue for the foreseeable future with the town noting that all other departments except for the Fire Department have settled with the town while the Schools' .

When asked that question, WEA members such as former negotiator and Blanchard School teacher Kevin St. Cyr , a fact that he believes may be damaging Westford’s ability to lure top teaching talent. 

“It’s such a disconnect between (the town’s) type of expenditure (in schools), and the fact that Westford seniors get into top echelon colleges on a consistent basis year in and year out,” he said. “This is not an anomaly, this is historically where we’ve been, and it seems patently disrespectful that people are going to be relegated to just doing your job and maintaining your status in Westford. I know a lot of young teachers that are looking elsewhere.”