Budget Hearing Monday: Teacher Union Votes Work To Rule: School Committee Meets Tuesday: Council Meets June 8

EAST GREENWICH, RI —The chairwoman of the school committee is letting everyone know important meetings are set for this week. Carolyn Mark posted the news that the school and municipal side budgets are the focus of a public hearing Monday. Then the school committee will meet Tuesday. Next, the town council has a meeting Thursday in advance of the June 10 deadline to pass a budget.

The school committee is meeting in executive session on Tuesday before the regular meeting. One item on the agenda is teacher negotiations. The teachers union on Friday said the rank and file has voted to do no additional work beyond their contract duties.

"Of the teachers present, 72.5 percent voted to abide by the conditions and responsibilities set forth in the contract ratified on April 26," the union, known as the East Greenwich Education Association, said.

“We will teach. We will continue to put East Greenwich students and families first, but we will no longer undertake the many extra activities we have historically done,” said EGEA Negotiation Committee Chair Jo Anne Leach. “Just as the contract negotiated by the School Committee reflects its situation, our decision reflects ours.”

This means the teachers will no longer do extras, such as

· After/before school help beyond the one hour per week specified in the contract;

· unpaid committee work;

· organizing and overseeing class speakers, field trips, or other applied learning opportunities not part of classroom-led instruction;

· unpaid advising of clubs, organizations, competition teams, dances, spirit events, fundraising, or other after-school events; and

· communication among teachers, students, and parents outside of school hours.

“This action is to ensure the East Greenwich community recognizes the many voluntary contributions made by teachers to support and enhance the education of the students of East Greenwich Public Schools,” said EGEA Co-President Donna Hayes. “While EGEA remains committed to ensuring their students are provided with multiple and varied classroom experiences that support student learning, we cannot afford to offer extra, voluntary services which enhance learning outside of the classroom or the school day.”