CARRIE COPE: East Palestine Education Association upset with lack of progress in talks
After five hours of working with a federal mediator, negotiations between the East Palestine Education Association, representing the teachers in East Palestine Schools, and the East Palestine Board of Education came to an abrupt end when the Board’s team walked out of the talks without any word to the union’s team.
We are extremely disappointed with the outcome of today’s negotiations. After waiting three weeks for the Board to present a counteroffer, it is disheartening to see that there has been minimal progress on the major issues under negotiation. While we reached agreement on two minor points, the Board refused to offer any new proposals for the critical matters at hand and just ended up walking out.
The EPEA’s bargaining team has repeatedly requested full financial transparency from the Board, which has not been provided. The Board continues to hire additional administrative staff and increase administrative salaries without offering the negotiating team access to comprehensive financial reports, all of which are public records.
The Board’s proposal to hold the next negotiation session on October 16, a month away, further indicates a lack of urgency in addressing the issues. The Board’s negotiation team left today’s meeting without confirming a new date, raising concerns about their commitment to reaching a fair agreement. They already had three weeks to look at our proposals. Why do they need another month? And without being given the financial information we’ve asked for multiple times, how can we reach an agreement?
Given the upcoming release of school report cards, it is more important than ever for teachers to have the opportunity to collaborate with the administration and apply their expertise to best serve our students. Teachers need dedicated time for training during the school day, adequate staffing to support struggling students, and necessary materials to enhance the learning experience. The EPEA is committed to ensuring that East Palestine schools are a desirable environment for teachers encouraging them to stay and contribute their skills rather than seeking opportunities elsewhere. That kind of teaching environment is the kind of learning environment that is best for our students. That’s what we’re fighting for.
The EPEA urges the community to question the Board’s decisions and their impact on the success of both teachers and students. East Palestine teachers have remained dedicated to finding a fair resolution and have continued normal operations since the start of the school year. However, the Board’s apparent refusal to address key issues in a timely manner is troubling and suggests a preference for prolonging the negotiation process, rather than reaching a fair deal.
The teachers who make up the East Palestine Education Association have already authorized their negotiating team to serve a 10-day strike notice. That’s not a step we would take lightly at all. But our teachers, our students, and our community deserve better from the Board, and we’re willing to fight for the best educational environment possible here.
---
Carrie Cope is the spokesperson of the East Palestine Education Association.