The Blind Brook-Rye Federation of Teachers is profoundly disappointed by both the inaccuracies and the tone in the Board of Education's letter to the community.
The Federation has repeatedly asked the district to return to the bargaining table to settle on a new collective bargaining agreement. We have repeatedly communicated to the district, the Board and the district's attorney that we are not interested in pursuing our grievance but would prefer to meet and settle all of the terms of the agreement including the outstanding health insurance matter.
The district has responded by continually seeking to schedule the arbitration for the health insurance grievance but has been unwilling to negotiate. We remain confused as to why the district is so anxious for us to pursue our grievance rather than settle the collective bargaining agreement. We have received no answer from the district to this question.
We urge the community to get involved, attend BOE meetings, ask your board members and the Federation President questions and demand that all parties treat each other respectfully and honestly. Help us to focus on the real task at hand--providing the best education we can to the children in our community.
We continue to urge the BOE to return to the bargaining table as we have repeatedly requested. A new agreement can only be achieved if both parties are willing to sit down and get it done.
- Blind Brook-Rye Federation of Teachers President Robin Willig
