Falmouth Public Schools teachers have filed for mediation following a wage and benefits dispute with the School Board.
Mediation is an informal process wherein a third party helps the two sides reach an agreement. Mediation in this case begins on April 26.
The Falmouth Education Association, a union representing public school teachers in Falmouth, were scheduled to hold a rally on Tuesday night before the School Board meeting, asking for “a fair contract,” according to a press release. The release claims the School Board asks teachers to “give up crucial health care benefits for their families.”
Nathan Hall, a sixth-grade teacher and vice president of the Falmouth Education Association, said one of the biggest concerns they have with the negotiations is that this new contract would eliminate spousal insurance if the spouse could get insurance through their own employer. Additionally, he said the School Board would not commit to cost-of-living increases the teachers were asking for.
“The takeback of existing benefits reduces our educators’ buying power during record high inflation,” Hall said in a press release.
The School Board had an executive session on Monday at 12:30 p.m. to discuss labor contract negotiations. The meeting was held at the superintendent’s office, while public meetings are typically held in the Falmouth Elementary School cafeteria. They have another executive session with the Falmouth Education Association “and legal counsel” on Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. regarding labor contracts.
Whitney Bruce, chair of the School Board, declined to comment.
“Due to the confidential nature of ongoing contract negotiations, we are unable to comment at this time,” Bruce said via email. Nicole Bezanson, the School Board’s vice chair and chair of the Finance Committee, did not respond to a request for comment.
The School Board held a public hearing on the budget on April 10. They held an earlier executive session on labor negotiations on April 3, which followed an initial presentation on the budget.
The education association members argue that the School Board is “refusing” to offer Falmouth teachers a pay level that keeps up with cost-of-living expenses. This comes at a time which the education association says is one of the hardest for the district to fill vacant positions, which makes it difficult to attract and retain high-quality teachers.
According to Hall, the Falmouth Education Association tried to come to the table with the School Board to work on a compromise, but the School Board was unwilling. This led to the union filing for mediation.
Hall, who has been with Falmouth schools for four years, said if mediation isn’t successful, teachers will look into other avenues.
Teachers in Maine aren’t allowed to strike, but “there are other options we could do,” Hall said. He didn’t want to discuss what those other options are, saying he didn’t feel “comfortable” having those be made public at this point.
Hall estimated there is an “even split” among teachers who think these negotiations will be resolved on Wednesday following the mediation, and those who are preparing for the next steps.
“We’re really not sure how things will play out Wednesday,” he said. “I’m optimistic, but I don’t know.”
Hall said the School Board took an unusual tactic during the budget discussions relating to the contract negotiations. In a move he called “unorthodox,” Hall said the School Board during a standard meeting on April 3 called for an executive session, which hadn’t been previously listed, to discuss the budget. He said this followed several teachers getting up to speak about the budget and contract negotiations.
“They are supposed to go through the full process to explain it, which they did not do,” Hall said.
The school department’s website does list an April 3 executive session prior to the meeting about labor contract negotiations, but the regular meeting itself does not list an additional executive session, which Hall was referring to. Minutes for that meeting were not posted on the department’s website.
According to Maine’s Right to Know law, in order to go into executive session a public body, like the school board, must indicate the precise nature of business to be discussed, and take a public, recorded vote passed by three-fifths of its members. Only certain items like personnel issues and legal obligations can be discussed in closed session.
