Teachers in the second largest public school district in Massachusetts will be back in the classroom today working without a current contract.
A four-year contract for teachers in the Springfield Public Schools expired at the end of June.
Tim Collins, president of the 2,600-member Springfield Education Association, said he expects teachers will work under the terms of the expired contract while negotiations with the school administration continue.
" A lot of the things we have put on the table are more about working conditions and about trying to improve the voice of teachers in how this work is done," Collins said.
In a speech at an annual back-to-school convocation for teachers, Collins blasted the state legislature for not increasing funding for public schools, and warned of dire consequences if voters approve a referendum to lift the cap on charter schools.
