By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-992002.mp3
Bennington, VT – After a nine day walkout, teachers are returning to their classrooms in the Bennington region. Vermont NEA Spokesman Darren Allen says the contract was resolved after 100 hours of talks.
In the midst of the teachers' strike, Vermont Education Commissioner Armando Vilasecca issued an opinion piece in which he resurrected an idea he unsuccessfully put before the Vermont Legislature two years ago. He wants the state to ban teacher strikes and bar school board imposition of contracts. Vilaseca notes the ripple effect on students from varsity sports to the inability to access free or reduced price meals, to loss of instructional time. The Vermont NEA's Darren Allen says the Commissioner's proposal in the midst of a strike was ill-timed.
The Vermont School Boards' Association issued a prepared statement in response to the Commissioner's idea. The Association's Associate Director for Legal Services Nicole Mace.
Ethan Allen Institute President John McClaughry says Commissioner Vilaseca has offered a proposal with no details as to how it would be accomplished.
Calls to the Vermont Education Department and Commissioner Armando Vilaseca were not returned in time for this broadcast. Vermont is one of thirteen states that allows teachers to strike.