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WOODSFIELD — The Switzerland of Ohio Education Association aims to show the Switzerland of Ohio Local Board of Education that the teachers have the support of the community in their need for a new contract.
The SOEA will hold a public rally at 4:45 p.m. today outside the Monroe County Courthouse in Woodsfield. Attendees will then make their way to the board of education’s central office in Woodsfield.
Karissa Wooddell, spokeswoman for the SOEA, said the rally is meant to show unity between the teachers' union and the community.
“This is us coming together to show unity with the community and with our fellow unions. We also have quite a few parents that will be out there supporting us, and we’re hoping that showing this unity, we can avoid a strike,” she said.
For the past few months, the SOEA has been negotiating a new contract with the school board. Wooddell said the teachers have been without a contract for more than three months.
“We’ve had five federal mediated sessions and it has gotten us nowhere. We’re actually moving backwards,” she said.
Wooddell said there are 20 issues in question that the parties cannot reach an agreement on, claiming the delay is due to a lack of response from the board of education.
“When we are sending something to the other side of the table right now, we’re not getting a response, there’s nothing. They aren’t saying, ‘Hey, we don’t like this, let’s change this.’ We’re not getting anything back. There’s no negotiation happening across the table,” she said.
Board President Sarah Smith said, however, that the board is participating in the negotiating process.
"The board does believe that we've offered a fair contract," Smith said via text message late Wednesday.
Smith added that the board intends to issue a press release containing more information about the contract negotiations today.
If an agreement cannot be reached during the two parties' next mediated session, Wooddell said a 10-day strike notice will be issued.
“No one wants to be in our classrooms with our students more than Switzerland of Ohio teachers, especially after all of the disruptions our students have already weathered this fall. So it is critical that the school board reaches a fair compromise that supports all of our students’ success,” she said. “Although all options must remain on the table, including a possible strike, we remain optimistic the school board will bargain in good faith to come to a fair agreement as we have through this entire process.”
The next federal mediated session is set for Tuesday. Wooddell said she is hopeful that the two sides will be able to come to an agreement during the meeting. The SOEA is hoping the rally will aid in showing the community supports the district’s teachers and a fair contract agreement can be made.
“We’re going to show unity, and we’re going to give the team another shot at working with us for the well-being of our students,” she said.
If a strike notice is issued, it will come after the holiday break, Wooddell said.
The SOEA invites all to attend the rally to “stand in solidarity” with its membership during the event. All COVID-19 guidelines will be followed during the rally, including social distancing and facial coverings.