Thurs. Sept. 14, 2006

Dear fellow teachers,

I want to thank all the GLTO membership for your overwhelming response to our recent “staff morale” poll. We have received a very large majority of your responses supporting the overall sentiment that morale is in fact, poor. We were able to share that corroborating data with the Superintendent and School Committee present last evening at negotiations. In addition, I appreciate receiving the lengthy comments and concerns that many of you chose to add or attach to the poll as a supplement. While the overall percentage results were easily tallied, we are attempting to process and compile those more detailed comments to share later. Your input will help us to solidify our negotiations positions and actions in the future.

Your collective voices were heard last spring when the election of Officers and E-Board achieved record voting participation. Your voices were heard again when you shared your sentiments through our recent questionnaire. At last night’s negotiations meeting, after receiving the last offer of language and money issues from the School Committee, we have requested mediation to resolve our contract. Necessary steps are now being taken to halt the incessant changes in working conditions that have been imposed upon us since our return to school. The administration has made no attempt to try to resolve these issues through the bargaining process, but have simply imposed unilateral changes outside of the current contract.

In spite of our labored efforts all last year and our attempts to work with them toward the common goal of improved student performance, our patience and cooperation has not earned us favor in these negotiations. In spite of the improved MCAS performance directly attributed to this teacher effort, we have received little appreciation or any measurable compensation. It is now time to move forward together and continue to collectively address our shared concerns. We continue to need your involvement and will depend on your support. Help us to help you achieve renewed morale through the settlement of a fair and reasonable contract by standing together. I will be providing additional updates in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued support,

Robert Sullivan, President GLTO