The dispute between the Burlington School Board and the teachers union appears to have reached an end, after both sides seem to have found a settlement following a marathon mediation session. The settlement would help the two sides avoid a teachers strike. The new agreement is expected to be signed within weeks, but the settlement was announced immediately once it was reached through mediation. Details of the settlement will not be public until both signs have signed the deal.

Despite the announcement of the successful settlement, a union member leaving the meeting stated to the media, “Nobody is happy, but at least we’re not striking…”

The teachers union had voted that if an agreement seemed unreachable following the mediation session, they would begin striking, and had already rented space to serve as strike headquarters.

A New York attorney worked as the neutral mediator, going from room to room, speaking to both sides. He discussed the various issues and “took the temperature” regarding the differences. Negotiations at 9:30 am, and little had been accomplished by 5 pm, when the mediator reported progress to be slow. Union officials also reported things didn’t look good and teachers were told to turn in their keys, prior to the potential strike. One accused the board of “dragging its feet…”

The mediator has worked to assist Vermont teachers in resolving contract disputes in the past and mediated the last time teachers went on strike in the state in 1978. Luckily for students and families, that was not the case this time, as a settlement was reached in the day-long mediation session before a strike became necessary.