BVA teachers continuing contract negotiations
In a show of unity, about 150 teachers from the Belle Vernon Area School District packed the district’s middle school cafeteria Monday evening for the monthly meeting of BVA’s board of directors.
The teachers, who are in the midst of contract negotiations with the district, wore red T-shirts showing an outline of the state of Pennsylvania inside an apple. Teachers also distributed red wrist bands to people who attended the meeting.
Talks have been ongoing with the district since the teachers’ contract expired on June 30. According to Daneen Watson, president of the Belle Vernon Area Education Association (BVAEA), both sides have met eight times over the past nine months. However, the teachers are becoming impatient with the lack of progress in the negotiations.
“BVAEA is becoming increasingly frustrated as these weeks continue to pass by,” said Watson, who addressed the board before the meeting concluded. “We don’t want to constantly have negotiations weighing on our minds while we go throughout our day. We want to be able to minimize any outside distractions and keep our focus on the most important people, which are our students.”
The next meeting scheduled for the district and the teachers is Oct. 7.
While the board adjourned without discussing the contract negotiations, Superintendent Michelle Dowell expressed optimism that both sides can come to an agreement.
“We are working together, trying to find a resolution,” she said.
In other action, the board:
n Authorized Westmoreland County juvenile probation officers to carry firearms in BVA’s schools and on school premises. The agreement is in effect from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2020.
n Approved the preliminary comprehensive plan for the 2019-22 school years.
n Hired Ryann Farquhar as a part-time English as a Second Language teacher and Kathleen Flaus as a full-time English teacher.
n Thanked J.R. Dzurica for his service to the district as business manager. Crystal Clark will replace Dzurica, who will be taking a position with another school district.
n Observed a moment of silence for Joan Beck, a longtime BVA employee who died in August.