Brother and Sisters,

Please be advised, today a small group of UTN negotiators resumed negotiations with District representatives following the rejection of the Memorandum of Agreement. In attendance for the District was Superintendent, Marylou McDermott, Board Counsel, John Gross and, for the first time, Board of Education President, Steve Waldenburg.

While nothing of a specific nature was discussed, the reasons why the MOA was defeated were explained and we specifically expressed the desire to reach a deal. However, we made it very clear that the same deal that was rejected would not be accepted. After a lengthy caucus–a discussion, separate from the other side–the District advised that they were working on a proposal, but would be reviewing the proposal with the entire Board on Monday March 5, 2012 at the Board’s Executive Session prior to the public Board meeting.

In view of the foregoing, the next session was scheduled for March 14, 2012.

As the Superintendent and Board of Education will be presenting the Budget Overview for the 2012-2013 school year at the March 5, 2012 Board meeting, the UTN leadership is requesting your attendance at that meeting to show our solidarity.

In unity,
Antoinette