Friday, July 01, 2011

If Anyone has the Slightest Idea What This is About, I'd Love to Know

Linda Borg for the ProJo:

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The entire Providence School Board has indicated it will not ratify a teachers' contract because of the board's lack of involvement with negotiations.

In a letter to Mayor Angel Taveras, the School Board wrote that it voted 9-0 to request that no negotiation of the contract continue without the prior consent and involvement of the board.

"The board believes that the PTU collective bargaining agreement contains provisions that are essential to the essence of our educational mission and therefore are to be considered management rights that cannot be assigned, transferred or given away by the School Board."

Accordingly, the board wrote, negotiations fit squarely within the rights, duties and obligations of the board pursuant to the state law.

"Please note our opposition to any agreements, written or otherwise, resulting from any negotiation sessions that are not approved or attended by the board shall be considered non-binding upon the board."

Also:

PROVIDENCE — A bill that strips the Providence School Board of its authority to sign contracts with any of the unions with which it negotiates — most notably the teachers union — passed the House of Representatives at 10 p.m. Thursday with little debate and appeared poised for passage in the Senate (it passed -TEH).

The bill was quietly submitted in the last days of the legislative session and underwent some last minute changes Thursday to ensure it applied only to Providence.

Sen. Paul V. Jabour, a Providence Democrat, introduced the bill that would give the mayor of Providence, not the School Board, the authority to sign all collective-bargaining agreements.

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