The Latest: Teacher strike in Vermont goes into 2nd day | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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The Latest: Teacher strike in Vermont goes into 2nd day

BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Latest on the teacher strike in Burlington, Vermont (all times local):

11:30 p.m.

The teacher strike in Vermont's largest city is heading into a second day.

The Burlington School District says on its website that classes and all other activities, including sports and after school programs, have been cancelled on Friday. The district says it doesn't know how long the strike will last.

Members of the Burlington Education Association went on strike Thursday, with some teachers and supporters picketing in downtown Burlington. Association president Fran Brock says the main sticking point in the negotiations is scheduling time for teachers to prepare outside the classroom and to work one-on-one with students.

The school board said that in a final negotiation session on Wednesday, the two sides were nearing an agreement when teachers made new, unexpected demands.

The school district has about 4,000 students.

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11:54 a.m.

The leaders of the striking teachers in Vermont's largest city say they're eager to get back to work, but the school board has to be willing to resolve scheduling issues with teachers.

Burlington Education Association President Fran Brock spoke Thursday after teachers went on strike.

Brock says the main issue separating teachers and the board is time the teachers need to prepare for classes and to work with students.

In a news release, the school board said that in a final negotiation session on Wednesday, the two sides were nearing an agreement when teachers made new, unexpected demands.

The Burlington school district has about 4,000 students in six elementary, two middle schools and one high school.

The school board voted Sept. 1 to impose terms on the teachers.

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9:19 a.m.

Teachers who are members of Burlington Education Association are on strike after a last-minute call by a former federal mediator and the Vermont city's mayor failed to persuade the school board to reach a deal with them.

About two dozen teachers and supporters were picketing Thursday morning in front of an elementary and middle school in downtown Burlington. Some held signs saying, "Settle Now." The union planned a news conference later Thursday.

The teachers in Burlington, the state's largest city and school district, planned to strike Wednesday, but agreed to meet with the mediator, instead. Mayor Miro Weinberger, a Democrat, had urged both sides to reach an agreement.

The school board voted Sept. 1 to impose terms and conditions on the 400 teachers, ending contract negotiations. The union rejected that and set the initial strike date.

News from © The Associated Press, 2017
The Associated Press

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