The Burlington School Board and the Burlington Education Association failed to reach a resolution to the ongoing contract dispute, even after a seven hour mediation. 

According to a statement from the district, the two parties are still far apart on salary.   Both groups will submit arguments to a fact-finder by June 7^th and that person will issue a non-binding suggestion for resolution. 

The School Board has offered the teacher’s union a salary increase of 1.75 percent during the fiscal years 2018 and a 2 percent increase in 2019.   This would equate to an average increase of more than $1200 per teacher the first year and nearly $1500 the second year. 

The union issued a statement that said it believes this is unfair and is demanding a more than 5% increase the first year.   This would equate to more than $3700 per teacher.   According to the teacher’s union president, the numbers issued in the statement were “taken a bit out of context.  ”

The union president wants to create a contract that will attract and retain good teachers, and provide programming to students that they deserve.  

There are also issues surrounding health insurance benefits. 

The fact-finder has 30 days to issue a report.   According to School Commissioner Anne Judson, the hope is that the suggestions will work and there will be a successful conclusion to the current school year and that the contract issues will be resolved by the state of the new school year.