Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain announced Wednesday that the school committee has accepted proposals from teachers, resolving ongoing labor disputes.
The agreement ends all pending arbitrations and unfair labor practice complaints, paving the way for improved collaboration between educators and administration.
“Santa came early,” Jermain said during her monthly conversation with What’sUpNewp. “Everything went away.”
While details of the agreement were not immediately available, Jermain indicated it involves ensuring properly certified teachers are in classrooms, particularly for multilingual learners. The district also plans to open more classrooms next year.
“We will work and move together and move forward to make it happen,” Jermain said. “So we’re looking forward to a positive year.”
After the conversation, Jermain provided What’sUpNewp with the following joint statement;
Newport School Committee and Teachers Association of Newport Announce Universal Settlement
Newport, RI — [December 17, 2024] — the Newport School Committee and The Teachers Association of Newport (TAN) are pleased to announce a comprehensive settlement of pending labor relations matters between the two parties. The agreement reflects a shared commitment of TAN and the Newport School Committee to collaborate with one another in serving the students and families of the Newport Public Schools.
“We are pleased with the outcome of this settlement as it focuses on ways to support our teachers and students,” said TAN President Jen Hole. “We thank the Newport School Committee for their efforts to settle the disputes and appreciate their willingness to engage in the dialogue.”
Newport School Committee Chair James Dring commented, “The Newport School Committee is committed to providing excellence in education through collaboration with our educators, our parents, our Superintendent, and our community. We thank TAN for their dedication to our mission and look forward to working with them in building a strong student centered learning community.”
