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FFNEA tells board negotiations broke down; union and superintendent exchange competing portrayals
Summary
The Ferguson‑Florissant educators’ union criticized district negotiators for abandoning the successor‑agreement process and urged the board to honor Article 3 Section 2 of the collective bargaining agreement; Superintendent Dr. Fields said she supports teachers, unions and ongoing conversations.
A representative of the Ferguson‑Florissant National Education Association told the board on April 7 that the district had violated the successor‑agreement process in the collective bargaining agreement and that walking away after three planned sessions was "a refusal to negotiate." The union warned that abandoning the agreed framework undermines trust and stability in classrooms.
The union speaker cited Article 3 Section 2 of the collective bargaining agreement, which the speaker said requires any new contract to be built on the successor agreement. The representative said the union had consistently been the district’s continuity through repeated leadership changes and called on the board to honor written agreements to protect educators and students.
Superintendent Dr. Fields responded in the same meeting by stressing the administration’s support for teachers and unions. “We are pro teacher, pro union for all staff, certified and support,” she said, and offered to continue negotiations and conversations. Dr. Fields said she is “pro telling the full truth” and indicated willingness to meet and continue the process.
The exchange did not produce a new agreement or a public resolution of the specific contractual dispute; Dr. Fields said ongoing negotiations would continue and that the district would provide additional information where appropriate.
