Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,

💥 Teacher Negotiating has been called off😪

Here we have it another slap in the face to Medford teachers and the good old administration trying to be sneaks only posting to one website, this important information.

The Superintendent and her central administration shows once again her lack of leadership by calling off negotiations with the teachers union and sending it to state for arbitration, which could take God knows how long.

What this letter shows me, as a parent, is this women is clearly upset her ego got a little bruised because the Teachers Union and teacher’s actually spoke up and fought back against her, rightfully so, and that she cannot accept anyone disagreeing with her.

We lost how many paraprofessionals this year? When I ever saw the $17,500 a yr salary they got I was horrified! And How many teachers also left?

I blame the SC also for this. IMO they had the power although they will tell you: “we don’t have any control over this”. I would have fought against the Superintendent contract period! She wouldn’t have gotten a dime more or any renewed contract until these contracts were given to teachers!

At this point, as a mother of 2 girls, in the MPS system, I wouldn’t blame these teachers for striking if they so choose. My children would stand along side them!

Kerry Laidlaw