A show of solidarity in Beloit as administrators and teachers assembled to protest contract changes. More than 150 school district union employees lined the hallways on the way to the School Board meeting. They chanted “do the right thing” to let the Board of Education know about how they felt about a change in administrators' contract language regarding seniority and layoff procedures.
All district administrators have received non-renewal notices after they refused contract changes regarding seniority and layoff procedures.
Beloit Education Association President Tim Vedra says teachers want the board to see they stand with the administrators. “We fell that they (the administration) deserve a fair contract settlement, and they're not getting that now,” said Vedra.
School Board President John Erikson saids the board is also watching the state budget process.
“There are a lot of variables here that we don't know yet, so we're not commited to doing anything other than working through the process,” said Erikson.
The state faces a nearly $6 billion deficit in the upcoming budget. The Governor is set to unveil his budget plans February 10th but that may change pending movement with the federal stimulus plan.