'Parents had right to know,' Thornton says of rumored sickout

Warwick Beacon ·

If he had it all to do over again, Superintendent Philip Thornton would still inform parents of a potential sickout by teachers and school closure as he did last Wednesday. Warwick Teachers Union President Darlene Netcoh labeled the sickout a “rumor” and no vote had been taken on such an action.

Thornton said he had learned of teacher meetings in three elementary schools where a sickout was talked about for Thursday in protest for lack of a contract. The teacher contract expired in August 2015.

“Parents have a right to know,” said Thornton.

Schools were able to open Thursday and Friday, although teacher absences ran higher than usual.

On Thursday 83 teachers called in sick or about 10 percent of the teaching staff of 882. On Friday it improved with 79 calling in sick.

The two sides appear to be more entrenched today than when they started off, although Thornton offers hope that arbitration will narrow the issues and enable them to come to an agreement. Netcoh doesn’t see that and reasons the only way to reach a settlement is for the two sides to negotiate.

“It’s important to get the neutral arbitrator’s opinion,” said Thornton.

Such an opinion is not likely to come soon, even though the parties have met numerous times over the last nine months. The district has virtually completed presentation of its case, and now it’s up to the union to make theirs. An arbitration session planned for last week was called off by the union and successive efforts for additional meetings haven’t been successful, said Thornton. He insists schools are ready to meet at any time requested by the union.

Asked what is the point of arbitration when, as Netcoh points out, arbiters can’t rule on matters involving money, Thornton said, “It can’t guarantee a contract, but possible clarity.”