After meeting walkout, Brandywine School District educators still await union contract

Some 100 teachers walked out of a Brandywine School District board meeting Monday night.

The show of solidarity from educators, donning red shirts in support of their local Brandywine Education Association, comes as faculty continue union negotiations with the school district. Playback of the meeting doesn’t show the walkout itself, but members are heard briefly distracted as the shuffle begins around 7:30 p.m., just after Superintendent Lisa Lawson’s report.

As of Wednesday afternoon, no resolution has been reached.

No teachers spoke during public comment, and the local union did not offer comment as of Wednesday. But these educators have been working on expired contracts, after having agreed to extend through February’s referendum.

“We stand in solidarity with the roughly 900 members of the Brandywine Education Association, who have been working for nearly two years under an expired contract that was most recently extended at the beginning of 2024 at the request of the Brandywine School District,” said Stephanie Ingram, president of the Delaware State Education Association, in a statement to Delaware Online/The News Journal.

Delaware’s largest educators union commented on these ongoing negotiations, while BEA remains an independent organization representing teachers and specialists in their district. Ingram noted members have “negotiated in good faith and shown tremendous patience” throughout the process.

“They deserve a fair labor deal, and we urge the Brandywine School District to act in good faith by moving toward an agreement that respects the dedication and commitment of the educators who serve our students and our communities each and every day,” her statement continued.

A district spokesperson said the system “continues to meet with the Brandywine Education Association in an effort to come to a collaborative agreement and ratify as soon as possible.” The district did not expand on points of friction or the timeline thus far.

Brandywine voters loudly supported a referendum back earlier this year, for expenses. In fact, that February referendum saw nearly 4 out of every 5 voters in support. The move should raise some $15.6 million in local revenue to support ongoing operating costs, as previously reported. Part of that promised to bolster teacher recruitment retention.

What’s next for seemingly frustrated educators isn’t readily clear.

Negotiations continue. Without resolution, another step could likely resemble further work actions or even public picketing.

Teacher strikes, though, are illegal in Delaware. An injunction could come down from Chancery Court, with noncompliance leading to fines against “such violating party an amount on a daily, weekly or monthly basis without limitation as determined by the Court,” per state code. That applies to all public school employees.

Earlier in the evening, red-shirted teachers and others in attendance gathered in Claymont Elementary School for another reason. They celebrated a middle school math teacher, Janette Madison. The Springer Middle teacher for nearly 20 years was again honored as the Brandywine 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year, for “the impact she has had on her students, fellow staff, and the entire BSD community.”

Only, a much different tone has followed meeting’s end.

Education roundup: Christina School District sets date for next referendum ask

Got a story? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on X @kpowers01.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Brandywine educators leave meeting in protest of contract progress

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