Hopes for a settled contract before most District 186 schools open to students Aug. 22 took a big hit Tuesday, when eighty percent of Springfield Education Association members voting turned down a tentative agreement announced in the past couple of weeks.
A source tells WTAX News just over a third of SEA’s membership participated in the vote.
In a text message to WTAX News, union president Aaron Graves said,
“There is a large amount of residual and long term angst with our educators and educational professionals. They need to feel more positive change from their employer in our schools and work conditions.
“We need fairness.”