Editorial
Negotiations
Fact vs. fiction. Perception vs. reality.

Black-and-white vs. shades of gray.

After months of somewhat quiet rumblings about ongoing negotiations between the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School Committee and the Ashburnham-Westminster Teachers' Association, things became a little more public over the last two weeks.

The teachers are arguing that they want a fair contract and that the School Committee isn't taking the matter seriously enough. The School Committee is arguing that they are trying to make the fiscally responsible decision for the school district.

Members of the public say they support the teachers because of the long hours they put in and the difficulty of their job. These people argue that the teachers have high levels of education and should be compensated for it.

Others argue that taxes cannot keep going up at the rate they have been increasing. And some remember a contract from seven years ago, which many residents believe to this day was too much for the district to handle and will hold another such contract against the School Committee and the teachers.

So far as the public, we know none of the details, as neither side has released what is being debated in the closed-door sessions. It is hard to pick a side to support when the details are unknown.

It is easy to agree to the concept, get a contract sooner rather than later. That does not mean a contract that is unaffordable should be agreed to.

It is easy to say, "Support a contract that gives the teachers the support they need." Again, that does not mean a contract that is unaffordable should be agreed to.

It is easy to say, "Support a contract that is going to lower the school district's budget or that is going to stop increasing costs to the district." This does not work either, because there needs to be support for the professionals in our community.

Before the public can be expected to support one side or the other, we are entitled to more information.