Striking SPA teachers and board reach an agreement

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — After what looked to be a stand off on Friday, there’s been a breakthrough over the weekend in negotiations between the South Pacific Academy board of directors and striking SPA teachers.

Sunday, March 14, attorney for the striking teachers, Charles Alailima announced the “SPA Board and the SPA Teachers Group has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) ending the current action by the Teachers Group and set the return of the teachers to classes on Tuesday to complete the school year.” Nearly simultaneously, the SPA board sent out an email to parents saying “Today (Sunday, March 14), we signed a written agreement containing the terms accepted by both SPA and the teachers and teaching aides as a resolution of this strike.”

Details, according to Alailima include setting aside the termination of the two teachers that has been a sticking point in the negotiations. This came about after their agreement that the two teachers would not attempt to enter the school premises until the Board makes its determination by March 19 on whether it will proceed with immediate action of suspension pending termination against them.

“If the Board does proceed with such action the MOA outlines the due process procedure that will be afforded the two teachers. The MOA reiterates the school policies applicable to all SPA teachers in the performance of their duties and the discipline process. It also commits the Board to updating current corporate documents and policies within a reasonable timeframe with the aim of completion before the beginning of the next school year. The Board will provide notice to the Teachers Group of revisions and organizational contracts where it affects employee interests under their employment contracts,” Alailima said.

In the SPA release the board said, “In accordance with the terms of our agreement, teachers and teaching aides who went on strike will return to work. Acting Principal Noanette will organize, manage, and lead the return and transition of the teachers and teaching aides. If all goes as planned, we expect those teachers and aides to resume their duties in the classroom on Tuesday morning.

The email told parents that SPA classes would be held, Monday, March 15th “as per the last two weeks.”

The Teachers Group, through their attorney said it hopes that with the pledge from the Board to update corporate documents and policies over the coming months that such will be done with full transparency as the process proceeds and thoughtful consideration of inputs from all parts of the SPA community.

The board told the parents that it goes without saying that the past two weeks “have been a serious and taxing challenge for all of us, especially our students and children. We thank you for your patience, prayers and support, for all involved in this historical situation in our Territory.”

“It is now time to commit all our energies to successfully bringing the school year home and to going forward. Calm and reason prevailed from all perspectives. We ask that we all continue on those paths, and to keep our children and students absolutely first,” the board concluded.

According to the teachers group, they have been submitting their lesson plans for this coming week to the acting principal and will meet with her at 3 pm this afternoon (Monday) to prepare for their return on Tuesday.

The Teachers Group would like to express sincere gratitude to all those who have supported the group’s efforts in the past two weeks and especially to the many parents whose patience and support have kept hope alive for this positive outcome. The Teachers Group humbly apologizes for all the inconvenience and difficulty caused to parents and students over the last two weeks and all members of the group pledge to work hard to ensure the successful completion of the school year.