JAY – No positions will be held open for anybody, Superintendent Robert Wall told the School Committee Thursday night.

Wall added Friday he wanted to make sure people understood that if they don’t step forward to take a co-curricular, extra-curricular or committee positions, they won’t be held.

Teachers resigned more than 90 positions, including co-curricular and committees, last year in protest over an unsettled contract.

“The activities will go on,” Wall said.

The School Department will find somebody to supervise those activities, he said.

The superintendent also sent out letters to people who had previously served on the kindergarten through grade 12 Design Team, which was working to align Jay’s curriculum to meet state and federal education standards.

Wall’s letter invited members to a pizza party to reactivate the committee.

That was one committee of many that staff members resigned from over the contract dispute.

Teachers and School Committee are in the third year of contract negotiations.

Educators have been working without a new contract since Sept. 1, 2002.

But last year, even without a new contract, teachers received experience steps that range from about $900 to $3,000 depending on whether one is due to get a step that includes pay for multi-years.

This year a letter sent out from the Superintendent’s Office dated Aug. 27 indicated experience steps would be paid.

However, a second letter dated Sept. 2 reversed that notice and indicated experience steps would not be forthcoming.

“We sent out contracts with the same dollar amount as last year,” Wall said. “We’re still in negotiations …We have to resolve this issue in the near future.”

Wall who became superintendent of Jay schools Aug. 1, has held several executive sessions with School Committee members to discuss negotiations with teachers and support staff.

In the meantime, teachers in the Jay Education Association continue to work-to-rule of the contract language. Educators also meet before school each morning at certain spots in Jay and drive to school in a group as a show of unity.

Negotiation talks between the teacher’s union and School Committee broke down last spring.

Another negotiation session is in the progress of being set up.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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