February 13, 2006
For Immediate Release
Three Former Warwick School Superintendents to Meet Regarding Teachers' Contract
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian announced today that he has asked a new group, which includes three former Warwick school superintendents, to begin meeting in hopes of helping to settle the nearly three-year contract dispute between the Teachers’ Union and the School Committee. Another major focus that Avedisian has asked this committee to work on is rebuilding a sense of cohesiveness in the schools and celebrating the teaching profession in our community.
Henry Tarlian, John Venditto, and George McLaughlin, all former superintendents, along with Don Staley and Ed Miley, retired principals, and Charlie Benson, a former school committee member, have all agreed to attempt a study of the issues dividing the parties, to help establish a long-term, cooperative relationship between union leadership and the School Committee, and to help bring the focus of all parties back to the issue of education of Warwick students.
“These individuals together have decades of administrative and teaching experience, are keenly aware of day-to-day school department operations and have all dealt with protracted labor disputes,” Avedisian said. “Their insights will be invaluable and will hopefully offer fresh perspectives on ways to resolve areas of contention. Equally important, these people have, in the past, all been involved in the ‘healing process’ that is critical after contentious negotiations have been successfully completed.”