About Us

Here is how the SWVEA works:

Executive Committee – This committee meets bi-monthly. We have been working diligently over the past three years to build & strengthen the SWVEA. It is the driving/guiding force of the SWVEA. This committee gives direction & foundation to the SWVEA. The SWVEA Officers, Committee Chairs, VT-NEA representative, and representatives from the high school, middle school, and elementary-levels.

They meet every other month, the first Tuesday of the month, 3:30pm at Second Congregational Church, Hillside Street, Bennington

Grievance Committee – This committee meets regularly. Once grievances are beyond the building rep. level, this committee handles them. Many thanks to the Grievance Committee members who continue to work hard to protect your contractual rights. If you have a grievance question, issue, or potential issue, please bring it to your Building Rep., they will answer your questions (or get an answer), clarify a contractual question, and assist you in the first step of informal resolution. Bruce Lee-Clark and Linda King are Co-Chairs.

In-Service Committee – This committee works with Helene Mellon, SVSU Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, in planning in-services, collecting & responding to teachers’ feedback on -services, and working to bring quality, beneficial professional development to SVSU. Laura Boudreau is Chair.

Building Representative Council –This council meets bi-monthly. They are the backbone of our organization. They service as the conduit of information to our members, and represent members to the SWVEA. All SWVEA Officers and Building Representatives comprise this council. Your building rep should be communicating with you on a regular basis about SWVEA issues and activities. Additionally, you need to let your building rep(s) know of issues to bring to the SWVEA. They meet every other month on the first Tuesday of the month, 3:30pm, Second Congregational Church, Hillside St., Bennington

Negotiations – We are currently in the process of negotiating our current contract….

The Negotiations Team’s work doesn’t stop when the contract is settled! They work throughout the life of the contract to enforce, clarify, and interpret contractual issues.

Labor-Management Committee – This team monthly with the Superintendent and the SWVEA representatives are its President, Vice-President (Grievance Chair), and Negotiations Rep. They work in an effort to proactively address issues concerning labor and/or administration. They’ve addressed a number of issues including contract clarifications and improving labor-management relations.