So close ... yet so far
Westborough - When the School Committee and the Westborough Teachers Association began negotiations 14 months ago on a contract for the current school year, they finally reached a tentative agreement last October. But the proposed contract was narrowly defeated by the teachers in a vote of 162-155.

Now, months later, the economic slowdown has served to pull the two sides even farther apart. Negotiations reached an impasse April 8, and the School Committee then requested the help of the Massachusetts Board of Conciliation and Arbitration.

In the meantime, teachers are working on an extension of their past contract, have implemented a "work to rule" policy and are continuing to picket.