1991-12-11 School Committee Minutes - Joint with RTA

Home Browse Search

READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS READING, MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING /READING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING CALL TO ORDER 11 DECEMBER 1991 A joint meeting of the Reading School Committee and the Reading Teachers Association was called to order in the Superintendent's Conference Room at 7:05 p.m. on December 11, 1991 by Chairman Barbara Philbrick. All members of the School Committee were present as was Superintendent Dr. Robert J. Munnelly. Represent- ing the Reading Teachers Association were President Peter B. Greene, teachers Mary Boyle, Robert Mooney, and Steven Rhodes. John Mannheim, Massachusetts Teachers Association negotiator was also present. PRESENTATION AND REVIEW OF 1992 BARGAINING HISTORY TO DATE President Peter Greene presented the Reading Teachers Association case and reviewed this year's bargaining history. He advised that teachers will not accept a "no raise" for the second year. Among the key reasons are the fact that costs of health insurance insurance have gone up considerably. Teachers seek no money this year, but require a base build -up.. Hence, they expect 5% in June of 1992, 5% in June of 1993, and 50 in September 1993. They are open to an offer of raise money coming from an override or new funding from the state. Peter Green suggests an offer based on the availability of funds from these sources. DISCUSSION WITH SCHOOL COMMITTEE Selectman Twomey asked, "Is it a contingency offer, which the Association asks for ?" The answer, Yes! Steve Rhodes suggests any school choice money earned by adding students to the school rolls. Mr. Twomey noted that all budgets, even new funding from the state pass through monies are subject to Town Meeting appropriation. Peter Green pointed out that new funding from a reform act may he "dedicated" for education. He added that the contingency offer may only be workable if an increase in funds comes to the School Committee, not just to Town coffers. R.T.A. member Steve Rhodes applauded the School Committee for entering into face -to -face talks, saying that the R.T.A. has reduced the dollar amount in light of budget talks and he appealed to the School Committee to come up with an offer.