HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-06-22 School Committee Minutes Town of Readin _
Meeting Minutesg RECEIVEl7
TOWN CLERK
Y REAMN '. MA.
Board - Committee - commission - council: 71}1 SEP 13 PM 12: 03
School Committee
Date: 2018-06-22 Time: 7:00 AM
Building: School - Memorial High Location: Superintendent Conference Room
Address: 82 Oakland Road Session: Open Session
Purpose: Open Session Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Chuck Robinson, Sherri Vanden Akker, Nick Boivin, Jeanne Borawski, Linda
Snow Dockser, and Elaine Webb
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Superintendent John Doherty, Director of Finance Gail Dowd
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair
Topics of Discussion:
1. Call to Order
Chair Robinson called the meeting to order at 7:04 a.m.
Mrs Webb stated to protect the bargaining position of the board and moved,
seconded by Mrs Borawski to enter executive session to discuss strategies
with respect to non-represented personnel to return to open session at
approximately 7.45 a.m.The roll call vote carried 6-0. Mr. Boivin,Dr.
Vanden Akker,Mrs Webb Dr. Snow Dockser,Mn.Borawski and Mr.
Robinson.
The open session meeting adjourned at 7:05 a.m.
Meeting reconvened in open session at 7:47 a.m.
Chair Robinson provided background on the Superintendent's contract. On
Monday June 18"the committee held a lengthy discussion on the
Superintendent's contract and salary. They did not vote the new contract, so the
salary was attached to the current contract. The vote this evening will supersede
the Monday vote.
Mrs Webb moved seconded by Mrs Borawski,to authorize the chair to
complete contract negotiations with the Superintendent for the purpose of
agreeing to terms of the new contract. The motion carried 6-0.
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Mr. Robinson said at this point the contract is not signed and provided an
overview of the new contract. The new contract goal is to improve the rollover
language. This contract has a three-year term with the possibility of an additional
year. the School Committee will need to take action by June 30, 2020 to extend
for an additional year or terminate on June 30, 2021. The term of the contract will
not go beyond 2022. We will post the executed contract on the website. This
contract assumes a zero percent increase with provisions to revisit a salary
increase after the collective bargaining concludes. The remainder of the language
remains pretty much the same. Language regarding his children attending RPS
has been removed and the vacation component was clarified.
Mr. Boivin appreciates the effort to get an agreement in principal(there is an end
date,the committee commits to voting in 2020,the compensation piece has been
addressed,vacation days are capped).
Mrs. Webb is excited for the district to move forward with the new administrators
on board and after 5 years of budget cuts.
Mrs. Liberman asked if a shorter-term contract had been considered with specific
goals to be met. She feels three years is a long time.
Chair Robinson responded that the committee had much discussion regarding the
contract length and it is unrealistic to expect anyone to sign a shorter contract. He
had many discussions with our legal counsel and is comfortable with the length.
Mrs. Liberman is troubled by that fact that certain goals remain unmet and how
many get a three-year guaranteed contract.
Mrs. Webb reminded Mrs. Liberman that this is not a performance discussion.
Dr. Snow Dockser feels this contract empowers the Superintendent to go back to
the vision and feels three years is very appropriate. He is evaluated every year
and she believes in this Superintendent.
Mr. Boivin said this was a negotiation,we have a contract in place. We are bound
by laws and feels it is a win for all sides and provides clarity.
11. Ajourment
Adjourn
Mrs. Webb moved,seconded by Mrs. Borawski, to adjourn. The motion
carried 6-0.
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 a.m.
NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not
the order they occurred during the meeting.
J F. Do erty, d.D.
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