What came as a bit of a surprise to many in town was a re-negotiated teacher’s contract. In short, the teachers voted in favor of a contract that will reduce their salary increase from the previously contracted 3.5% to 2.5% this year in exchange for extending the contract another two years in which they will receive increases of 2% in year 2 and 2.25% in year 3. Superintendent Gormley recommended the School Committee ratify the contract which they did by a vote of 5-1 with Ms. Kelly being the lone dissenting vote. Ms. Kelly was concerned about committing to the increase during a fiscally uncertain time and would have hoped for terms more favorable to the town and clearly felt a chance was missed, saying, “If ever there was an opportunity, this was it.” You can learn more here.

Other business included but was not limited to:

• A discussion of the district’s approach to “Race to the Top” funding. Mr. Phelan explained that the money the school would have received, ~$15K a year for two years, was not worth pursuing in light of the $180K the schools could save with the renegotiated teachers contract. The teachers union had issues with certain stipulations required by the Race to Top participation. The amounts received by school districts was largely determined by Title 1 populations. Milton does not have a large Title 1 students.  It was also reiterated that this was independent of the federal funding recently announced. (Please see this post for more information.)
• Mr. Huban reported that the memorandum of understanding that defines the reporting relationships and structure etc. regarding the consolidated facilities initiative was through the committee. The next step will be a joint meeting between the Board of Selectmen and School Committee that Mr. Huban said would take place on 9/29 at Town Hall.
• Mr. Gilles reported that the schools were living within their FY10 budget. Special Education spending is the challenge because  the number of students needing services and the composition of those services can change over the course of the school year depending upon the recommendations of IEPs (Individual Education Plans). It was noted that budgets and other financial statements will be made available online on the school’s web site though a date was not set for when they would be available.