Rangeley school board votes in favor of measure

RANGELEY – The school board voted to approve the Union 37 Teachers’ Association contract on Wednesday evening.

Members Larry Carrier, Russ Brooks, Joanne Chapman and Harold Schaetzle voted in favor of ratifying the new contract, while Rick Godair was opposed.

The contract negotiations between the board and the teachers’ association have been going on since December 2003 and the new contract will take effect on Sept. 1 and run until Aug. 31, 2007.

Superintendent Kenneth Coville stated that the contract will “enable the school to attract and retain high quality faculty, allow for the efficient administration of the contract, provide the school board with the greatest flexibility in meeting student needs, increase the efficient operation of the school, reduce the likelihood of unnecessary labor conflict, provide the faculty with equitable compensation and benefits within the fiscal means of the community, and create incentives for high productivity/effectiveness.”

The new comprehensive contract changes the leave benefits’ policies; complies with the Family Medical Leave Act; adds new requirements for teachers to utilize time and funds for professional development and sabbaticals; increases health benefit levels for family plans over the next three years; and sets the starting salary of $27,664 for teachers above the state average.

Eighty-two percent of health insurance costs for teachers are paid by the school for the duration of the new contract. Full family coverage begins at 68 percent of costs paid by the school in 2004-05, 72 percent in 2005-06 and 76 percent for 2006-07.

Additional coverage will also be available and allows for a variety of family structures with the school paying the majority of the costs.

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